If you been did some readings on Windows 7 features, you will not find Aero Peek a stranger. Aero Peek gives you the power of X-ray vision, so you can peer past all your open windows straight to the Windows 7 desktop. Simply point to the right edge of the taskbar (In Windows 7)—and watch open windows instantly turn transparent, revealing all your hidden icons and gadgets.

It is quite useful for me sometimes for whatever reason when I need to peek to the desktop or my gadgets or I wanted to find back the buried windows. However, this is an only Windows 7 feature that cannot be found on Windows XP and Vista. Fortunately, GeeQ has developed a software a while ago called AeroPeek which is specifically designed for Windows XP and Vista to have the Aero Peek feature. Below is the AeroPeek in action (In Windows Vista):

Why I would recommend this software? Well, I think this can be a nice replacement for the legend ‘show desktop’ (Win+D) in Windows XP which minimize all the windows opened, but with AeroPeek, your active windows will still be there, just that all the windows are now become transparent and allow you to see the desktop, and all the windows can be easily restored back to the original state with just a click on the AeroPeek taskbar icon.  And, if you are already a frequent user of Windows 7, you might find your office’s computer (most likely with Windows XP) is quite non-user friendly anymore, there you can install this small application to have this handy function when it is needed.

Some latest change log of the software:

Version 0.2.2.
– now hovering the mouse behind the taskbar clock will act the same as in 7 – previews the desktop
– click the icon does the same as it is doin’t currently
– and clicking on a window frame while pressing ctrl+shift will “glassify” all the open windows except the clicked one
– added how-to window (describing the 3 options above)

I hope you find the small application make your older Windows feel alive again. There are some other features that can be added in which I will introduce next time. Meanwhile, if you looking for the download link of AeroPeek for Windows XP and Vista, you can download here.

Note: AeroPeek requires the Microsoft .net Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1.

Note 2: Known issue – Windows in compatibility mode can’t be hidden.