Toolbox: Working with multiple tools at once in Windows 8

With Windows 8 and the new design style that accompanies it, Microsoft proposes a way of working different from the classic windows that it helped spread. The new Windows applications are designed to work in full screen. Although Microsoft allows the option of keeping part of an application to the side, many will miss working with multiple windows open at once. The application we are talking about today proposes a solution for this.

Toolbox is an application created by the people of Vectorform to allow us to work with several applications at the same time on the screen.The idea is to divide the screen into small workspaces where we can open any of the tools that are proposed. The spaces are configurable and we can try different distributions until we find the most suitable for our task.

Tools: tools instead of applications

In Toolbox we don't use Windows applications, but what they call 'tools' (tools). These come to be small internal applications for simple tasks like browsing, taking notes or sharing on Facebook. Each of the tools can be opened independently in the different spaces that we establish.

The application comes with nine pre-installed tools: web browser, calculator, unit converter, facebook, voice notes, notifier, clock , time and a blackboard. They do not represent a great variety, but the creators have enabled a kind of application store ('tool depot') within it to access new tools and publish ours.At the moment, with this recently released section, we only have a stopwatch to add.

Layouts or how to divide the screen

Sliding your finger from the top or pressing the right mouse button at any time within the Toolbox displays two upper and lower bars with the different options for dividing the screen In the upper bar we find the option to add a tool, which allows adding a new workspace to any of the sides of those that we already have open.

In the same upper bar we also find different models for the arrangement of spaces by default ('layouts'). Choosing one we divide the screen into several work areas: two horizontal or vertical, three or four with different distribution and up to six spaces.In each space we can open any of the available tools. In this way we can take notes while we browse the web or consult Facebook.

Distributing the screen to our liking

In the lower bar we have the button to save the set of tools ('toolset') that we have open at all times. That is, we can save the current layout with the different tools we are working with. The set can be saved and added to the list that appears in the bottom bar and even marked to appear directly on our 'Start Screen'.

The application comes with a series of 'toolsets' by default with different configurations to work with. The idea is to create our own to have different workspaces with their already fixed tools that are easily accessible from the application itself or from our home screen.Thus, it is enough to choose the 'toolset' that we want to have an appropriate work environment open at the moment to our needs.

Toolbox is still an initial proposal to improve multitasking in Windows 8. It works better on touch devices but it is perfectly functional with mouse and keyboard. It is by no means the ideal solution, since the interesting thing would be to work with the Windows applications themselves, but it can be useful on more than one occasion. In addition, the decision to include a repository of its own tools could multiply its potential. But, for now, it stays at a good concept that still has a long way to go ahead.

Toolbox for Windows 8

• Developer: Vectorform
• Download it at: Windows Store
• Price: Free
• Category: Productivity

With Toolbox for Windows 8 you can view and interact with up to six different tools at the same time, giving you enough flexibility to customize your workspace for maximum productivity.