A new launcher to replace Win + R shortcut

Ink

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Thread author
Verified
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Well-known
Jan 8, 2011
22,361
Microsoft is currently building a new Spotlight-like launcher app for Windows 10.
Designed to replace the existing Win + R shortcut, the new launcher will include options to quickly search apps and files across Windows and support for plugins like calculators, dictionaries, and search engines.

The software giant has been working on the launcher since January, and an initial public beta is planned for May. An early version of the launcher will support basic search tasks that are typically handled by the built-in Windows Start menu search functionality. But there are plans to make this a more powerful launcher that’s similar to Alfred on macOS and more functional than Apple’s Spotlight search.

For most Windows users the Start menu search will be enough, as it acts as a basic launcher of sorts. Power users demand more, and the built-in search doesn’t include plugins or the ability to add custom web searches, snippets, and more. The Start menu search also forces you into Bing search results and opens the Edge browser for any web queries.

Source: GitHub (via The Verge)

Edit: GitHub page for Launcher - microsoft/PowerToys
 
Last edited:

SeriousHoax

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Mar 16, 2019
3,630
This looks very similar to some tools available in Linux which is their inspiration for sure. For example: Krunner that I used in Manjaro KDE which is a very useful tool to finds things quickly and can be configured to do a lot more by adding plugins like searching bookmarks, etc.
1.png2.png
 

DDE_Server

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Sep 5, 2017
1,168
This looks very similar to some tools available in Linux which is their inspiration for sure. For example: Krunner that I used in Manjaro KDE which is a very useful tool to finds things quickly and can be configured to do a lot more by adding plugins like searching bookmarks, etc.
View attachment 237553View attachment 237554


As i said before it seems innovation in Microsoft reach its saturation stage>No more to add to windows then steal some Linux popular features. i think they should focus more on stability , bug free and secure OS instead of adding new features they could steal that from Linux.long term stability features
 

DDE_Server

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Sep 5, 2017
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until now Microsoft is unable to make live stream updates for its kernel and make seamless update without reboot such as in Linux distribution such as in Ubuntu
which will be very useful features specially for server management to decrease downtime and reliability of the server by increasing total up time
 
Last edited:

Paul.R

Level 17
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May 16, 2013
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microsoftlauncherwindows10.gif

Microsoft is currently building a new Spotlight-like launcher app for Windows 10. Designed to replace the existing Win + R shortcut, the new launcher will include options to quickly search apps and files across Windows and support for plugins like calculators, dictionaries, and search engines.

The software giant has been working on the launcher since January, and an initial public beta is planned for May. An early version of the launcher will support basic search tasks that are typically handled by the built-in Windows Start menu search functionality. But there are plans to make this a more powerful launcher that’s similar to Alfred on macOS and more functional than Apple’s Spotlight search.

 

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