NTWind News

VistaSwitcher 1.0.7 Beta - International Keyboard Layouts

Alexander Avdonin — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:52:25 -0600

This release brings a number of bugfixes and goodies for people with non-English keyboard layouts. Now VistaSwitcher always replaces Alt + [the key right above the Tab] for switching between windows of the same application - no matter what the key is above the Tab on your keyboard layout.

Example 1 - Italian keyboard layout:

Use Alt + \ to switch between windows of a single application.

Example 2 - Swiss German keyboard layout:

Use Alt + § to switch between windows of a single application.

Learn more: Switch Windows Of The Same Application

Changelog for VistaSwitcher 1.0.7 Beta:

Added support of non-English keyboard layouts (for Alt+Backtick and other)
Several improvements on the Alt-Tab replacement routine
Improved the drawing speed and overall performance
Some other minor bugfixes and improvements

Download VistaSwitcher 1.0.7 (32-bit and 64-bit)

VistaSwitcher 1.0.6 Beta - Bugfix Release

Alexander Avdonin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:12:03 -0600

I would like to thank everyone who tried out VistaSwitcher, sent feedback and reported bugs and issues. Your contribution really helps to deliver a better product!

Changelog for VistaSwitcher 1.0.6 Beta:

Fixed an issue with switching tasks when preview isn't fully rendered (XP)
Fixed an issue with switching between MSN Live Messenger windows (Win7)
Several improvements on the window enumeration algorithm
Various stability and performance improvements

Download VistaSwitcher 1.0.6 (32-bit and 64-bit)

VistaSwitcher 1.0.5 Beta - Aero Blur Effect

Alexander Avdonin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:19:15 -0500

New version of VistaSwitcher has been released today. This release addresses a critical issue that caused crashes when working with some applications and adds support of the Aero blur effect on Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Aero Blur Effect

Open VistaSwitcher Preferences, Appearance tab, check "Enable Aero blur effect":

Here is the result:

The Aero blur effect looks cool and makes it easier to read the text labels. If you perform a fresh install of VistaSwitcher, this option is enabled by default.

Changelog for VistaSwitcher v1.0.5:

Added option "Enable Aero blur effect" (Appearance tab)
Removed option "Fade out animation" (Appearance tab)
Added ability to remap or even disable the Backtick key (see forum)
Fixed a critical issue that caused crashes when working with some apps
Various stability and performance improvements

Download VistaSwitcher 1.0.5 (32-bit and 64-bit)

VistaSwitcher 1.0.4 Beta - Improved Keyboard Control

Alexander Avdonin — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:01:36 -0500

New version of VistaSwitcher has been released today. This is probably the latest beta before version 1.0 goes gold. VistaSwitcher 1.0 Final should be released within 2 weeks.

Updated Keyboard Shortcuts

To start using VistaSwitcher, remember the two main keyboard shortcuts:

Alt + Tab	Switch between open windows
Alt + ` (Backtick)	Switch between open windows of the active application (for example, MS Word documents)

Use Alt + ` (Backtick) to switch between windows of the same application. This is easy to remember if you notice that the Backtick is the key right above the Tab.

So, to switch between ALL open windows, use Alt + Tab. To switch between windows of the same application, use the key right above, Alt + ` (Backtick).

See other keyboard shortcuts →

Hotkey Error Dialog

The Hotkey Error Dialog now provides more details on what the problem is:

Changelog for VistaSwitcher v1.0.4:

Alt + ` (Bactick) switches between windows of the active application
Ctrl+Alt+Tab switches between windows on the current monitor
Added ability to substitute the low-level keyboard hook (see forum)
Improved the Alt-Tab replacement routine (possible conflicts with other apps)
Shortcut key "A" - select all, second press - deselect all
Hotkey Error dialog now provides more details on what the problem is
Improved the window enumeration routine for New Exclusion dialog
Improved scaling of multi-monitor wallpapers (UltraMon, DisplayFusion, etc)
Several other improvements and bug fixes

Download VistaSwitcher 1.0.4 (32-bit and 64-bit)

WinSnap v3.1.3 - Minor Tweaks and Enhancements

Alexander Avdonin — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:24:19 -0500

New version of WinSnap has been released today. This is a new stable maintenance release which contains a few minor enhancements, as well as some bugfixes.

Now pressing the number key (1...5) twice changes the active capture mode and starts a new capture immediatelly, example:
- first press of "2" - select the Application capture mode,
- second press of "2" - take screenshot of the application.

This could be very useful for notebooks (especially if you are working without a mouse).

Changelog for WinSnap v3.1.3:

Pressing the number key twice starts a new capture
Fixed an issue with the digital signature in the previous version
Portable Edition: the trial counter works correctly now
Portable Edition: several performance improvements for I/O

Download WinSnap v3.1.3 (32-bit, 64-bit, portable)

VistaSwitcher 1.0.3 Beta - Support Of Multiple Monitors

Alexander Avdonin — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:22:17 -0500

New beta version of VistaSwitcher has been released today. This version adds support of multiple monitors and includes many other improvements (based on the user feedback).

Changelog for VistaSwitcher v1.0.3:

Desktop and window previews now work on multi-monitor systems
Added ability to show VistaSwitcher on the active monitor (Behavior tab)
Added option "Show tasks only from the active monitor" (Behavior tab)
Added option "Show VistaSwitcher icon in notification area" (General tab)
Option "Check for updates automatically" moved to the About page
Added "Preferences" item to the main right-click menu
Added a workaround to enable previews on Vista Home Basic
Added application compatibility section to the EXE manifest
Fixed an issue with IME windows on some machines
Several other improvements and bug fixes

Quick links:

Hidden Start 3.1 - Windows 7 Compatibility

Alexander Avdonin — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:20:27 -0500

This minor update to Hstart adds support of the upcoming Windows 7 operating system:

Hstart can start non-elevated applications from elevated and handle UAC prompts on Windows 7 as well as on Windows Vista.

Download Hstart 3.1 (32-bit and 64-bit)

WinSnap v3.1.2 - Recommended Update

Alexander Avdonin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:48:45 -0500

New version of WinSnap has been released today. This is a recommended update that resolves various issues and contains many improvements to the core algorithms.

Changelog for WinSnap v3.1.2:

Fixed and improved "Clear Aero background under Vista/7" feature
Fixed and improved rendering of custom controls on slow computers
Fixed an issue with multiple presses of the PrintScreen key in the Region mode
Fixed an issue with applying Advanced Capture Settings on the first run
Several improvements to the WinSnap setup process
Fixed a PCA warning on Windows 7 (caused from time to time)
Added compatibility section to the EXE manifest for Windows 7

Download WinSnap v3.1.2 (32-bit, 64-bit, portable)

VistaSwitcher 1.0.2 Beta Released

Alexander Avdonin — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 06:49:57 -0500

New beta version of VistaSwitcher has been released today. I invite everyone to test VistaSwitcher 1.0 Beta on as wide variety of system configurations as possible.

Added "Show task numbers" option and more:

Changelog for VistaSwitcher v1.0.2:

Added support of new wallpaper styles of Windows 7
Fixed "Tile" and "Center" wallpaper styles on Vista and XP
Added "Show task numbers" option (Appearance tab)
Added "Check for new versions of VistaSwitcher online" option
Pressing the number key twice switches to the selected task
Improved performance and memory usage
Some other bugfixes and improvements

Quick links:

WindowSpace v2.0.8 released

Alexander Avdonin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:39:16 -0500

New version of WindowSpace has been released today, changelog:

Several improvements on Snap-to-Side and Snap-to-Corner features
Fixed a minor issue with restoring window size
Fixed possible BSOD while working with hung app windows on Vista x64 (see forum)
Added ability to run WindowSpace after installation on Vista (using Hstart)
Added -exit command line switch for wspace.exe / wspace64.exe

Download WindowSpace v2.0.8 (32-bit and 64-bit)

VistaSwitcher 1.0 Beta/Preview Version

Alexander Avdonin — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 04:46:07 -0500

VistaSwitcher is an elegant and powerful task management utility for Windows OS. Once installed, it replaces the default Windows Alt-Tab dialog with a nice box that shows a list of all running tasks with their names and preview snapshots and enables the user to take actions on them using the mouse and keyboard shortcuts. With just one click, you can switch to a task, minimize, maximize, restore the main window or close the process.

(click here for a larger screenshot)

Main features of VistaSwitcher:

Outstanding UI, semi-transparent backgrounds and antialiased fonts
Live window and desktop previews under Windows Vista and 7
Task list with mouse-over selection
Multiple task selection, tile windows vertically or horizontally
Minimize, maximize, restore, close windows and groups of windows
Compatible with UAC, works with elevated applications
Small and fast, native 64-bit version available
Multilingual user interface (Unicode based)

Supported OS: Windows XP\Vista\7

Download VistaSwitcher 1.0.1 (32-bit and 64-bit)

WinSnap v3.1.1 - Drag-n-Drop Support And More

Alexander Avdonin — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:28:47 -0500

New version of WinSnap has been released yesterday, changelog:

Drag-n-Drop support: Drag an image from the Windows Explorer and drop onto the WinSnap window to open it.

Run WinSnap after installation: Finally, the problem with the installer and Vista UAC has been solved (using Hstart with /NONELEVATED switch) and the "run" option is now available on Windows Vista and 7.

+ some improvements on WinSnap Portable Edition and bugfixes.

Download WinSnap v3.1.1 (32-bit, 64-bit, portable)

Hidden Start 3.0 - Start Non-Elevated Apps From Elevated

Alexander Avdonin — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 23:46:27 -0500

On Windows Vista, programs started from an elevated application or script would also run in elevated mode with full administrative rights. Hstart 3.0 gives an easy and native way to start a non-elevated program from the command line or a batch file, even if the command line proces is elevated. (see examples and learn more)

Installers that always run with full administrative rights on Vista computers can benefit from using Hstart with the /NONELEVATED switch and run other programs or scripts with the rights of the currently logged on user.

Hstart is very small (~40 Kb), but it allows you to:

start multiple applications in the specified order synchronously;
start console applications without any windows in the background;
start non-elevated applications from elevated scripts and batch files (new in v3.0);
handle UAC privilege elevation under Windows Vista and above;
set the working directory and priority class of the created processes;
show success and error messages after command execution.

Download Hstart 3.0 (32-bit and 64-bit)

WinSnap v3.1.0 - Screen Capture For Windows 7

Alexander Avdonin — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:12:10 -0500

I'm glad to inform you that WinSnap v3.1.0 is available for download now. This version adds support of the new Windows 7 Taskbar features and contains several improvements to the Object capture mode.

Windows 7 Taskbar (Superbar): There is no quick launch in Windows 7 by default, but you can drag WinSnap shortcut to the taskbar and get advantage of the new Superbar features.

Right-click the taskbar icon and get instant access to the main screen capture tasks:

For more information, see WinSnap - Screen Capture For Windows 7.

Object / Multi-Object capture mode: Fixed a few minor issues + added ability to capture fly-out menus of Office 2007 applications (Word, Excel, Powerpoint and other)

Hold down the CTRL key or use the middle mouse button to select multiple menus and objects:

Changelog for WinSnap v3.1.0:

WinSnap now officially supports the upcoming Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit)
Windows 7: Added task list (jump list) to the WinSnap icon on the taskbar
Added ability to capture complex menus of Office 2007 applications (Object mode)
Several improvements to the WinSnap installer (graphics, icons, etc)
Fixed an issue with keyboard shortcuts (Esc and other) in the Object mode
Some other minor improvements and bug fixes

Download WinSnap v3.1.0 (32-bit, 64-bit, portable)

WindowSpace v2.0.7 released

Alexander Avdonin — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:01:36 -0500

This bugfix release of WindowSpace addresses the following issues:

Fixed an issue with moving maximized windows between monitors
Fixed an issue with restoring window size when it's snapped to to the top/bottom side
Some other minor improvements and bugfixes

Download WindowSpace v2.0.7 (32-bit and 64-bit)

WinSnap v3.0.9 - more than 27 languages now!

Alexander Avdonin — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 08:06:56 -0500

I'm glad to inform you that WinSnap v3.0 is translated into more than 27 languages by great people around the world. Thanks everyone for their contribution and help!

Changelog for WinSnap v3.0.9:

New translations: Czech, Indonesian (27+ languages now)
"Auto-Save" and "Auto-Copy" work when changing effects now
New command line switches: /FIXED-SIZE, /FIXED-POS (see forum for details)
Improved compatibility with Windows 2000 (fixed a few issues with icons)
Some other minor improvements and bug fixes

Download WinSnap v3.0.9 (32-bit, 64-bit, portable)

WindowSpace v2.0.6 released

Alexander Avdonin — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:32:33 -0500

A new version of WindowSpace has been released today, changelog:

Installer: Language selection dialog is now displayed on the first launch
Exclusions now work for multiple applications (see forum for details)
Fixed an issue with "Move window to the previous monitor" shortcut
Fixed an issue with "Resize window to the screen edge" shortcut
Some other minor improvements and bugfixes

Download WindowSpace v2.0.6 (32-bit and 64-bit)

WindowSpace v2.0.5 released

Alexander Avdonin — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 10:04:21 -0500

A new version of WindowSpace has been released today, changelog:

New translations (updated for v2.0): Finnish, Italian, Russian, Spanish
Rolled-up windows are now restored on minimize/maximize/restore
Fixed moving/resizing for rolled-up window in the maximized state
Fixed "move to the previous monitor" keyboard shortcut
Fixed an issue with keyboard shortcuts on Vista x64
Various stability and performance improvements

Download WindowSpace v2.0.5 (32-bit and 64-bit)

WindowSpace v2.0.4 - Final Release

Alexander Avdonin — Wed, 20 May 2009 22:09:28 -0500

At last, I'd like to announce that WindowSpace 2.0 is out of Beta phase. If you haven't tried the previous beta releases, see what's new in this major version.

Changelog for WindowSpace v2.0.4:

WindowSpace 2.0 is out of Beta phase!
Added support of third-party translations (see "lang" directory)
Added option to disable keyboard shortcuts (Hotkeys tab, Options)
Added ability to exclude certain applications via registry key (see forum)
Improved compatibility with applications that use their own snapping hooks
Fixed an issue when "Show window contents while dragging" is turned off
Fixed a minor issue with default keyboard shortcuts
Fixed a minor issue with "maximize to desktop" hotkey on Vista x64
Some default settings were changed

Download WindowSpace v2.0.4 (32-bit and 64-bit)

WinSnap v3.0.8 - supports Windows 7 RC and Beta

Alexander Avdonin — Tue, 12 May 2009 09:40:21 -0500

I'm happy to announce that WinSnap v3.0.8 is available for download now. This is the first version of WinSnap that officially supports the upcoming Windows 7.

Rounded corners on Windows 7 are different from Windows Vista:


Rounded corners on Windows 7	Rounded corners on Windows Vista

WinSnap v3.0.8 supports both styles. If you are using WinSnap Portable Edition, it will automatically switch between them on Vista and Windows 7.

"Clear window background" now works for maximized windows too:

Changelog for WinSnap v3.0.8:

New translations: Dutch, Korean, Basque (Euskera)
Greatly improved "Clear window background under Vista" feature
Capture Explorer windows and dialogs using the Application mode
Active monitor is determined by mouse position now (Full Screen)
Fixed some minor issues with capturing elevated (UAC) applications
Improved compatibility with Windows 7 RC and Beta
Portable Edition: increased performance when running from slow USB drives

Download WinSnap v3.0.8 (32-bit, 64-bit, portable)