[Freddy2]

Hello all!


Of course almost everyone around here knows the new Windows 7 features Aero Shake and Aero Peek. And some of you might have even tried some programs that try to mimic one of these tricks, but... most of them offer only one of these functions and aren't always working very fast and/or reliably. Besides, they often are rather big and demanding. And none of them offers the most useful Taskbar Aero Peek function.

So... that's when I thought: "I could do that too!" And here, on my WinShake Web Site, is the result of my hard work!


WinShake v2.41


It is very small, it works fast and can be used on all Windows versions (9x/ME/2000/XP/2003/Vista/2008(R2)/Win7), even though Peeking requires Windows 2000 or later.
It is not a 100% copy of the Windows 7 features, but rather an improvement!... The Shake function shakes the window for you and the Peek function allows real access to the desktop instead of just showing it. And it's also an improvement of the Show Desktop icon in your Quick Launch Bar or the Windows 7 Show Desktop Button: contrary to the original one, this one only minimizes windows and leaves Sidebars and Gadgets and such in peace.
On top of this, version 1.50 added an all new function, called PeekTop: this only Peeks through "Always-On-Top" windows that might block your view and it makes the active window semi-transparent, so that you can work with it and read what's underneath at the same time.

Version 1.50 also solved the only real "problem"... While it already worked perfectly on XP, it is now also fully Vista compatible!

And then came version 2.02!... This one finally adds true Windows 7 Taskbar Aero Peek, making it possible to Peek at a window, just by hovering over its Taskbar Button. You can even Peek at minimized windows!
This new function, plus all the other ones, can now also be used with your mouse!

The latest version 2.41 adds, on top of all kinds of smaller improvements, two new functions: with PeekX you can now Peek through all windows while keeping the active one normal, by clicking the Middle Mouse Button (MMB) on the Title Bar of the window. In this way you can for example quickly drag something between this window and the desktop. And the second new function is PeekTopX: by double clicking the MMB on the X-Button in the Title Bar of the window, that window and its Taskbar Button disappear completely. Handy when nosy people are around... If there are more "confidential" windows, you can select/deselect those in advance (or afterwards), by holding Shift, so that they too will be hidden. (This can only be enabled when you have administrator rights.)

In the installation file there are the two program files themselves, a text file describing all the functions and an icon file with special icons for the different functions. You can also choose to install it manually, but the automatic installation puts an UnInstall option in the "Add or Remove Programs" Control Panel. And administrators can choose to install it for All Users instead of just the current one.
For your ease I will show you a few pictures here, so you can get an idea already! On the WinShake Web Site there is a lot more information about it, so... take a look! This thread remains the place for any questions or requests you might have, or for comments and discussions.
I hope you will like it and please... let me know what you think of it!


Freddy


-----------------------------


Here is a look at the Shake function in action:


This is how things look when Peeking:


The new PeekTop function:


And finally Taskbar Peek:

This post has been edited by Freddy2: 06 July 2010 - 03:38 PM

[shivaram]

Welcome to Winmatrix

thats a good attempt to have your own piece of code and make it happen. Well great effort.

Though nowadays i dont use XP. I ll try in Vista and let you know...

edit:
well i get this message when i try to download

Quote

THE DAILY TRAFFIC LIMIT FOR YOUR COUNTRY IS CONSUMED. IT'S TIME TO BUY A PREMIUM ACCOUNT! (or you can try again tomorrow) PREMIUM ACCOUNT

try uploading some where else..

This post has been edited by shivaram: 09 June 2009 - 04:23 AM

[USG Ishimura]

Upload it on MediaFire.com

[RickSOLET]

Very useful app Freddy. Welcome to WM.

[Freddy2]

Hello all!

And thanks for the welcome and the compliments!
For those of you who were having problems with the download link I gave, I added a second one in the first post.

[Secured Tim]

Looks good. I'll give it a try.

[AMIRZ]

Wow very cool, another awesome app again here, thanks and welcome to WM Freddy2

[Freddy2]

I just uploaded a new version 1.12:

v1.12 - 06/09/2009
Feature = Now the previous window on top is even remembered when there is another one on top when restoring.

[Gragier_521]

Keep up the good work Freddy!

[SeppWinkler]

Thanks for a well soft It works pretty, but there is one strange bug on dual monitor configuration. The simple function to show desktop (just click without any modifier like Ctrl or Shift) do not restore windows on second monitor. Tested on XP SP3.

Sepp

[Freddy2]

SeppWinkler, on Jun 10 2009, 02:54 PM, said:

Thanks for a well soft It works pretty, but there is one strange bug on dual monitor configuration. The simple function to show desktop (just click without any modifier like Ctrl or Shift) do not restore windows on second monitor. Tested on XP SP3.

Hi Sepp!

Glad you like it and thanks for the bug report!
Could you answer a few questions for me please?...

- The windows that were on monitor #2, aren't they restored at all, or are they restored to monitor #1?
- I suppose the Shake function (with modifier Shift) acts the same when shaking a window on monitor #1?
- Does the Shake function act differently when shaking a window on monitor #2?
- And finally, how do the standard windows function keys "WinKey + M" and "WinKey + Shift + M" act in those cases?

Thanks again in advance!

Freddy

[Johnnyboy]

Good job Freddy. WinXP users will definitely like this.

[SeppWinkler]

Hi Freddy,

thanks for quick replay. I tested it again, and it seems that only MS Excel does not restore. Here is my answer to your questions:

1) Excel does not restore. It doesn't matter if it is on monitor 1 or monitor 2
2) and 3) Shake function works correctly on both monitors
4) Standard windows functions work correctly also on Excel

Best regards,

Sepp

[Skrell]

this is great!! very well thought out! please keep up the good work!

[Freddy2]

SeppWinkler, on Jun 11 2009, 10:08 AM, said:

thanks for quick replay. I tested it again, and it seems that only MS Excel does not restore. Here is my answer to your questions:

1) Excel does not restore. It doesn't matter if it is on monitor 1 or monitor 2
2) and 3) Shake function works correctly on both monitors
4) Standard windows functions work correctly also on Excel

Hi Sepp!

And thanks for testing! It's not so easy to get this right, because over here MS Excel acts a little weird too sometimes, but not the way you describe it, so... Windows just acts weird sometimes, doesn't it!?...
By the way, what version of MS Excel do you have?...

I made a beta that, at least, acts better with Excel when it comes to the weird behaviour I experienced. And I hope it also acts better in your case!?... Could you tell me the result please?...

WinShake v1.12.1 beta

Thanks again!

Freddy