Comments on: Use Launchpad Search to Quickly Open Apps in OS X

By: FireDune

FireDune — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 03:34:49 +0000

I use it all the time:
but for me is faster to use the gesture to open Launchpad.

The gesture for those who want to try it is:
Pinch with Thumb and three fingers

I think the gesture is on by default, but if it’s not you can activate in:
System Preferences->Trackpad->More Gestures:Launchpad

You can also see a video of how to perform the gesture when you hover over the Launchpad item in the System Preferences

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 07:48:50 +0000

True. I have to Command-Tab or click a desktop window first.

By: diggertoo

diggertoo — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 12:46:41 +0000

As a launcher, Quicksilver still seems easier to use. You can set up one or two key “triggers” for all your frequently used programs. Once the programs have been opened those triggers can also be used like Ctrl-Tab to jump directly to open programs.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 19:16:30 +0000

I’ve tried Win8 and wanted to put my fist through the screen. Its interface gets in the way when you don’t have a touchscreen or Kinect bar.

I don’t mind the launchpad in Mac (my kids use it on their accounts), but Apple doesn’t force you to use it, unlike say Win8 Metro.

MS is (again) trying to force all of its users into a common model with no connection to reality and no easy way to turn of its trying to be “helpful”.

By: Savaot

Savaot — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 15:45:43 +0000

I divided my applications in several folders i.e. directories. For an example I have My Apps, Photo Apps, Web Apps, and also have them in sidebar just for easier maintenance, to avoid duplication and less clutter. So, Launchpad will search through main Application folder and applications in it, missing applications in other folders. In the same time Spotlight go quickly through the whole directory structure and offers matches at the top.
Launchpad solution is nice, however I don’t know how to force it to search other folders.
Somebody might know the solution.

By: vdiv

vdiv — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 15:09:26 +0000

Microsoft is also going all touch screen with Windows 8 and unifying the tablet and PC interfaces. Apple has been doing the same with MacOS X. Samsung went a full circle and are back to using a stylus.

You know what’s funny? Last time Microsoft tried to dummy down the user interface with Microsoft Bob it blew up in their faces. Today what was old is new again. It’s the fashion.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 14:48:23 +0000

Does anyone actually use Launchpad? Still don’t see the point in it.

By: Dennis

Dennis — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 07:18:25 +0000

The downsite for this option is that Finder needs focus first. Using Command+Space is faster. Two keys with one (big) thumb

By: Theo Vosse

Theo Vosse — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 05:19:49 +0000

Nice tip, although I probably stay with QuickSilver, which cannot only open applications with a few key presses, but also documents and bookmarks, and puts frequently used apps first (http://www.blacktree.com/).

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 04:31:43 +0000

An older method with similar results: from the desktop (Finder), press Shift-Command-A to open the Applications menu, then type the first few letters of the app you want to launch. Up and down arrows to narrow your choice. Command-Option-down arrow or Command-Option-O to simultaneously launch and close the Applications window. Has the advantage of working in older versions of Mac OS X.

By: Dilas

Dilas — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 01:15:33 +0000

Spotlight hotkey FTW ! Much better…

By: Radoslav Holan

Radoslav Holan — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 22:35:26 +0000

I use this very often, no matter if via keyboard of via gesture on trackpad. I think “newcomers” use it very often because they started to use OS X with this option instead of old wolfs who used to use spotlight. Good thing on this all is we have more ways how to reach the same.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 20:40:19 +0000

Yea me too, I ended up reassigning Launchpad to a keyboard shortcut to prevent that (Command+Shift+Space) because the function keys are out of reach to be used reasonably

By: Chase

Chase — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 20:07:52 +0000

I personally use the Spotlight hotkey, because I don’t have to rearrange my fingers on the keyboard. If I go up and press “f4″ my fingers go all screwy and I wind up making a typo.