Most Popular Desktop Search Application: Alfred

Searching for files, folders, or applications on your computer has never been easier. There are a ton of search utilities that'll get the job done for you, but which ones are worth your time and money? Last week, we asked you which utilities you turned to for desktop search, took a look at the five best desktop search tools based on your nominations, and then put them to an all-out vote. Now it's time to highlight the winner.

If there's one message you sent with this Hive, it's that expensive or highly specialized search utilities lose out over apps that can do much more than search. You would much prefer an affordable or free tool that also does search than a pricey utility that only does search but does it really well.

To that effect, OS X launcher and search utility Alfred took the top spot with close to 45% of the overall vote.

In second place with just over 19% of the overall vote is Everything, the fast and free Windows search utility that's just come off of hiatus. In third place with 14.5% of the overall vote is the search utility you already have: Windows Search. Combined with our tweaks, what's normally a mediocre search utility is much more powerful. Right behind it in fourth place with just over 14% of the vote (and missing third place by a mere six votes), is cross-platform app launcher and file search utility Launchy. Bringing up the rear with just under 8% of the overall vote is OS X app launcher and system tweaking tool Quicksilver.

The Hive Five is based on reader nominations. As with most Hive Five posts, if your favorite was left out, it's not because we hate it?it's because it didn't get the nominations required in the call for contenders post to make the top five. We understand it's a bit of a popularity contest, but if you have a favorite, we want to hear about it. Have a suggestion for the Hive Five? Send us an email at tips+hivefive@lifehacker.com!

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/rELm0XGOVcc/most-popular-desktop-search-application-alfred

private practice deion sanders creutzfeldt jakob disease the lone ranger yu darvish mad cow pennsylvania primary