Get a sneak peak at our upcoming Windows® 8 product, Launch8

Using it now. Took some getting used to.  I like it.  It was necessary to create shortcuts and icons rather than pin to or drag to.  A little more work to set up than the start screen but it is something I can appreciate.  If you drag a tile to it or select a listed app or listed shortcut, Launch8 may not get the icon correctly.  I would post a screenshot but there is no way to upload an image on this forum.  You have to post to "you tube" or other...

Thank You Stardock for Launch8. 

Ok. It does well with dragging pinned metro apps to the dock except the metro ie.  With ie set to always launch metro style, dragging the pinned metro ie tile to Launch8 will only create a link to the desktop ie. 

It also does well with listed shortcuts and apps.  Some icons may need work. 

I know it's early in beta.  Still, since I do not use many tiles, Stardock is providing a feature that should have been there all along.  I like the placement of fixed position tiles in Launch8 at the bottom center. 

Thank You Stardock.

Which icons are you having issues with?

Firstly, Thank You Stardock for this new software, I really like it as well, it adds much better functionality to the start screen

I am having problems (I know it's still in Beta) like how many apps I can have at a time; that when opting for large icons the setting button disappears (but I know it's a case of right-clicking to bring it up); I have no idea what 'create shortcuts' means - I got onto the screen that pops up but didn't know what to do so a bit of a user support guide would be cool.

I do have to play around with it like to work out how to exchange apps to what I wish for (the drag and drop feature which I'm yet to have a go at).

But, overall, this is a great new addition to the Stardock collection - keep up the brill innovation!

The settings button automatically hides if you have too many icons to fit.

Create shortcuts is the same thing as adding something.  It shows you the apps from the start menu groups (the old Windows 7 ones), and you simply pick the app and click add to add it to the bar.

(Section 1) Since I cannot post a screenshot, I will try to explain.  Let's say you have created a folder of shortcuts called "net" ... Then, you have customized these shortcuts with custom icons you have created. Then, let's say, you have 200 customized shortcuts in the folder "net" that you copy and paste to ... ProgramData > Microsoft > Windows > StartMenu folder.  This works well, as it can yield all these available shortcuts by single key stroke (alphabetical) when on the start screen (search).  Now, let's say you go to Launch8 and select a shortcut from the list that has a customized icon.  When you add it, the Launch8 icon shown for the newly added shortcut is just a blank. (I believe it has something to do with how the OS stores icons)

(Section 2) On the other hand, I created a new folder just for Launch8 listings (Win32 - not metro apps). It works perfectly.  I create the shortcut, create the icon, apply the icon, then add the app shortcut to Launch8 and it works perfectly.

A nice touch for the final release would be to have the option to add multiple docks (like object dock).  (or multi level docks)

... just a thought.

Anyway, it's working perfectly now (as described in Section 2).  Thanks Again. 

This is another wonderful program by Stardock. You kind of sneaked it up on us but still very well done. I have been using since yesterday and no problems as of yet. Now if only I could get Windowed apps on the Start screen, Windows will be halfway back the way it was meant to be for desktop users.

Hello!,

Launch 8 Works fine in Windows 8.1 oficial versión. I didn't find any error or issue  with icons,settings and Windows performance.

Kind regards,

BlackStone

Hello

Launch 8 in Windows 8.1 works for first time after second time  crashing and Windows hang up.

After reinstalling the program the same Problem.

Kind regards

Masc

Did you add any shortcuts to the bar?

It sounds like there is an issue parsing the list and that's causing the problem.

Hello,

I move the Icon PC Settings to the bar after that the PC freeze an I must make a Hard Reset.

The Program will not install properly again.

I see the bar not, an the PC freeze and makes terrible Actions.

Greetings

Masc

What can I do to reinstall Launch 8????

Or  waiting for the latest Version?

If Launch8 hangs, or it seems there is no access to the desktop in Windows,

when looking at the start screen with a hung (or blank) Launch8,  you can press Win + D to get to the desktop,  then right click on the taskbar, select the Task Manager, scroll down in background processes or find Windows Explorer and right click on it, select to restart Windows Explorer,

Launch8 and the desktop will be restored.

Hello,

Yes, Launch 8 Beta, freezes Windows for a few seconds and force the explorer to automatically restart the desktop.

Bye and good luck with this new software!

Hello,

I can not install Launch 8 again  I don´t see the dock on the Screen after Installation and windowa freeze again and Explorer start new with Version 1.0 and beta.

What can i do to refresh the System without installing Windows new.

Kind regards

masc038

Please contact [email protected] so they can collect more information.

Hello,

when i create another account it works. What is the proplem on the old account?

please help i Need my old account.

Greeting

masc038

As requested before, please contact [email protected] so they can get more information.  I suspect there is a shortcut in the quicklaunch folder that Launch8 is getting upset with, but we need to know what it is so that we can work to fix the problem.