Better Explorer Beta 1

Better Explorer is a replacement for the standard Windows Explorer with more features for more convenience. Among other features, Better Explorer has Tabs, Ribbon interface, additional conditional tabs and so on!

This Project is designed for use with Windows 7 (it WILL NOT work on older operating systems).

It also works on the Windows 8 Release Preview.

The main goals of this project are:

- Adding Ribbon Control UI like in Windows 8 (Implemented)

- Adding tab functionality together with use of standard explorer browser control (Implemented)

- Adding additional features like:

• Changing Library icons (conditional tab for Libraries) (Implemented)
• File operation with files and folders (Implemented)
• Synchronized command prompt
• Change of folder icons (conditional tab for folders)
• Extended Jump list support (Windows 7) (Implemented)
• Extended search conditional tab like extended search pane in Vista (Windows 7) (Implemented)

Beta 1 Changes

There were a lot of changes, including:

• Translations into 10 different languages (the translations are not complete and will be updated soon)
• Conditional Select
• new tools for managing archives
• Folder Tools tab
• new search bar and Search Tab
• new image editing tools
• update function
• many bug fixes, stability fixes, and memory leak fixes
• other new features as well!

Note: This is beta software. Do not install this if you don't know what you are doing!

Download: Better Explorer Beta 1 | 14.1 MB (Open Source)

View: Better Explorer Website

Windows 8 Snap Feature on Low Resolution Monitor

Snap is a new multi-tasking feature for Windows 8 that allows users to run two programs at once. Snap enables you to run two Start Screen apps or one start screen app and one desktop app at the same time. This feature only supports high resolution (1366×768 or above pixel) PCs. However, if you have a low resolution monitor, you can also tryout this feature.

There are two simple methods for you to try Windows 8 Snap feature on unsupported resolutions: 

Windows 8 Snap Enabler is a small app that allows you to enable snap feature on Windows 8 Developer Preview with low resolution monitor.

Download and run the tool, click “Enable Windows 8 Snap Feature” to enable and click “DisableWindows 8 Snap Feature” to disable this feature.

You can also force enable snap on unsupported machines with some registry modifications. For that,

Type regedit in the Run Command box (Win + R) and hit enter. Navigate toHKEY_CURRENT_USER –Software / Microsoft / Windows /CurrentVersion /ImmersiveShelland create a new key AppPositioner under ImmersiveShell.

Select AppPositioner and in the right pane create a new DWORD AlwaysEnableLSSnapping and set its value 1. Restart your computer to activate this feature. (via)

Metro Start Screen Background Image Changer

A developer preview version of Windows 8 is here for a while now. Though, it is released for testing purpose, there are many utilities already available to tweak Windows 8 appearance. Here is another little tool called ‘Windows 8 Start Tweaker’ that lets you simply change the background image ofWindows 8 Metro screen and color of logon screen.

In Windows 8 (Dev Preview), there is no option for users to change the Metro screen background image and start screen (logon screen) green color.

With Windows 8 Start Tweaker, you can make any image file (png/bmp/jpg/gif) as your default Metro Screen background, and any color for your Start screen or logon screen just with a click. Just run the tool, select an image (or color for logon screen) and click 'Apply' button. You can reset the changes to default by clicking the 'Reset' button.

Note: If you want the image fills out the whole screen, you should make a image by yourself. The Height of the image should be doubled with the Height of your Screen Resolution. For example, if your Screen Resolution is 1280x800, you should make a image with Height 1600, and the width is not limited.

Interested users can download Windows 8 Start Tweaker (180KB, Portable) at source here (It works for Windows 8 WDP (build 8102) only).

Use Middle Mouse Click to Open and Close Windows

Of course, you can quickly and easily open a new window for a running program by just using akeyboard shortcut key Ctrl + N. However, if you are looking for an alternate way (to open and close a running program’s window) with your mouse, here is how you can do that in Windows 7.

In windows 7, just put your mouse curser over the programs icon shown on taskbar and click the middle mouse button (scroll wheel).

On the other hand, you can close any of a program’s open windows by middle-clicking the window’sTaskbar thumbnail image.

Note: This will works with programs that support multiple open windows, such as Internet Explorer,Windows Explorer, Microsoft Word, Excel, etc

Windows 8 Task Manager Lets You Remove Unwanted Startup Programs

We have Windows 8 developer preview here for sometimes now and from my experience, I should say it is a fast, secure and user-centric OS. As we know, it brings new look and new features to ourcomputer. For example, the task manger in Windows 8 has a new look and added functionalities.

Now the task manger (press Ctrl + Alt + Del to enable) has two type of interface – one is simple that shows only running apps, which makes you easy to mange (terminate) a running app. Another is more detailed task manager (enable by clicking more details option) that gives comprehensive details (see screenshot above).

A new addition to the Windows 8 task manager is an option to control the start up items. Just click the Startup tab to see the programs running at Windows startup and its impact. Usually, too many items definitely will increase boot time.

From Startup tab, you can easily disable or block unwanted applications automatically launching at Windows startup. Then reboot your PC.