Android: There are a lot of popular utilities for Android, from task killers, app switchers and beyond. Smartbar combines multiple useful utilities into one simple app and puts them in your menu bar for quick access. More »
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Mac only: If you have an especially large monitor, multiple monitors or are just used to the Windows way of doing things, free app MenuEverywhere makes the menu bar drop-down menus accessible from any window on the desktop. More »
Mac only: Multiple monitors do great things for your desktop space, but your menu bar sticks to one screen. If you’re looking for more menu access, free utility SecondBar puts one at the top of each monitor. More »
Windows only: Application launcher CSMenu makes up for the lack of the classic start menu in Windows 7 by creating a menu that looks and works just like the ancient Windows 2000 menu did. More »
Mac OS X only: Put any web site in your menu bar with the latest version of previously mentioned Fluid, a Mac application that turns any webapp into a standalone desktop application. The video demonstration above shows how to create a MenuExtra with a web-based Twitter client called Hahlo, but as the We Do Blog points out, it works perfectly for mobile versions of sites like Google Reader. Fluid is freeware, Mac OS X only. Howto screencast: Hahlo MenuExtra SSB [Fluid Blog via We Do Blog]
Mac OS X only: Funes is a one-purpose app for OS X that just might inspire you to start rating songs and getting creative with smart playlists. That’s because it puts a drop-down menu in a Mac’s status area that displays the song title and offers those familiar ratings stars to click on. If you’re not rating songs through Quicksilver, you probably have to do it (and don’t do it) by bringing up the main iTunes window and clicking through to rate the song, and Funes is the low-key (and low-memory) way around that bother. Funes is a free download for Mac OS X only. Screenshot via Fousa.be Funes [via Simple Help]
Google Documents has seen a good deal of productive-minded change over the last few days, quietly rolling out new interface features and re-designs. The most noticeable is a new Word-like menu bar, which takes up a little space at the top of the browser. Secondly, coloured folders add a corner-of-eye method for separating documents into work flow states or other systems. Finally, document creators can now re-assign and change document permissions back and forth, giving collaborators read, write and ownership abilities. Zoho users, how is Google’s latest set of changes starting to look, put up against its (admittedly) more feature-rich competitor? Let’s hear it in the comments. New Toolbar and Menus [via Google Operating System]
Linux only: SSHMenu, a free taskbar application, makes Linux life a little easier for those who regularly make one or more SSH connections to remote machines on a regular basis. Once you’ve added the app’s repository and installed, you place the SSH menu button anywhere you’d like on your taskbars, and then click it to pull up shortcuts to your frequently connected clients. The real benefit here is client-specific colouring—you can have your home server terminal pop up blue, for instance, and an important work server with a red background, and you can have the app remember preferred window sizes and positions. SSHMenu is a free download for Linux systems only; hit the link below for help on getting the program set up. SSHMenu [via The Daily Ubuntu]
The Mac Menu Bar—the small strip of applications on the top right of your Mac—houses some of the coolest apps you can run on your system. They’re small, they’re sleek, and sometimes they’re absolute must-haves for staying productive on your Mac. Today we’re taking a look at the menu bar applications your fellow Lifehacker readers use every day to get things done. More »
