10.3: Switch apps without showing or using the dock
Oct 25, '03 12:00:12AM
Contributed by: Anonymous
Don't know if this is known: If one holds down Command and presses tab, a transparent dock with big icons of running apps appears in the middle of the screen with holding the tab key the cursor runs thru all active apps unless one let go! Nice!
[robg adds: If that's all there was to it, it probably wouldn't be hint-worthy. But this new application switcher has some extra tricks hidden up its sleeve. While still holding Command down, Tab to any given application in the list, then hit H. The highlighted application will hide. Hit Q instead, and it will quit (assuming there are no unsaved changes). It was reported in some builds that M also minimized the app, but that seems to have vanished in the final release. Pressing Shift and then Tab (while still holding the Command key, of course) will cycle backwards amongst the open applications.
Also, if you have the mouse in the switcher area (the shaded portion of the screen), simply drag the mouse left and right to scroll amongst apps.
The presence of the switcher (which looks a lot like Lite Switch X from Proteron!) is a boon for those of us who keep the dock hidden -- no longer does it come to the foreground when you use Command-Tab. Only the switcher pops into view.]
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Mac OS X Hints
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20030928140534224