Valet: Application Launcher With A Twist
Launching your applications can be a pain at times. Your favorite applications can be launched from the Dock, but this has its limitations of size, even on a large widescreen display. Getting to your other apps would traditionally be a case of opening up your Applications folder, looking for the application you need, and opening it up.
The solution? Application Launchers. These are nothing new and there are a wide variety to choose from; QuickSilver, Overflow, Todos and the ol’ faithful Spotlight to name but a few. A new player has come onto the market with a new feature however. Valet, from 94West.
On the surface it is your basic launcher application. It allows you to organise your applications into categories and gives you quick access to them via a heads up disply, voice commands, the menu bar and the dock menu. Where it gets a little more complex however is in its interaction with Parallels. You can add shortcuts to your most popular Windows applications in the standard heads-up display, menubar etc. allowing you to quickly bridge the gap between OS X and Windows. If Parallels isn’t running when you open a particular app then Valet will launch it for you and open up the app once booted.
Valet costs $25 per license which may be a little steep for some however the Parallels integration should more than make it worth the money for some power users. How long before we see a plugin for QuickSilver with similar functionality?
Fore more information check out Valet at 94West.
I actually found this application a while ago, and I tried it. I really liked the idea, but it needs some improvements first.For example, I couldn’t find a way for it to only show the applications. I didn’t want to classify them into folders, I just want the pretty icons straight when I press the hotkey. Also, when I press the hotkey and Valet comes up, it starts launching the voice recognition thing, and it kinda freezes for a bit. (I’m using a MacBook 2.0Ghz) I would not launch applications with my voice anyway. ;P
Good app, but not for me. Yet.
Interesting, but Overflow takes the cake in my case.
The only thing Overflow lacks is smart app updating recognition, or something.
Every time my Adium selfupdates, Overflow loses track of it.
It’s nice that there are options for applaunching, though.
Looks cool, but 25 bucks is a bit high.
I’d use it if it weren’t $25. Free would be a much nicer price.
Ouch. $25 is a bit pricey!
quicksilver is much more useful and free.
Does it offer any sort of extensibility like Quicksilver?
@Jeremy
I agree
Niklas, if the voice recognition is too slow or you just don’t want to use it, you can turn it off in the preferences.
@Peter: Ahh, thanks! But I still wouldn’t use it.
$25 is a lot to ask for something with many free alternatives.
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