Taskbar Launcer is a little tool that shows a customizable launch pad when you hit the taskbar. If you don’t like this launch pad you can also launch something else instead. You can also set it to launch nothicg which also disables HTC Notification, Samsung notification if you’re on OMNIA, or the taskbar from newer 6.5.x builds.
Current version is designed for newer 6.5.x builds of Windows Mobile with the start menu on bottom. Taskbar Launcher is blocking all other applications from the taskbar, so it might be a bad idea to use it when your Start menu is still on top.
Installation
Run the CAB file on your phone. All files are copied into program files directory. There’s also a shortcut installed in \Windows\Startup to automatically launch it after reboot. After installation the Taskbar Launcher is not yet running. Sorry this is only first beta. So go into the program directory and launch tbl.exe or just soft reset.
Usage
Hit the taskbar and then the icon of the program you want to launch. The close button below hides the window again. You can also tap and hold anywhere in the window and a little popup menu appears. Here you can stop Taskbar launcher.
Customization
By default you see Explorer, Camera, Task manager and Internet explorer in the launch pad. In the program directory of Taskbar launcher you’ll find an INI file (yes! old school!) which you need to edit.
In [General] section you can change the launch mode. There are 3 modes:
0 –> nothing happens when you hit the task bar
1 –> enable the customizeable launch pad
2 –> when hitting the taskbar then launch something else
LaunchExe and LaunchParam is executed if LaunchMode is 2.
In [CustomLauncher] section you can change the images for the close button and a background picture. The files are read as relative paths to the program file directory. Don’t add absolute paths. Currently you can’t add path to a file in \Windows directory.
In [CustomCmds] you add the list of tools you need. Always increment the ID by 1. In the section for each tool you add a image (relative path again) and executable file (absolute path).
After a change in the INI file or when chaning any of the PNG files then you have to restart Taskbar Launcher.
Limitations
Developed on Touch Diamond 2 with WVGA resolution. Also tested on the emulator with VGA resolution and it looks fine as well. The PNG files are probably too big for smaller screens (at least it looks horrible on QWVGA emulator) and you have to scale them down.
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