Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Productivity, Freeware, Search
Start++ Makes Vista's Start Menu Wicked Useful
by Lee Mathews Sep 16th 2008 at 2:00PM
Besides, once you download and install Start++ the search box will be kicking so much ass you won't believe it.
Start++ adds a number of handy functions. For a start, you can set up custom keywords to perform search operations. By default it will recognize g (Google), y (Yahoo!), l (Live Search) w (Wikipedia), and imdb ('nuf said).
Type g[space] your search text, and Start++ will display results right in the start menu. You're even able to switch views between web, news, blog, and image seamlessly. Text and links can be highlighted and copied with ctrl + c, though right clicking does not work.
Setting up new keywords is a snap, and the sky's the limit.Start++ can also be extended by installing plugins, and there are quite a few available for download. Commands of interest include the MS knowledge base (just enter a KB number), YouTube search, MSN Weather, and Start/Stop services. There are also gadgets available, like Digg (doesn't work 100%) and PocketTweets, which provides an excellent, streamlined interface to use Twitter in the start menu.
I also love the developer's choice to include sudo in the app's functions. Need to run a command with elevated privileges? Preface it with sudo, and Vista will run it with admin rights. Slick!
Now, Start++ isn't perfect. It did quit displaying results a couple times, but closing and re-launching the application got it going again. To me, it's a minor inconvenience, and not something that will make me uninstall it..
I haven't always been the biggest fan of Vista's redesigned start menu, but Start++ transforms it into something that is beautifully useful. If you're a Vista user, this is well worth a download.
With Halloween fast approaching, it's a great time to get in some practice defending your territory against zombies. In Graveyard Shift, you take aim at zombies and other creepy-crawlies, blasting them into splatters of cartoony green guts. It's a casual first-person shooter, and it's very easy to get the hang of - use the mouse to aim, click to fire. Graveyard Shift has at least 15 levels, and it might even have some secret stages I haven't unlocked yet.
They key to getting good at Graveyard Shift is learning to use ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Zaxour said 2:31PM on 9-16-2008
You know you can add the Run command by going through your start menu properties?
Right click on task bar>properties>Start Menu tab, Customize, and its in that list.
Reply
Lee Mathews said 2:32PM on 9-16-2008
Absolutely. It was one of the first things I looked for when I played with the betas. I've never clicked it anyways, win+r is so much quicker.
H said 3:51PM on 9-17-2008
The Run command is right there out of the box. You don't have to do anything.
Just type the name of an executable in the 'Start Search' box in the start menu.
LEo said 2:43PM on 9-16-2008
Great! Now mix this with Launchy and we have the ultimate launching tool.
L.
Reply
neo said 2:56PM on 9-16-2008
Vista is not that bad. Apple has done a good job bashing MS. I've recently purchased a macbook and while OS X is nice, it doesn't stand head and shoulders above Vista - at least not from a UI standpoint. Give it up Apple fanboys...
Reply
Lee Mathews said 2:59PM on 9-16-2008
True...somewhat unrelated, but true. Every OS has things it does well, and things it does poorly. Vista and OSX are no different.
Ultimately, all I want is an OS that is stable, secure, and that lets developers roll killer apps like Start ++ easily.
DiRT said 3:47PM on 9-16-2008
I don't disagree at all, but you are asking for it!
Kenneth said 7:52PM on 9-16-2008
I also recommend Vista Start Menu. While there is a paid version, the free version has most of the features and is quite powerful in extending the start button/vista orb menu. It doesn't integrate with the search field as much as this, but for people looking for a more expansive start menu, it may fit the bill better:
http://www.vistastartmenu.com/index.html
Reply
Wil said 4:12PM on 9-18-2008
The Run command is handy for quickly launching programs so it is worthwhile making a small configuration change to add it back to the Start Menu. You can quickly do so in Windows Vista by completing the simple steps listed below:
1. Right click on the Start button, and click Properties.
2. From the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog, click Customize.
3. Scroll down through the list until you shall find Run command. Check the box next to it.
4. Click OK.
(Found on lockergnome)
Reply
Allen said 4:05PM on 9-17-2008
Interesting to know is that the developer of Start++ Brandon Paddock is also part of the Windows Search department. (Neowin member, also)
Reply
John Lord said 1:15AM on 11-10-2008
you already can add customized shortcuts and search providers to the xp version of the search box. I don't know why they blocked this functionality in the vista one.
Reply