Are you using Windows Vista or XP and want that Windows 7 AeroSnap goodness on your own system? Then join us as we look at AeroSnap for Windows Vista and XP.

Note: Requires .NET Framework 2.0 or higher (link provided at bottom of article).

Setup

What exactly does AeroSnap do you might ask…here is a quote directly from the website:

“AeroSnap is a simple but powerful application that allows you to resize, arrange or maximize your desktop windows with just drag’n’drop. Simply drag a window to a side of your desktop to snap it or drag it to the top to maximize. When you drag it back to the last position, the last window size will be restored.”

As soon as you have finished installing AeroSnap and started it for the first time the only item that will be visible is the “System Tray Icon”. Before going any further you should take a moment to view and make any desired adjustments in the “Options”.

Note: AeroSnap works with multiple monitors.

You may want to have AeroSnap start with Windows each time but the really nice setting to enable here is the “Snap Preview”. If you are using AeroSnap on Vista and have Aero enabled this will really be nice.

The second portion may be of interest for those who would like to enable the keyboard shortcut function. One point worth noting about this screen is that the highest number of pixels from the screen’s edge that you can set AeroSnap for is 20 pixels.

AeroSnap in Action

AeroSnap is extremely easy to use…just grab the top of an app window and drag it to the left, right, or top of your screen. Since we installed this on Windows Vista we made certain to enable the “Snap Preview” in the “Options”.  We started off with dragging our Firefox 3.7 window towards the left…once we got close to the edge of the screen you can see that the left half of the screen temporarily “shaded over”.

Note: The “Snap Preview” displays on the left and right movements but not the top movement.

Releasing Firefox snapped it right into the “shaded over” part of the screen. The great thing about AeroSnap is that it is really easy to return the app window to it former size…all that you have to do is simply click on and grab the top portion of the app window.

Moving Firefox towards the top of our screen and…

It quickly snaps into filling the screen. One thing that we did notice is that the window did not “Maximize” as per the function for the button in the upper right corner.

Dragging towards the right side now…

And snap! Tucked in all nice and neat… You can minimize the app windows to the Taskbar and they will return to their previous “snap area” when “maximized” again.

Conclusion

If you have been wanting to add Windows 7’s AeroSnap goodness to your Vista and XP systems then you should definitely give this app a try. AeroSnap is very easy to set up and operate…

Links

Download AeroSnap for Windows Vista & XP

Download the .NET Framework

Go to Source Article at How to Geek

Filed under: Features, Windows, How-Tos

The improved taskbar — or Superbar, as it’s really called now — in Windows 7 offers loads of features which make getting at the files and folders you use frequently easier and faster. The four options I’ll cover here don’t require any additional software. They’re all possible using features built right in to your OS, you just might not have realized it yet!

Pin ‘em to your Explorer icon (pictured above)
The most obvious solution, and the one you’re most likely to have tried already. The Explorer icon sits on the Superbar by default, so every fresh Windows 7 desktop should have it. Pinning a folder is as simple as it gets: find a folder you want to add to the Explorer Jump List, click on it and hold your mouse button down, and drag it to the Explorer taskbar icon.

There’s another way to add items, too. Folders you use frequently automatically appear on the Jump List. Right-click the Explorer icon to display it, and then click the thumbtack icon to pin anything you’d like to show up at the list.

The Quick Launch toolbar
This one’s been part of Windows for ages — it’s not new to Windows 7. Now, in fact, it’s kind of tucked away out of plain sight. Putting the quick launch toolbar back is easy enough. Here’s how to do it:

• right click the Superbar and choose toolbar from the top of the context menu
• click new toolbar from the bottom of the slide-out submenu
• paste the following path in the box labeled folder (quotes and all): “%appdata%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick launch”

You’ll see the toolbar appear on your Superbar. To easily add shortcuts to other folders, right-click on the Quick launch text and choose open folder. Any shortcuts you create in that Explorer window will automatically appear on the menu you just created.

You can also drag-and-drop shortcuts — just be careful where you let go of your mouse button or your shortcut may wind up somewhere you didn’t want it.

The Desktop toolbar
One very handy default toolbar is Desktop. Add it, and all the icons covering up your snazzy wallpaper appear right on the taskbar in a compact menu. Once you’ve done that, you can right click your desktop, choose view, and click on Show Desktop Icons. *poof!* Your desktop is squeaky clean, and you still have easy access to everything you stashed there.

You can still drag and drop items on your desktop or right-click a file or folder and choose send to -> desktop, too. Instead of appearing there, they’ll show up on the menu!

Adding the desktop toolbar is even easier than the Quick Launch:

• right click the Superbar and choose toolbar from the top of the context menu
• click Desktop
  

Bonus: this also acts as a way to get a functional recycle bin icon on your taskbar!

The Start Menu -> Recorded TV Library button
Sure, technically the Menu isn’t on the taskbar itself, but the Windows button is, so let’s just go with it…Starting with XP, Microsoft added a section of folder buttons to the right-hand side of the Windows Start Menu. They give quick access to things like your Documents, Music, and Photos.

In Windows 7, you can add two more: Downloads and Recorded TV. Fast access to the Downloads folder? Heck yes! The Recorded TV library, however, really isn’t going to be that useful to you if you don’t use your system as a PVR — but you can easily change it to something that you’ll find much more handy. It’s a three step process (with multiple sub-steps).

Step 1: add the Recorded TV library button to your Start Menu

• Right-click the Windows button and choose properties
• Click the customize button when the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window appears
• Scroll down through the list (it’s alphabetical) until you find Recorded TV
• Change the selection to either display as link or display as menu. Display as link means a new Explorer window will open when you click the button. Display as menu will slide out your Library’s contents when you hover over the button with your mouse.

Step 2: change the name to something more meaningful

• Click your Windows button to make the start button appear
• Right-click the Recorded TV folder and choose properties
• Click the General tab
• Replace Recorded TV with whatever you want (Miscellaneous Debris, etc.)

Step 3: add the folders you want to the library

• Click your Windows button to make the start button appear
• Right-click the Recorded TV folder and choose properties
• Click Include a Folder and browse for the folder you want
• Click the Include Folder button to add it
• Repeat until your library is complete
• Click the drop-down under Optimize this library for and set it to the most appropriate type (I use General)

Got another method for fast and easy file and folder access which doesn’t require additional software? Share it in the comments!

Go to Source Article at Download Squad

Anyone who has used Opera will be familiar with the information presented for the webpage that is currently loading in the browser (i.e. number of images loaded). If you would like to have that same functionality in Firefox then join us as we look at the Extended Statusbar extension.

Before

Here is the default setup for Firefox…not a lot of information available to indicate exactly how much of the webpage has already loaded versus what has not. For some people this is enough but what if you like more details?

Extended Statusbar in Action

You may be curious about the information that the Extended Statusbar extension will provide. The information includes:

• Percentage of the webpage loaded
• The number of images loaded
• Bytes downloaded
• Average download speed
• The load time

After emptying the cache we once again reloaded the HTG homepage. The default style/mode is “Classic Style” and the “webpage load information” will be displayed within your “Status Bar” as shown here.

The information available after the webpage finished loading in “Classic Style”.

If you prefer “Slim Mode” this is how your “Status Bar” should look afterwards…very condensed.

For those preferring the “New Style” a temporary addition will appear above your regular “Status Bar” and disappear just a few seconds after the webpage has fully loaded (unless changed in the “Settings”).

Settings

The “Settings” are set up in two different ways. For those who prefer to use the “Classic Style & Slim Mode” these are the options available to you.

If you prefer the “New Style” then you will have a whole different set of options available. Notice that you can exclude certain webpages and set a custom style if desired.

Conclusion

If you have been wanting to add Opera style webpage loading information to your “Status Bar” then you should definitely give this extension a try.

Links

Download the Extended Statusbar extension (Mozilla Add-ons)

Go to Source Article at How to Geek