Focus the taskbar and switch windows with the arrow keys in Windows 7

This week, we're running a series of keyboard tips and tricks that help you make the most of Windows 7. To see the previous tips, check our Tips index.

The taskbar seems like it was meant to be used with the mouse only; it's a very visual thing, especially in Windows 7. But it turns out there's a way to "switch" to the taskbar and then work with it using the keyboard only! Hit Win+T to focus the taskbar, and then use the arrow keys to cycle between the icons. Whenever the focus switches to an application that's currently running, its Aero Peek pane will show up. To start an application that isn't running, press Enter.

What's nice about this system is that it takes your taskbar's orientations into account: for a vertical taskbar, Up/Down will switch windows, while Left/Right would activate the Aero Peek thumbnail pane; for a horizontal one, Left/Right would switch windows and Up/Down would activate the thumbnail pane.

This little nugget concludes our weekly Keyboard Tips series. I hope you've enjoyed it, and maybe even learned some new tricks! Check out Sebastian's list for a comprehensive rundown of many other hotkeys.

[Image credit: orangeacid]Focus the taskbar and switch windows with the arrow keys in Windows 7 originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Google said to be hiring 'dozens' to boost Android app development

We've already heard of some changes that Google's planning to make to boost app purchases in the Android Market, and it looks like it's now also undertaking a considerable in-house effort to increase the number of quality apps that are available. According to The Wall Street Journal, Google is planning to hire "dozens" of software engineers, product managers, user-interface experts and "others who have ideas for mobile apps," and it's apparently already shifted some of its current employees to work in this new "apps lab." As you might expect, that's being done at least in part to close the so-called "app gap" with Apple, and it looks like the new apps will reach far beyond Google's usual properties -- the WSJ even specifically mentions games as one area they'll focus on. The apps would also apparently all be free (but possibly ad-supported), and Google is said to be trying to woo developers with its distribution power, noting that it will be able to promote the apps in the Android Market and even have them pre-installed on many phones.Google said to be hiring 'dozens' to boost Android app development originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 13:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Slashdot  |  Wall Street Journal  | Email this | Comments

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Protect your iPhone and iPad from crazy button pressing infants

I don’t have kids, but apparently toddlers absolutely love to play with iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch devices. And the one thing that they love to do is press the Home button. Unfortunately, doing so will pop them right out of the application and back to the icon view. In order to avoid frustrated babies, [...]

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How to hide the Ribbon menu in Microsoft Office applications

This week's series of tips will be focusing on handy little features for Microsoft Excel and Word. To see the previous tips, check our Tips index.

The new Ribbon interface on Office 2007 and 2010 is quite fancy, and once you get used to it, it's a lot of fun to use. One of its few downsides is that it's tall - far taller than a "traditional" menu. If you're working on a netbook or are otherwise pressed for screen space, it can sometimes be handy to collapse the Ribbon and make it as compact as a regular menu.

To collapse it, simply double-click one of the Ribbon's tabs, such as "Home". The whole thing will instantly shrink down to the line of tabs. Clicking a tab will temporarily expand it back. If you'd rather do the same thing using the keyboard, simply hit Ctrl+F1 (that's what I normally do).How to hide the Ribbon menu in Microsoft Office applications originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 11 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

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CrunchGear Week in Review: Hop To It Edition

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AV-Test year-end report shows exponential growth of malware

Now, we don't need fancy graphs to tell us that malware is all over the place -- but it's certainly eye-opening to see just how bad the problem has gotten. Unique samples gathered by AV-Test Labs this year nearly doubled in 2010 -- to almost 20 million, up from 12 million in 2009. That's no doubt due to the ever-morphing horde of rogue applications, which now include bogus system tune-up software in addition to the traditional fake antivirus programs we have come to despise.

Thankfully, security vendors have really stepped up their game in the last two years. Clearly they're going to need to keep churning out smarter, more adaptive, and just plain better apps to keep users protected.

Those of you who want to read the full report can download the Excel sheet, courtesy Sunbelt Software.AV-Test year-end report shows exponential growth of malware originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Open a new instance of an existing application in Windows 7

This week, we're running a series of keyboard tips and tricks that help you make the most of Windows 7. To see the previous tips, check our Tips index.

Earlier this week, I've shown you how to activate specific windows using their numbers. As you may recall, hitting Win+Number runs the application for that spot on the taskbar, or switches to it if it's already running. But what if it's already running and you want to run a new instace? Well, it turns out that's possible by hitting Win+Shift+number! This sequence would run the program for that taskbar spot again, even if it's already running. And if you like using the mouse, you can get the same result by middle-clicking the application's icon.

Come back tomorrow for the next keyboard tip, or, if you'd like to read a whole bunch at once, check out Sebastian's epic list.

Photo: orangeacidOpen a new instance of an existing application in Windows 7 originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

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