Introduction

One of Vista's most talked-about new features is the Desktop Window Manager (DWM). A new set of thumbnail API's can be used to access thumbnails of open windows. This virtual desktop program takes advantage of this new API and uses some tricks of its own to provide a powerful virtual desktop manager with a full screen thumbnail based preview. You can have as many desktops as you want and can seamlessly switch between them.

But wait! What if you still are using XP? Don't worry, Vista/XP Virtual Desktops provides support for XP as well, although window previews are not live since XP doesn't have DWM.

Vista Virtual Desktops is managed by Z-Systems, which also manages a few other fine open-source projects.

Awards

Up to Down Software (Spanish)

Download.hr - 5 Star Editor's Review

Download.hr

Features

Full screen desktop/window manager/preview with full drag and drop managing
Desktop switch indicator
An infinite number of desktops
Watch the windows move in real time as you drag them around in the window manager
Multiple monitor support
Window menus
Tray icons for each desktop
Per-desktop backgrounds
Configurable colors, fade speeds, hotkeys, etc.
Uses Vista's live thumbnails
XP support
And much more!
Roadmap/Change Log
The Hack

Default Shortcut Reference

Windows Key + Z - Show the fullscreen "switcher"
Windows Key + W - Pop up the window menu for the active window
Windows Key + Numpad 1...9 - Switch to the corresponding desktop, if it exists
Windows Key + Arrow Keys - Move to the corresponding desktop
Windows Key + Control + Numpad 1...9 - Send the foreground window to the corresponding desktop
Windows Key + Control + Arrow Keys - Send the foreground window to the corresponding desktop

Current Release - 0.9.1

The ninth release, 0.9.1, is fully functioning version. Most likely the next release will be 1.0, a big milestone for this project. If you notice any bugs, please post them on the issue tracker section of this site. Any feature requests can be posted either in the issue tracker or in the discussion forum.

Last edited Jun 15 at 3:36 AM by zhuman, version 43

Want to leave feedback?
Please use Discussions or Reviews instead.

Archived page comments (59)

Downloads

Current release:

0.9.1

Mon Jul 14 2008 at 7:00 AM, Beta Beta: This software is probably stable enough for use

32 ratings

129576 downloads, 30 reviews

More info

Recent reviews (more)

3 stars. is this app dead?

5 stars. Takes the 'I am at work but doing something else' to a whole new level. Thanks a z... (more)

Microsoft Public License (Ms-PL)

This license governs use of the accompanying software. If you use the software, you accept this license. If you do not accept the license, do not use the software.

1. Definitions

The terms "reproduce," "reproduction," "derivative works," and "distribution" have the same meaning here as under U.S. copyright law.

A "contribution" is the original software, or any additions or changes to the software.

A "contributor" is any person that distributes its contribution under this license.

"Licensed patents" are a contributor's patent claims that read directly on its contribution.

2. Grant of Rights

(A) Copyright Grant- Subject to the terms of this license, including the license conditions and limitations in section 3, each contributor grants you a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free copyright license to reproduce its contribution, prepare derivative works of its contribution, and distribute its contribution or any derivative works that you create.

(B) Patent Grant- Subject to the terms of this license, including the license conditions and limitations in section 3, each contributor grants you a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license under its licensed patents to make, have made, use, sell, offer for sale, import, and/or otherwise dispose of its contribution in the software or derivative works of the contribution in the software.

3. Conditions and Limitations

(A) No Trademark License- This license does not grant you rights to use any contributors' name, logo, or trademarks.

(B) If you bring a patent claim against any contributor over patents that you claim are infringed by the software, your patent license from such contributor to the software ends automatically.

(C) If you distribute any portion of the software, you must retain all copyright, patent, trademark, and attribution notices that are present in the software.

(D) If you distribute any portion of the software in source code form, you may do so only under this license by including a complete copy of this license with your distribution. If you distribute any portion of the software in compiled or object code form, you may only do so under a license that complies with this license.

(E) The software is licensed "as-is." You bear the risk of using it. The contributors give no express warranties, guarantees or conditions. You may have additional consumer rights under your local laws which this license cannot change. To the extent permitted under your local laws, the contributors exclude the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.

Activity

7 30 All days

Page Views	9143
Visits	4827
Pages Per Visit	1.89
Work Items Closed	0
Discussion Posts	1

Vista/XP Virtual Desktop Manager