Have you ever felt like you should be getting much more from your mouse? gMote is a unique tool that enables you to open programs and control them with mouse gestures.

To record a motion or action is extremely simple. You just hold down the "Shift" and "Control" keys simultaneously and then record the action that you want to perform. What you want gMote to do is entirely up to you. You can for example, instruct it to trigger a certain program or application rather than having to scroll through the Star menu or access desktop shortcuts. Alternatively, it can open a specific website in your browser, download a file, or even control your media player. Basically, anything that your PC can perform, gMote can as well. The program is beautifully presented with a simple but elegant interface and an excellent online tutorial. The annoying thing however is recording the actions you want it to perform. It does take quite a while to get it right - you'll have more than a few false starts trying to nail an action or execution it also takes some getting used to using your mouse in such an alternative way. However, it does save time once you've got used to it and will add to your productivity over the long run.

Simple, elegant and extremely easy to use, this is one for those who are tired of moving the mouse around and want to click straight into their most regular operations.

Download gMote 1.30 in Softonic

The first time I saw this program I thought it may be the most useless invention since the one stringed banjo.

However, on further inspection, I can see that Keycounter does have some practical use especially for writers who want to track when they are at their most inspired. Quite simply, Keycounter tracks the amount of strokes you've bashed away at your keyboard. The program tracks keystrokes per minute and whether the mouse has moved or not.

For writers, Keycounter is a useful way to see when you're at your most prolific although unfortunately, there's no way to tell what you were doing at a particular point in time - you have to make a separate note of that yourself so that you don't get your genuine writing activity mixed up with sending emails or leisure use. The results are displayed in graph format so you can easily see when your peak moment were. There is no way to export this data though it seems.

Simple and effective, Keycounter gives you full control over your keyboard activity and may help writers track their most productive periods.

Download Keycounter 2.0 in Softonic

Cursor Hider helps you to work more productively. It removes mouse pointer from a working place (mouse cursor does not cover the entered text now) while you are working with keyboard and returns the pointer with any mouse actions.

Download Cursor Hider 1.5.2.3 in Softonic

Sometimes the mouse cursor can blink way too rapidly when you're trying to aim it at a particular target or area.

SlowMousion is a discreet application that slows down mouse cursor's speed when pressing and holding down a key or button. SlowMousion gives you more sensitive control over mouse movements when drawing shapes, dragging shapes and just about anything else you are doing with a mouse.

SlowMousion is extremely easy to enable and disable which is essential because it can annoyingly activate itself when you least want it to. The best option is to use the program to define a hotkey instead because this saves any confusion. With repeated taps of the key, you can define exactly how fast or slow you want the mouse cursor to move or blink.

SlowMousion is a very basic application that does a simple job but is best activated from the keyboard than mouse.

Download SlowMousion 1.1 in Softonic

For those of you who work with several languages, changing language settings in Windows can be a pain. Luckily LangOver can now make it easier for you.

LangOver puts an end to that tiring situation in which you start typing a text in one language, only to discover that the keyboard layout is set according to a different one. Instead of having to change it manually in the Control Panel and then rewriting everything again, LangOver lets you fix the layout and the written text with a hotkey.

LangOver supports virtually any language you work with and is very easy to configure, though it doesn't seem to work fine with all language combinations: during our tests it worked with Spanish and English, but failed to fix the text when using German and English.

LangOver is an easy way to fix multiple language issues, as it lets you redefine keyboard layout and correct text right on the spot.

Download LangOver 5.0.0.3 in Softonic

If you suffer from wrist problems or simply don't like using your mouse, then you should think about getting more out of your keyboard.

ZenKEY allows you to do just that by giving you full control over your keyboard to assign keystrokes for just about every conceivable function. It also allows you to extend the use of your mouse beyond simple clicking to cut and paste or select links. Amongst the many functions you can program it to carry out it can, launch a program or bring it back into focus, open a document, folder or Internet resource, search the Internet and even minimize or maximize a window.

In addition, it allows you to resize, move or alter a window, issue media commands (eg play, pause or volume up/down), start your screensaver and even shutdown your computer without even touching your mouse or the Start menu. The program also promises to allow you to "access hidden Windows utilities" although it doesn't specify what these are or where they are but to be honest, it offers enough functionality without seeking hidden bonuses. The multimedia functions are not particularly useful if you have a multimedia keyboard - being able to stop start and fast forward your music via the keyboard is hardly a revelation but this is still an impressive tool.

Reduce your mouse usage or simply get more out of your keyboard, ZenKEY helps you do it all.

Download ZenKEY 2.0.9 in Softonic

If you don’t like the standard Windows keyboard shortcuts, move a step ahead and create your own with HotKeyMan.

This simple tool enables you to create personalized shortcuts by combining the Windows, Alt, Ctrl and Shift keys with any other characters in your keyboard and then assigning this combination to a variety of functions. These may include opening files (documents or applications), taking screenshots, sending keystrokes to any given program and maximizing or minimizing windows.

HotKeyMan already includes lots of default shortcuts you can keep, delete or edit at will. You can add as many new combinations as you want, always making sure they don't ovewrite other previously existent shortcuts – something the program doesn't warn you about.

The only problem will then be remembering them all, though you can always take a look at the crib sheet you can open from the program's icon in the system tray.

If you're more of a keyboard user than a mouse one you're going to like HotKeyMan: a program that lets you assign keyboard shortcuts to almost anything in Windows.

Download HotKeyMan 01.00.01.00 in Softonic

Besides letters and numbers, keyboards have dozens of signs that are used by many languages around the world but which are not always easy to insert. Many of them require strange key combinations that you obviously don't know by heart.

This is why PopChar Win is so useful: it enables you to insert special characters in your writings on the fly, so that you don't waste your time trying different combinations or looking them up on the Internet. I specially liked the way characters are inserted: simply select it with your mouse and it will be copied to whichever text editor or email client is open. Plus, the program's window can be launched with a hotkey and closes immediately after inserting the character.

On the downside, this version is just a demo that doesn't provide access to all characters. Also, I don't understand why the complete text font list is displayed only in a separate window and not under a menu, which would be much easier.

Download PopChar Win 3.4 in Softonic

The Windows speaker icon is one of the most primitive aspects of Windows that still persists in Vista and there must be a better way of doing things.

VolumeTouch aims to do exactly that by allowing you to control Windows speakers from your mouse. With VolumeTouch you can adjust the volume instantly from any application without leaving your work. The utility is very simple to use - simply hold down Ctrl+Shift and use the Up/Down arrow keys or your Mouse Wheel to adjust the volume. You can then use Ctrl+Shift+0 to mute or unmute all sound. Note that this works for any Windows program and it allows you to configure other special keyboard and mouse shortcuts if you prefer. You can instantly mute Windows sounds with key combinations and choose from 5 different skins. Plus you get Easy access to Windows Control Panel for advanced volume options, the Sound Recorder and Audio Properties. Note that to remove the old speaker icon, right click the VolumeTouch icon, Select Adjust Audio Properties and Uncheck "Place Volume Icon In Taskbar" select OK.

Remove your Windows speaker icon for good and use the mouse for quicker access to your volume controls.

Download VolumeTouch 1.1 in Softonic

Do you feel like your productivity is influenced by having constantly to move your hand from the keyboard to the mouse? Wish you could resize and move windows with shortcut keys? Well, here is the solution you were looking for.

After installing FreeSnap you will be able to press the Windows button together with one of the number pad keys, to have full control of an active window. Together with the Alt-Tab tool, embedded in the OS, this really is a useful tool to increase productivity and show colleagues that you are the fastest keyboard player in the office.

I can’t see a downside in having added functionality. Maybe it would have been better if there were an icon in the system tray showing that the program is running. It would have been also good if, by pressing the combination of keys to resize a window, the latter could move smoothly on the screen instead of just reduce its size at predefined intervals.

If you like the Alt-Tab function, I’m sure you will love FreeSnap, which adds new functionality to manage active windows from your keyboard, without having to move your hand on the mouse anymore.

Download FreeSnap 1.2 in Softonic

PTFB Pro is a macro recorder and scheduler with unique auto-response capability. Packed full of all the powerful features that you'd expect from a fully-featured professonal macro recorder, PTFB Pro takes automation of repetative tasks to a new level with its capability to trigger a macro in response to a specific window appearing.

This makes it ideal for automatically handling confirmation screens and other windows that interrupt your workflow - everything from dismissing those irritating "are you sure?" prompts to automatically completing login screens and connection dialogs.

Download Push the Freakin Button Pro 3.5.1 in Softonic

One of the best ways to speed up your productivity is to take your hand off the mouse and start using your keyboard a lot more.

However, this is easier said than done. First because we're all so used to doing everything by mouse that using anything else just feels weird and clumsy but most importantly, Windows doesn't come with any kind of hotkey configuration utility to help you get more out of your keyboard. That's where Hotkeycontrol XP comes in because it provides an ultra easy and convenient way to configure hotkeys for just about any task - well almost any task. The excellent thing about this program is that it can make use of all those multimedia keys that you never use anymore - the ones that launch the internet, your media player, file browser etc. Rather than have them redundant, Hotkeycontrol XP maps your keyboard and them allows you to assign actions to each one. This suddenly enables you to use your keyboard for everything from running programs and opening files to moving folders and saving webpages. One of the most useful functions of this program however is that it can save you hours of time in wasted typing - if you regularly type the same sorts of e-mail responses, you can use the program to automatically enter a block of text based on the simple press of a hotkey.

A superb utility that speeds-up your working day, makes hotkey configuration a breeze and makes better use of your keyboard.

Download Hotkeycontrol XP 6.0 in Softonic

AutoHotkey unleashes the full potential of your keyboard, joystick, and mouse. For example, in addition to the typical Control, Alt, and Shift modifiers, you can use the Windows key and the Capslock key as modifiers. In fact, you can make any key or mouse button act as a modifier.

Download AutoHotKey 1.0.47.06 in Softonic

Here's a very easy though tricky question: why does the PrintScreen key have that name if it doesn't actually print anything?

I guess you don't have the answer for that – I don’t either – but I do know a way to fix that incongruity. It's called Purrint: a small Windows tool that turns the PrintScreen key into an actual printing application.

Once installed, Purrint places an icon on the system tray, though I'd say it's more comfortable to use with the keyboard itself. Now, every time you press the PrtScr key (or the Alt+PrtScr shortcut to capture the active window) a window will open and offer you the possibility to copy the image to the clipboard (as the standard key would do), save it as an image file or send it to your printer right away.

Purrint can also work in a semi-automated way: simply open the program's configuration menu and set it to take a specific action every time you press the PrtScr button.

Purrint is an easy way to improve the way the PrintScreen key works by adding new functions to it and make it a more useful key.

Download Purrint build 23 in Softonic

SharpKeys is a Registry hack that is used to make certain keys on a keyboard act like other keys. For example, if you accidentally hit Caps Lock often, you could use this utility to map Caps Lock to a Shift key or even turn it off completely. The official release includes support for up to 104 mappings, an extensive list of available keys, and a "Type Key" option to help when managing mappings. As it relies on internal support within Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows Server 2003, you must be running one of these OS's for this Registry hack to work.

Download SharpKeys 2.1.1 in Softonic

Click-N-Type is an on-screen virtual keyboard designed for anyone with a disability that prevents him or her from typing on a physical computer keyboard. As long as the physically challenged person can control a mouse, trackball, touch screen or other pointing device, this software keyboard allows you to send keystrokes to virtually any Windows application or DOS application that can run within a window.

The Click-N-Type Virtual Keyboard is a 32 bit application that requires Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP or later. There are other onscreen virtual keyboards around but you'll find Click-N-Type the easiest to use for getting text into those uncooperative places like browser URL "Address:" fields, Email "To:" addresses, Email "Subject:" fields, dialog boxes like "Open" and "Save As...", and many other problematic applications.

You'll see they all work fine while typing into Notepad or WordPad, but when you attempt to do some real work, with all but the expensive ones, you'll get really annoyed really fast. The Click-N-Type Virtual Keyboard was designed with ease of use foremost in mind.

Download Click-N-Type 3.03 in Softonic

There are functions assigned to the left click, to the right click, to the double left click and even to the mouse wheel click. But what about the double right click? Yes, that function doesn't seem to be used... at least until now, because now you can install ClickZap and assign a given task to the double right click.

This tool is really simple: it consists of a small interface where you can select the function you want the double right click to be assigned, and that's pretty much everything. You can choose among several options: lock the computer, end session, shutdown the PC, mute sound, minimize all opened apps, etc.

ClickZap runs in the background but it doesn't display any icon in the system tray. Instead of that, the program adds a shortcut link on the desktop so that you can easily change its configuration.

Assign a customized function to your mouse's right click.

Download ClickZap 1.0 in Softonic

Navigating back and forth is something we do everyday but most people just use the back and forward arrows in their browser. However, there is another way. Easy Go Back is an Internet Explorer add-on that allows you to conveniently navigate IE back and forward.

Once installed, you configure your mouse the way you want it to work. The default however is to press and hold down the right mouse button, move the mouse cursor to the left which makes the pages go backwards. You simply move the mouse cursor to the right (forward) and Internet Explorer navigates forward.

There a few other additional features which makes this is a useful download. With Easy Go Back you can open a link in a new window without the need to hold the Shift key or right-click the link. It works only if you have a middle button however which you can use to open a link in a new window. When not pointing at a link or pointing at the taskbar, the middle click will open a new browser window.

One final feature worth mentioning is Instant Menu which allows you to quickly close or minimize the top window, open a new web browser window or switch between IE or Firefox. You will speed up your productivity with this although it can become confusing when you just want to drag and drop and you end up moving your navigator backwards and forwards.

Download Easy Go Back 2.5 in Softonic

What appears just a siple program to launch
programs from your keyboard, surprises with its usefulness and ease of use.

HotkeyP offers a wide range of shortcut combinations for your PC such as screensaver, volume control, file opening, running programs, emptying the recycle bin or re-starting your PC.

HotkeyP also supports macros which allow you to carry out certain mouse functions on your keyboard. A simple but powerful application that once mastered, will save you time

Download HotkeyP 4.3.1 in Softonic

Keyboard Express is a Windows keyboard macro utility. It allows you to issue just about any series of keystrokes to your windows applications with the touch of a key.

What is a Macro? A macro is a way to automate a task that you perform repeatedly or on a regular basis. It is a series of commands and actions that can be stored and run whenever you need to perform the task. You can record or build a macro, and then play the macro to automatically repeat the series of commands or actions.

Download Keyboard Express 3.3 in Softonic