Apple did a superb job with its new Fast User Switching feature in Panther (Mac OS X 10.3), but for users with long names, the associated menu item is a terrible waste of precious Menu Bar real estate. Wouldn't it be nice if you could access the feature through a compact, icon-sized Menu Bar icon? WinSwitch does exactly that, closely matching the performance and style of the Apple-provided menu, but without all the bulk. In fact, it even corrects some problems with Apple's menu by eliminating certain "daemon" users which shouldn't show up in the list, and by improving the alignment of user icons in the menu. WinSwitch gives you rapid access to the Accounts preference pane, and is completely customizable, allowing you to choose from four different menu bar styles: Standard icon, User picture, Full username and Short username. What's New: Version 2.0: Optionally auto-launch items on switch-out (to another user); WinSwitch launches items, or aliases to items, placed in "~/Library/Application Support/WinSwitch/Switch-Out Items/". Sample Switch items are installed into "/Library/Application Support/WinSwitch/Sample Switch Items/". Optionally auto-launch items on switch-in (from another user); WinSwitch launches items, or aliases to items, placed in "~/Library/Application Support/WinSwitch/Switch-In Items/". Power user option (available from the command line) to show "First name only" in menu bar (shows the long username truncated at the first space); to activate this feature, execute the following in the Terminal (changes take effect on next login): defaults write com.wincent.WinSwitch "Menu bar style" '4' Power user option (available from the command line) to show "Initials only" in menu bar (composed of the first letter of each "word" in the long username, where "words" are delimited by spaces); to activate this feature, execute the following in the Terminal (changes take effect on next login): defaults write com.wincent.WinSwitch "Menu bar style" '5' Minor opti |  |
|