Running Nirvana as an application in Windows
I wanted to share something I do with Nirvana that may help others.
I am a Firefox user and benefit from the many extensions that I use. Nirvana runs faster on Google Chrome browser, so here is a way you can run Nirvana as an application.
Install Chrome and open Nirvana as you normally would. There is
are two icons on the far right, the one of the left looks like a
piece of paper. Click on this and you will see a drop down list
with many options. The top option called "Create application
shortcuts..." is what you need to choose.
This will bring up a dialog box with some simple options and will allow you to run Nirvana as an applications. A desktop icon is created in your desktop for you to use. You can also choose to add it to your Start menu or Quick launch bar.
Now you have a stand alone Nirvana application that runs fast. You are basically still running the Chrome Browser but it get's rid of all the other UI elements to make the website look like an application.
Firefox users can do this as well by using the Prism extension. There are two issues with this at the moment.
- Firefox is a little slower than Chrome. Firefox 3.6 improved in
speed but it's still a little slower than Chrome
- Using Prism in Firefox does not allow keyboard shortcuts to work. Chrome has no issues with keyboard shortcuts.
This technique should also work in any OS that supports Chrome with some minor differences in the options available to you.
Enjoy.
2 Posted by david_h on 04 Mar, 2010 10:42 PM
Yes, I do exactly the same thing. I don't use Chrome as my normal browser because the ad blocking extensions are just not as good as AdBlock Pro for Firefox (and I hate bloody advertising).
So I have Nirvana, Toodledo, Evernote (sometimes I prefer to use the web version to the Windows app) and Hootsuit all running in nice Chrome browser windows - no ads, nice and fast!
3 Posted by josvandervoort on 05 Mar, 2010 09:23 AM
Oh yes, same thing here.
If only Elbert could give us a nice LARGE Windows icon that look good on my screen......
4 Posted by Proximo on 05 Mar, 2010 03:02 PM
I use Executor to launch everything that I use often. My Windows Desktop only has one icon on it. The trash bin.
I have a clean UI with No icons, but I can launch anything I need quickly with Executor.
I also setup a keyboard shortcut with Executor for my Nirvana. Pressing the Windows button + N will launch my Nirvana Chrome Application instantly.
LOVE EXECUTOR
5 Posted by josvandervoort on 05 Mar, 2010 03:51 PM
I had Launchy for a while and did not like it.
Executor installed and shortcuts for a couple of apps made including Nirvana.
6 Posted by Proximo on 05 Mar, 2010 06:56 PM
I like Executor more than Launchy because I control what it does. Launchy finds programs automatically and I don't like that.
7 Posted by A-CAST on 05 Apr, 2010 08:07 PM
I also use Executor and I don't use ANY icons...even the Recycle Bin is off my desktop screen :-) I'm also bold enough to configure my OS to delete files for good...no sending to recycle bin at all, so no need for the icon.
This is the equivalent to holding down the Shift key while deleting a file...just a tip for those out there that would benefit from that...but don't do it unless you're 100% sure you know how to recover files if you accidentally delete them or if you're efficient enough with your stuff that you don't mind it. lol
8 Posted by Glenn on 12 Apr, 2010 03:37 PM
Proximo, once again I'm sure you posted something useful, but I'm wondering if I can find this translated into English or posted as "Nirvana for Dummies." : -)
Based on what you posted, I'm now motivated to download Chrome and Git-R-Done. Once again, you prove that you ARE a GTD Guru. ; -)
Thanks!
9 Posted by Proximo on 12 Apr, 2010 04:00 PM
@Glenn,
Here is a little video showing you the actual process.
http://screencast.com/t/ZjNhYzdkNmYt
Hope it helps.
10 Posted by Glenn on 12 Apr, 2010 05:16 PM
Proximo, that's too cool. I downloaded Chrome and now have the Nirvana app shortcut created.
11 Posted by Glenn on 12 Apr, 2010 10:08 PM
Proximo, by the way, what is that page that's displayed right at the beginning of the video? It looks like some sort of bookmark page. Can you please provide a clue?
Thanks.
12 Posted by Proximo on 13 Apr, 2010 02:29 AM
@Glenn,
Here is the link to the extension I am using. You can add any shortcuts to your bookmarks tab or simply select a specific folder from your bookmarks to show it's context on the window.
https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/ncdfeghkpohnalmpblddmnp...
13 Posted by DC Clarke on 22 Apr, 2010 04:37 AM
@Proximo Great suggestion! Chrome has just about totally replaced Firefox for me and this just makes it better. Thanks!
14 Posted by pnooren on 13 May, 2010 03:44 AM
Proximo, great tip, especially for those who do not use Chrome as their default browser.
For me personally, although I like the idea of an application which can be accessed by a tool like Launchy very fast, I don't like the ugly blue bar Chrome puts on top of the application, nor is there any significant performance difference.
What I do is: open Nirvana, right-click on the tab and select 'pin tab'. This will reduce the width of the tab to only a few pixels wide and puts the tab in the leftmost corner of your browser. Now, by pressing ctrl+1 anywhere in your browser, Nirvana's tab will pop up.
15 Posted by Proximo on 13 May, 2010 04:08 AM
@Pieter
If you like, I can show you how to launch Chrome with as many tabs
pinned as you wish. You can choose which order they show up in.
I did this for a while and Chrome would launch with Nirvana and
iGoogle already pinned by default.
My main purpose for using the Chrome application feature is to prevent
distractions by having the browser open.
I was drifting off into the Internet and loosing focus. :-)
16 Posted by Glenn on 13 May, 2010 04:15 AM
Proximo, are really saying that you're human and actually capable of being distracted and losing focus? That's almost hard to believe. : -o
17 Posted by pnooren on 13 May, 2010 04:57 AM
Proximus, yes I'd like to see that. It would be very useful to open Chrome with Nirvana, Gmail, Greader already pinned.
18 Posted by pnooren on 13 May, 2010 05:02 AM
off-topic: I'm Pieter, just created a profile. Where can I upload an avatar?
19 Posted by pnooren on 13 May, 2010 05:11 AM
nvm, found it, but uploading a pic to Gravatar does not work for me. Oh well.
20 Posted by Glenn on 13 May, 2010 05:14 AM
Pieter, it's documented somewhere here, but the bottom line is that you have to do it on Gravatar at http://en.gravatar.com/ .
21 Posted by Proximo on 14 May, 2010 09:20 PM
@Pieter or pnooren ( I think you are the same person)
I did not forget about you. A weird thing happen as I was getting ready to create a short video for you on how to do this.
It seems that the version of Chrome I have will now automatically remember any pinned tabs, the next time you open Chrome. Regardless of what you choose as your home page.
Very weird indeed.
In the past what you needed to do is add "--pinned-tab-count=n" to the end of your shortcut Target, right after chrome.exe" "n" would be the number of pinned tabs you wanted on start up.
So it would look like this.
"C:\Documents and Settings\dcastillo\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" --pinned-tab-count=2
In this example I would have 2 pinned tabs on start up.
You would then add the url of the sites you wanted pinned in the correct order after the --pinned-tab-count=2
Like this:
"C:\Documents and Settings\dcastillo\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" --pinned-tab-count=2 http://www.nirvanahq.com http://mail.google.com
This may work for you but on my current Chrome Browser, I simply just pin any page I want and if I exit Chrome, it opens with the pinned tabs at next launch. This is working without me having to do what I just described above.
Here is a video of what my browser is doing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STmTG4mpIpU&fmt=22
22 Posted by pnooren on 15 May, 2010 04:57 AM
Proximo, yes, Pieter is the username I used before I created a profile.
You're right, I just tried restarting my browser (I run the same beta version) with a few tabs pinned and they remained intact! I'm quite sure this was not the case in previous versions of Chrome. Pretty neat indeed.
Again, thanks for this extensive reply and the video, my compliments on pointing me and so many other Nirvana users in the right direction.
23 Posted by Darren A on 21 May, 2010 08:02 PM
Thanks for this great tip!
Just got started with Nirvana and this makes it even better!
Thanks
24 Posted by Vincent on 30 May, 2010 02:18 PM
Good discussion guys. An alternative to Prism is http://fluidapp.com/ for OSX. Check it out if you are on OSX.