RadiS

A crowded desktop is difficult to manage, even if you simply need to access a file, run a game, or a specific program. Windows comes with several customization options to make access easier towards your files and programs, but third-party applications like RadiS also provide more visual styles, and different, more interesting approach on the situation.

RadiS doesn’t even need to be installed on your computer to function, but you do need to make sure that Java Runtime Environment is part of your PC, because it’s a required component. You’re free to carry it around on a thumb drive, and even pre-configure it with other portable utilities to launch directly from the application’s custom interface.

Once launched, the application directly goes to system tray, and interacting with it brings up a circle with several preset Windows locations, such as the Calculator, Paint, the Libraries folder, and games. Moreover, a few more slots can be brought up by pressing a dedicated button, expanding the initial design.

Unfortunately, adding new items on the launcher isn’t possible by dragging them in the desired spot, mostly because the launcher disappears when it loses focus. All target items are stored in a custom folder, where you also need to copy the programs and games you want to launch. However, there’s a limited number of items you can add, so you might want to remove default ones.

Apart from interacting with the tray icon, the dial launcher can also be brought up through hotkeys, which you’re free to configure. As mentioned above, the radial launcher disappears shortly, but there’s an option to fixate it, but this only applies to the main panel, and not the extension.

Taking everything into consideration, we can say that RadiS comes with good intentions, but doesn’t quite live up to the task. The circle launcher you get to work with is decent, but the limited number of shortcuts you can add can have a significant impact on overall practicality.