Back in August I wrote about two pieces of software (FruitMenu and XMenu) that restored the ability to customize the OS X Apple Menu as one could under Mac OS 9. Today I present two more options to restore OS 9 functionality in Mac OS X, both freeware.

The first, TigerLaunch, is a very simple app created in Apple’s Cocoa programming language by Ranchero Software. When you start TigerLaunch it creates an extra icon in the Menu bar, just like XMenu. However, TigerLaunch has a more “aquified” OS X look and feel. TigerLaunch searches your Mac for apps and generates a complete list of them – regardless of the folder in which they reside. XMenu only takes the apps that actually reside in the Mac’s Applications Folder. But TigerLaunch only lists programs, while Xmenu creates separate menus for Applications, Documents, Home and more.

Of course, if you collect a lot of small apps and utilities like I do, the menu Tiger Launch creates is absurdly long. Not to worry, though; clicking on the “Configure” option brings up the menu list with a checkbox beside each app name. Unchecking the boxes prevents those apps from appearing in the menu. A tedious task, but it really trims the menu to a manageable size and only need be done once.

TigerLaunch must be re-launched every time you reboot or log out of your Mac, but can be added to the Startup Items to force it to launch automatically. That’s all there is to TigerLaunch, but if you’re looking for a basic, free solution to your overloaded Dock and pine for an OS 9-style Apple Menu, it’s worth a look. (FruitMenu remains by far a superior solution, but does cost $10 and is a “haxie” – it alters your system software.)

Today’s second option, RapidoStart by app4Mac, re-invents another Mac OS 9 legacy – the Launcher. This utility creates gray transparent windows full of large icons arranged as the user chooses. Visually it resembles the application switcher function built into OS X (Command-Tab). By default RapidoStart is activated by a green button it creates in the lower right corner of your screen, but in the preferences you can move the button to any corner. Power users will prefer assigning it to an F-key, such as F1, so that hitting that key instantly brings up the RapidoStart window.

RapidoStart is delightfully customizable. The default window holds 8 Application icons, but can be changed to 16, 32 or 48 if your screen is big enough. You add app icons by dragging and dropping them. You can rearrange them in any order at any time, and delete icons by using the right-click menu (or option-click for those Mac die-hards with a single-button mouse).

If you need more room for icons or just want a better way to organize your stuff, you can create more windows and name them whatever you like: Games, Documents, whatever. After you set up more than one category, you can switch between them by clicking on arrows located at the top left of the RapidoStart window. If you end up with so many categories and icons that navigation gets tricky, RapidoStart provides an iTunes-like search window to help you find the icon you’re seeking.

In the preferences is a convenient option to Launch at Startup, which any regular user of this utility would want.

For freeware, RapidoStart is remarkably polished. It may be the most unobtrusive means of relieving the Dock of some of its burden I’ve seen yet.