Bins -- Taskbar Organizer for Windows 7

Bins is a low cost ($4.99!) desktop enhancement for Windows 7 that will help you make better use of the space in your taskbar. Bins was created by the same person who created Fences -- which helps organize icons on the desktop. I've never been a huge fan of Fences because I like a clean desktop with only a few icons, so there is nothing to organize. My taskbar is a different story. I like having a large number of program icons pinned to the taskbar so I can easily start my most used software and because if you pin the software it's easy to find when you want to switch to it from another running program. Unfortunately, even on my Widescreen monitor there's really not enough space to pin all the programs I would like to. Bins solves this problem is an intuitive and useful way.

Bins allows you to group pinned programs so multiple pinned programs only take one "space" on your taskbar. To combine pinned program, you just drag one on top of another, these creates (or adds to) a group. While any number of pinned programs may be combined into a group, the first four in a group will appear on the taskbar as 4 mini-icons. All in the group will display when you mouse-over the set of icons. One program in the group is set as the default. Clicking on the combined icon starts the default program. You start one of the other programs by selecting it from the mouse-over pop-up. You can right click on a icon in the mouse-over pop-up to get the program's jumplist menu.

Here's what part of my taskbar look like with Bins in use. I have VMware player and Virtualbox combined in the first icon. VMware player is running to the icons is highlighted and the programs not running a dimmed.

Here's what I see when I mouse over the set of browser icons:

I can click on the main icon and start Firefox or hover over the taskbar icon and then click one of the programs in the popup to start it or right-click on it to access its jumplist menu.

Bins is a fantastic program if you like having a large number of programs pinned to the taskbar. The only problem I've had with Bins is it is a bit of a memory hog. I have lots of memory and so do not care. If you have limited memory, you may want to wait until the developer finds a way to reduce the program's memory footprint. A final plus, Bins seems to work great with my favorite virtual desktop program, <a href="http://softwaregadgets.gridspace.net/content/dexpot-virtual-desktops-done-right">Dexpot</a>.

<b>Rating:</b> 4.0
<b>Operating System:</b> Windows 7
<b>License:</b> Commercial
<b>Price:</b> $4.99
<b>Version Tested:</b> 0.9.8.191
<b>Web Site:</b> <a href="http://www.1upindustries.com/bins/default.aspx">http://www.1upindustries.com/bins/default.aspx</a>