Appetizer (software)
Encyclopedia
Appetizer is an open source
dock
for Windows 2000, XP, Vista and 7, which allows organizing the user's shortcuts and applications. It can be customized via skins and plugins and is available in 25 languages. Various other features are available including support for keyboard shortcuts, custom icons and tray icon support. Appetizer also features a function to automatically launch certain applications when it starts.
Appetizer started as a PortableApps.com
application. As such it is designed to be portable
and can be installed on a USB drive or other portable device. If the standard PortableApps.com folder structure is detected on the drive, Appetizer will automatically import the user's shortcuts.
in 2009 and was in the "top 10 of the best launchers" on Clubic
. Clubic appreciated its ease of use and the small size of its executable. DownloadSquad reviewed Appetizer and noted that thanks to its open source nature, "it is easy for anyone to develop skins, plugins, or other features for the application". Likewise, LifeHacker called it a "free, polished, and highly customizable open source candidate". Softonic noted that the application didn't "really add many new functions to the Start menu" but was "a very eye-catching alternative menu" and "goes straight to the point". PC World
reviewed Appetizer and noted that it "would likely be of most use when run alongside the also-free portable app suite".
Appetizer was also reviewed in 2009 on the French TV channel Game One during the Funky Web TV show.
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
dock
Dock (computing)
The Dock is a prominent feature of the graphical user interface of the Mac OS X operating system. It is used to launch applications and switch between running applications...
for Windows 2000, XP, Vista and 7, which allows organizing the user's shortcuts and applications. It can be customized via skins and plugins and is available in 25 languages. Various other features are available including support for keyboard shortcuts, custom icons and tray icon support. Appetizer also features a function to automatically launch certain applications when it starts.
Appetizer started as a PortableApps.com
PortableApps.com
PortableApps.com is a site offering portable software for Windows.The site was founded by John T. Haller and includes contributions from over 100 people, including developers, designers and translators.-History:...
application. As such it is designed to be portable
Portable application
A portable application , sometimes also called standalone, is a computer software program designed to run independently from an operating system...
and can be installed on a USB drive or other portable device. If the standard PortableApps.com folder structure is detected on the drive, Appetizer will automatically import the user's shortcuts.
Reception
Appetizer has been reviewed by several websites and magazines. It was chosen as "freeware of the month" by UpdateStarUpdateStar
UpdateStar is a freeware software application recognizing and providing update information for approximately 1.3 million software programs. Implementing a social computing aspect, the update database is maintained by the users...
in 2009 and was in the "top 10 of the best launchers" on Clubic
Clubic
Clubic is a french web site owned by Cyréalis.Created in 2000, this webzine about computing and multimedia offers news, reviews and downloads of software applications, as well as community services. The web site integrates articles written by other web sites edited by Cyréalis such as JeuxVideo.fr,...
. Clubic appreciated its ease of use and the small size of its executable. DownloadSquad reviewed Appetizer and noted that thanks to its open source nature, "it is easy for anyone to develop skins, plugins, or other features for the application". Likewise, LifeHacker called it a "free, polished, and highly customizable open source candidate". Softonic noted that the application didn't "really add many new functions to the Start menu" but was "a very eye-catching alternative menu" and "goes straight to the point". PC World
PC World (magazine)
PC World is a global computer magazine published monthly by IDG. It offers advice on various aspects of PCs and related items, the Internet, and other personal-technology products and services...
reviewed Appetizer and noted that it "would likely be of most use when run alongside the also-free portable app suite".
Appetizer was also reviewed in 2009 on the French TV channel Game One during the Funky Web TV show.
External links
- Appetizer home page
- Two parts article on how to use Appetizer at Help Desk Geek - Part 1, Part 2