Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Multiple Monitor Software for Windows 7

I've switched over to Windows 7 full time but really miss using Ultramon, is there any other similar software out there that works on Windows 7?

  • DisplayFusion works with Windows 7.

    alt text

    Features list from its website:

    • Advanced Multi-Monitor Taskbar support
    • Use a different desktop wallpaper image on each monitor
    • Use a desktop wallpaper image that spans all monitors
    • Randomly change your desktop wallpaper using local images or images from Flickr
    • Drag or middle-click the taskbar of maximized windows to move them to other screens
    • Auto-snap windows to the edge of your monitor
    • Integrated Flickr.com image search & download
    • Integrated Vladstudio.com image search & download
    • Manage application windows with fully customizable hotkeys:
    SQLChicken : Didn't know about this, just installed on my Win7 x32 desktop. Works great!
    Jon Cage : +1: I use this too.. only slight irritation is that the applications can't _only_ appear on the taskbar on a particular monitor :-(
    dbkk : @Jon new version (2009-05-31) can show apps only on appropriate monitor. DF toolbar is now usable, but still does not work exactly like W7 taskbar. Two huge missing features are pining and task lists. Another useful one would be aero-preview / show desktop zone in the right corner.
    From Adam
  • I found this on - jens-schaller.de

    Disabling the window buttons in the registry will allow you to use UltraMon, to do this run regedit.exe, go to 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Realtime Soft\UltraMon\\Window Buttons', then change the value of 'Maximize to Desktop Button' and 'Move Window Button' from one to zero.

    Maybe this will get your current setup, up and running. (Preferable as you dont have to buy a new package :) )

    From Ben Gillam
  • I can confirm that Display Fusion works in Windows 7. Am posting from it now.

    From Dan
  • alt text Large Image

    Display Fusion works fine with Windows 7 in the particularly version 3.0.6 (released 2009-06-01).

    They added glass and support for showing the app only on the monitor the windows is on (two key features to be usable on W7).

    Several W7 features are still missing:

    • Jump Lists. This is the most obvious one.
    • Pinning the window (so there is a shortcut when app is closed)
    • Button combining -- DF does not support "Always combine, hide labels" mode (default in W7), but looks OK with no combining.
    • Window previews -- not W7 style, no close button, cannot show multiple apps / IE tabs at once.
    • Color is a off -- native W7 toolbar seems darker, active window is highlighted differently. On mouse over, W7 highlights in different colors, DF does not.

    This is not meant to be picky - Display Fusuion works well and is remarkably polished, but more remains to be done for full W7 support. Pro version (required to support multiple taskbars) is $20, and well worth the price.

    Other apps to watch (no W7 support now, but probably coming up) are:

    From dbkk
  • With this list of shortcuts, maybe just maybe we don't need multi-monitor software.

    Win + Spacebar Aero desktop peek, just like that small rectangle at the right bottom corner next to the time display.

    Win + Left Arrow toggle docking to half the screen starting by the left half

    Win + Right Arrow toggle docking to half the screen starting by the right half

    Win + Shift + Left Arrow move the window one monitor left in a multi-monitor display

    Win + Shift + Right Arrow move the window one monitor right in a multi-monitor display

    Win + Up Arrow maximize

    Win + Down Arrow minimize

    Win + Home minimize/maximize all inactive windows

    Win + P show presentation mode projector options

    Win + G show desktop gadgets

    Win + Any number (1, 2, 3, .., 0) open the corresponding taskbar pinned program

    Ctrl + Click a pinned taskbar icon to cycle through the program’s open windows (e.g. IE)

    Ctrl + Shift + Click a pinned taskbar icon to run a new instance of the program as administrator

    Shift + Click a pinned taskbar icon to run a new instance of the program

    Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts

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