The most interesting and useful feature of Windows 7 is the new "Superbar". Superbar is a redesigned form of the old Taskbar. It shows only icons of running programs (Iconized Taskbar buttons), it allows to re-arrange taskbar buttons, its height is a bit larger than the old Taskbar.
We have already posted a small tutorial to get the iconized Taskbar buttons in Windows XP and Vista:
Get Windows 7 Iconized (Icon Only) Taskbar Feature in Windows XP & Vista
You can also use a small utility to get iconized taskbar buttons:
Taskbar Iconizer: Utility to Iconize Taskbar in Windows XP & Vista
Even though you can get the iconized taskbar buttons but you can't get big program icons like Windows 7. No need to worry, now its possible with the help of "ViGlance".
Our friend "Lee" has created an excellent utility "ViGlance" which provides a Windows 7 look-a-like Superbar in Windows XP and Vista. Its a portable application so you don't need to install it. Just run it and you have done.
Following is a screenshot of "ViGlance" in action:
As you can see, it shows big icons in taskbar buttons. Following are a few features of ViGlance:
- True 48x48 Vista Icon Support
- Dynamic Process Grouping
- Dynamic Thumbnails
- Pin Items and Move Items
- Fading Start Orb
- Glide transitional effects
- Resource PNG skin support
- Native Right-Click support
- Dynamic taskbar transparency
- x64 and x86 Windows Support
You can download it using following link:
This article was posted by VG in following section: Software, Windows Vista, Windows XP.
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Navin
this one's awesome !
but problem is "visual task tips" doesnt seem to work with ViGlance.
so if i want live thumbnails what do i do ?
Tangmeister
Hey Vishal,
I think that the only way to change the EXPLORER.EXE icon in ViGlance (WIndows Explorer, Moving/Copying, Network Connections, etc.) is to change the file EXPLOERER.EXE to the Vista Icon... am I right?
Tangmeister
I was right.
To replace it, firstfollow these steps:
1. Obtain the icon file from the internet.
2. Open Resource Hacker and replace the icon, but don't save it yet.
3. Delete any backups of the file like EXPLORER_original.EXE
4. Go to the SHUTDOWN dialog and hold down SHIFT+CTRL+ALT and click cancel.
5. Explorer.exe will close.
6. Save the file.
7. Open Task Manager from CTRL+ALT+DEL or CTRL+SHIFT+ESC and go to File-New Task and tyoe EXPLORER.EXE.
Viola.
bobbyphoenix
Is there a way to keep the taskbar from fading? The icons are very bright, but the rest of the task bar fades to a dull look when the mouse is not over the taskbar (the time display and icons by it).
siddhrtha
a problem, when i click on the start button, it appears and after making it disappear, i mean when i close the start menu, a small patch of the menu remains there which disappears afterwards when i maximize or restore or open another windows over that.
Could this bug be fixed???
anthony
hey siddhrtha, I noticed that too, if you like to have your start bar(u know, start,whats open,clock,etc.) disapear, the start and the files that or open or not..stay up, but when u click on them, they dissapear. I keep my start bar not invisible. (meaning like, when u click the check mark in properties, we have an option to making it dissapear or not)
VG
^^ Currently its under beta testing and not compatible with other eye candy software.
Ulugbek
So pitty :(
Anyway, thank you for respone
Juan
Apparently, ViGlance doesn't get along very well with XP versions in other languages than English :(
I hope it will get fixed soon ^_^
Doc
Seems to be a bit buggy...I set my taskbar to auto-hide, and it tends to "smear" when showing/hiding the taskbar. Will check out future builds; maybe Lee can take over the "True Transparency" development as well (please?)