Editor’s note: The following review is part of Macworld’s GemFest 2012 series. Every weekday from mid June through mid August, the Macworld staff will use the Mac Gems blog to briefly cover a favorite free or low-cost program. Visit the Mac Gems homepage for a list of past Mac Gems.

Quicksilver, LaunchBar, Alfred, and LaunchMagic: if you’re a Mac power user, chances are you’ve tried at least one of these app launchers in the past. If you have, then you’ll be right at home with LaunchMagic 4 (Mac App Store link), Chronos Software’s latest release in its productivity software suite.

In truth, LaunchMagic is more of a hybrid app launcher and organizer than merely a standalone launching app. The app has a visual style unlike others in its class, which helps it stand out in the crowded app launcher field.

LaunchMagic also includes two other key elements: a dock and a “blaster.” The dock provides quick access to your most frequently used files. Essentially, you can launch apps from the dock rather than scrolling and clicking on the icon or searching for an app in the LaunchMagic main window. The LaunchMagic “blaster” is a variation of OS X’s default command-tab app switcher. The difference is that LaunchMagic can open apps whereas the OS X command is used to switch between apps that are already open.

As with most applications, the key to integrating LaunchMagic into your workflow is learning how to mold the app to your needs. Given the customization and visual polish present, LaunchMagic is a worthy addition to any Mac menu bar.

[Macworld contributor Brendan Wilhide covers the sports industry and social media on Sportsin140.com.]

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