FrontFace

We can not say that MS Windows is an uncomfortable operating system, but there are times when it makes us explore our whole folders system, open countless windows or navigate through vast menus. Even with the sleek design of Win 7, we can still close a certain window by mistake and we may not have the patience to browse for an application's .exe file all over again. FrontFace will turn your desktop in a more comfortable environment. It lets you place countless widgets on your screen, for any application or service. It comes with its own taskbar, which is better organized. You will be able to launch anything, with a single click and this is just part of FrontFace's functionality.

The software can be used on any modern day computer, with a Windows operating system. You can install it like any other application, without having to install additional tools or services. The interesting part of FrontFace is the fact that it is touch-optimized. This means that you can also use it on tablet PCs with touch screens.

Using FrontFace is like using a different operating system. When you launch the program, your desktop will look different and this does not mean that your background image will be changed. The standard task bar will disappear and a new one will be placed on the right edge of the screen. Additionally, the software will place a series of widgets on your desktop. Some of them will show you information, like your local time or weather conditions, others will launch certain applications or web sites if you click them once.

While running FrontFace, some of the core Windows functionality will be gone. For example, you will not be able to place shortcuts on your desktop, but you won't need to. You can place new widgets on your screen for any application. You will have to click an icon, in the lower left corner of the screen, where the Start button used to be. This will place a grid on your desktop and you will be able to move any widgets to different locations, close or edit their settings or create new ones by clicking a plus icon, which can be found in each cell.

If you choose to create a new widget, a small window will show up, where you can select different types of clocks, Google or Wikipedia search queries and more. The software is not limited to the number of widgets you will find in this window. You can download new ones as well. One of the most important widgets is an app launcher. When you place it on your screen, it will be blank by default. You will have to click its editing option and select an application from a list. You will find a wide range of applications and web sites, including Windows Explorer, MS Paint, Windows Media Player, YouTube, Wikipedia and many more. If the application you are looking for is not listed, you may click an advanced button and browse for its .exe file.

The new taskbar contains a series of icons for closing active windows and jumping to the next or previous one. Other icons will extend the taskbar, revealing favorite applications, running programs and notifications. Notifications are displayed in a list and they are not related exclusively to your operating system. You can receive notifications from Facebook, Twitter or RSS feeds. Clicking one of these notifications will bring up the related contents in the software's built in web browser.