This program will look instantly familiar to user with a basic knowledge of programs like Photoshop or Quark X-Press. With rulers at the top and side and a scatter of icons along the top, users are given free reign to customize their projects. The choice of menus is very impressive. Everything from a standard DVD menu to business card formats … Read more

Personal Menu saves screen space in Firefox

One of the better ways to get Google Chrome or Internet Explorer-style compacted menus in Firefox is Personal Menu. The add-on comes loaded with options, so for a one-trick wonder it's pretty slick.

It adds an icon to your toolbar customization window which you can then drag-and-drop onto the toolbar of your choice. I stuck it on the Menus Toolbar next to my navigation and refresh button, because Personal Menu comes with the option to hide the menu bar. By getting rid of the Stop Loading button, because I use that even less than I use the forward button, … Read more

One-click Firefox searching

Like many other Download.com staffers, I use a customized version of Mozilla Firefox. I run the Littlefox theme to maximize real estate, Tab Mix Plus to manage my myriad tabs, and a few other essential add-ons like CustomizeGoogle and Greasemonkey for specific functionality.

The most noticeable tweak in my version of Firefox is the lack of a search-engine box in the upper-right corner of the browser. Back in summer 2007, I explained how and why I killed it. In essence, I replaced the functionality of the Firefox search engines--annoying to manage--with keyword-activated bookmark searches--simple to manage--that I could run … Read more

Monitor your Mac processes

MenuMeters is a free, open-source, small-footprint set of menubar tools for monitoring CPU, disk, memory, and network usage. You set up MenuMeters in a system preference pane, adding any or all of the four meters that you want to appear in your menubar. The CPU meter displays load information along with options for graphs; the disk meter show activity on local disks, with space usage on a drop-down menu; the memory meter shows RAM usage with an optional paging activity indicator; and the network meter provides multiple options for displaying and scaling activity. MenuMeters has a long, stable history and … Read more

One-click access

For all of you Vista users out there having problems locating your system's menu options, this tool is for you. System Menu Shortcuts - Vista puts all of your menu settings under one roof for very easy access.

With all of the tiny icons attached to each shortcut button, the user interface can appear a little cluttered, but it's still very easy to navigate. All of your system's menu options are listed in one window, and can be accessed with a single click of your mouse. You'll find all of your Accessories, Games, System Tools, and … Read more

Enhance your contextual menus

FinderPop is a free preference pane that extends the functionality of OS X's contextual menus, helping you more quickly browse, open, move, preview, and get info on folders, files, volumes, and apps using your mouse, in much the same way that other "launcher" apps increase efficiency with keyboard commands. This popular, venerable application has been around since Mac OS 9, and one of its main purposes is to emulate the old Apple Menu Items folder.

At its most basic, FinderPop lets you browse the contents of a folder or volume just by control-clicking on it, while also … Read more

Streamline your context menu

If you install and uninstall lots of programs like we do, sometimes you're left with context menu options that are no longer valid. This program lets you manage your context menu, but make sure you read the Help file before getting started.

1-abc.net Right Click Configurator has a very clean user interface that is pretty easy to understand. All of your context menu options are listed in a large window and are grouped together by availability. For example, certain entries, such as file encryption, are only available by right-clicking on a file, while others are only available by … Read more

Stay in touch with fellow Ubuntu aficionados

Users of the Linux-based operating system Ubuntu can get quick access to its community forum with this free Firefox add-on.

The options that come with Ubuntu Forums Menu are few, and they simply give you the choice of displaying the links as a toolbar or accessing options in your context menu. A shortcut button would have been a more convenient option. But either way, another menu opens with quick links that take you to the forum's home page and subscribed threads. From the menu, you can also select from a list of support categories, various community discussions, and go … Read more

Featured Freeware: FileMenu Tools

Nothing less than a boon for users looking to manage their file menus, freeware utility FileMenu Tools focuses on function with a simple interface. Most users should have no problem quickly learning to use FileMenu Tools to bend Windows to their will, but a detailed Help file is available for novices.

Operating FileMenu Tools merely means manipulating select pull-downs and function icons. Users choose a menu and use the Actions function list to add commands, submenus, or separators. Deleting and moving menu items also takes only a click. Clicking a menu item displays basic function descriptions and properties when available. … Read more