TaskBow

TaskBow is a tiny and portable software app that lets you personalize the look of your taskbar.

Since installation is not a prerequisite, you can drop the executable file in any location on the hard disk and just click it to run.

There is also the possibility of saving TaskBow to a USB flash disk or similar storage unit, in order to run it on any machine with minimum effort and no previous installers.

An important aspect to take into account is that the Windows registry does not get updated with new keys, and no extra files are created on the disk, leaving it clean after removal.

The interface is based on a single window containing options for color assignment, quick launch, grouping, and common programs.

It is possible to create new assignments by specifying the program name, window caption and color, as well as to add a new quick launch item by pointing out the file, directory and arguments. Plus, you can edit the number of buttons in the quick launch bar.

When it comes to grouping, the app allows you to define a method for expanding groups: by the app's short name, for example. Groups can be opened when the mouse is above the taskbar or when the group button is clicked. The buttons' maximum width is adjustable.

As far program preferences, TaskBow is able to automatically run at Windows startup and minimized. Moreover, you can disable confirmation on exit, hide the icon in the tray bar when the mouse pointer is away, as well as change the taskbar tone color or disable it (in Aero theme only).

The app is low-demanding when it comes to CPU and RAM, so it does not hog system resources. It is very responsive to commands and did not cause the operating system to hang, crash or pop up error dialogs throughout our evaluation.

In conclusion, TaskBow comes packed with a handy set of features for personalizing the Windows taskbar. Unfortunately, they're not too intuitive for the casual user.