Windows/Mac/Linux: You've got plenty of choices for app launchers, but if you don't mind getting your hands messy and adding your own features, Zazu is an app that's worth a look.

Mac: You have a ton of great launchers on Mac and even the built-in Spotlight does a good enough job for most of us. If you're looking for something a little different, Lacona is an app currently in beta that takes a natural language input approach.

iOS: Launcher is one our favourite app launchers on iPhone, and today it's getting a lot better with support for multiple widgets in the Notification Center. This means you can jam a ton of actions into your Notification Center.

iOS: You have a few great options for launchers on iOS, but LaunchCode takes a different approach by integrating the standard Notification Launcher with a fun gesture system.

Android: If you know someone who finds Android to be overwhelming or complicated, Necta Launcher might be just what they need. This free launcher comes with a simple UI and its own set of common apps.

Android: Nova Launcher is our favourite Android launcher and it just got even better. The latest version of this alternative launcher lets you start a search by saying "OK Google".

Android: Your Android device is filled with apps and contacts. To reach them faster and in one window, Dial'em All gives you a simple T9 keypad.

Android: Android smartphones are notoriously complicated for those who aren't good with technology. Wiser is a new launcher that makes Android easy and simple to use even for the tech-challenged.

Google's official launcher was finally released on the Play Store a couple of months ago to much fanfare. Despite being your favourite home screen replacement, it's still not officially available for many devices. Here's how to work around that pesky limitation.

There are plenty of Android launchers around, but we're starting to see the emergence of a category that we might call "contextual launchers" -- something that personalises your Android phone, is context-aware and surfaces information you need when you need it, and changes the way you interact with your device. Here are five of the best, based on your nominations.

Android: When the Nexus 5 first came out, there were whispers that its new launcher would arrive on all devices. While you could sideload it yourself, there wasn't a simple option to download it from Google and get updates. Until now.

Android: Nova Launcher, our favourite alternative Android launcher got an update today that brings a host of KitKat-related tweaks, including new folders, fonts and app drawer icons.

Android: When you need to quickly start any app, Slide Launcher can be your best friend. It's fast, it's pretty and it's really light on the resources, claiming no RAM and battery usage while running in the background.

Most people use the launcher that comes with their Android phone. Whether you're using a skinned manufacturer version or the stock Android release, custom launchers provide a stack of sweet features that you might not know existed.

Mac: Switching between apps on a Mac is usually as simple as Command+Tab, but if you want switch between specific windows it's a little trickier. Contexts is an app that makes it easy to swap between large numbers of windows right from your keyboard.

Mac: Quicksilver, the app launcher and desktop search tool for Mac (and one of your favorites) officially emerged from beta this week. The release adds a wealth of new features to help you modify your catalogues and create shortcuts and synonyms for the files you want to access.

Android: If you're looking to emulate some of the beautiful home screens we feature, you'll need a launcher that lets you personalise it to work the way you want. 91 Launcher is a new home screen replacement with plenty of widgets, add-ons and animations that lets you do just that.

Android: Nova Launcher recently updated to include lots of Jelly Bean features. The popular Android launcher for ICS devices also brings the ability to import settings from other launchers for a seamless transition.

Android: Apex Launcher is already one of the most popular launchers for Ice Cream Sandwich. This week it updated to bring a number of cool Jelly Bean features to those users that are yet to get their hands on the new OS.