Speed Launch is a new app launcher from the Office Labs team that lets you assign aliases to your favorite programs, web pages and local documents.
Later, you may just type these aliases to quickly launch the corresponding web page, program or document. Here’s a quick demo for the CNN website.
When you install Speed Launch, an icon in the shape of a bull’s eye gets added to the desktop. You may simply drag-n-drop files, browser tabs, program shortcuts over this icon to setup an alias or give that file a more meaningful and easy-to-remember name.
You may also create shortcuts to write search queries. For example, to search Wikipedia just type "Wikipedia Search" and hit enter (it will auto-complete as soon as type the first few characters). Next, type what you want to search for in the new window and hit enter.
When you install Speed Launch, you agree that the application will periodically upload usage metrics to Microsoft. If its not a concern, go ahead an install the software. While it is not a replacement for ActiveWords or Launchy, Speed Launch does look like a useful app especially for keyboard-happy users.
Related: Office Labs - Community Clips
Find this article at:
http://www.labnol.org/software/speed-launch-sets-alias-for-webpages-documents/4140/
web: http://www.labnol.org/
email: amit@labnol.org
Reader Comments
So…. is this any different than the keyword feature already built into Firefox? It seems the same to me, only with more UI interference.
#1 - written by Benjamin Goering on 08.06.08
The keyword feature in Firefox is limited to websites that you open in Firefox.
Speed Launch works with web pages, files and software programs.
#2 - written by Amit Agarwal on 08.06.08
I’m not sure if I need another launcher, but I’ll check this one out. :-)
#3 - written by Alexander Davis on 08.06.08
I am very happy with keybreeze. it is perfect application launcher. it is one of the best tool i ever found.
#4 - written by amit agrawal on 08.06.08
Hi Amit,
I agree with you. Even I am using keybreeze and I think it is best.
#5 - written by Nitin Bajaj on 08.06.08
I have my keyboard surfing covered between Find And Run Robot and PhraseExpress.
#6 - written by Sridhar Katakam on 08.07.08
Gosh, Opera had this for sooo long.
#7 - written by janislaw on 08.07.08
I think the demo above is wrong… On office labs website the video shows that you type the shortcut into their speedlaunch program, but in the demo above they type “cnn” it into firefox, which just works because that shortcut is already built into firefox.
#8 - written by Ken Senter on 08.07.08
Open all your new tabs with your homepage instead of untitled with Tab Mix Plus add-on. I love these gif presentations on your blog.
#9 - written by Brent on 08.07.08