Why Magic Button worth considering to download and replace your existing one:
- It is free.
- Does not take up any of your screen real estate, yet easy to access.
- Located on title bar but does not cover any standard info, i.e. Sound icon, notification icon.
- Very small foot print (memory usage). Only 71 KB executable file does it all (help file is 8 KB extra).
- Makes close button really close applications. Just in case you haven't noticed, the default one only minimizes them.
- Compatible with latest and greatest Windows Mobile 6.0 (new in version 2.1).

Magic Button looks clean and blends surprisingly well with Pocket PC OS. For those who do not want too fancy or too complicated Task Manager, this is for you.

If you have installed the software, here is how to master the tool:
- To unload (shutdown) Magic Button: Tap and hold on Close button, then tap and hold on Home icon.
- To show/hide the taskbar: tap and hold the OK/Minimize/Close button.
- To show the application menu that has Settings and Exit menu items: tap and hold Today (Home) icon when it is visible.
- Map a PocketPC application button to Magic Button software then you can show/hide the bar easier by pressing the button.
- To close an individual window: tap and hold its window icon on the task bar.
- To change Close Button behaviour (Close instead of Minimize) for an application: tap and hold on the app icon and select "Keep Alive" option.

Magic Button runs on Pocket PC 2002, 2003, 2003SE, Windows Mobile 5.0 and 6.0. VGA screen is supported.

Update Description:
v2.1 Build 70912:
- Updated to blend the color with Windows Mobile 6.0 gradient color.

v2.0 Build 51023:
- Updated to blend the color with Windows Mobile 5.0 gradient color.
- Added 2 menu items to soft-reset and open Running Programs list.
- Fixed some very minor bugs.

v1.8 Build 50213:
- Bug Fix: This release fixed the crash problem when an item in the extended task popup menu is selected.

v1.8 Build 50206:
- Added: New option in popup menu to hide inactive task.
- Changed: Pocket PC Phone user can see more notification icons.
- And some very minor improvements.

v1.7 Build 41009:
- Updated: Hi-res icons in VGA screen.

v1.6 Build 40820:
- Added: Supports for Windows Mobile 2003 SE.
- Fixed: Recognizes Phone application.

v1.5 Build 31103:
- Added option to reveal notification icon (icon of WiFi connection or battery low message...)

***** [Jul 1, 2008] by Eli the Israeli using Navman PiN
Grate, wonderfull, just what's needed. Only now, I can realy use my machine. Now I can open pdf and word, read and write, and move between them. I can't understand why MS did'nt put it there in the first place.

*** [Feb 25, 2008] by Jon using HTC 4300 (phone w/ Win Mobile 5) - Centennial Wireless
This is a neat app, but unfortunately for my pda phone, it doesn't work so well... After awhile the phone starts running slow... I originally thought it was my chat app, but when I turned off MB the problem went away. I kept having to reset the phone with MB running, now I don't... so obviously it's buggy still. And that sux, because the app is really nicely done, except it covers up the connection icon when you choose to show the home icon. I have had to remove it from my phone, and will have to find another more stable app. Thanx for the effort guys!

**** [Oct 22, 2007] by henkvu using e-ten m700 - wm6
Good program, good thinking: does just what you need on your pda. Only I have the same problem like some others after a while today's screen is not accesible anymore, and the phone, ActiveSinc or the last progam that's open can not be closed. Pitty for such a nice progam.

***** [Sep 13, 2007] by blumarble using Treo 750 - WM6
Stable, simple, works great! Tried a half dozen others; like this one the best. Two things: after first installing, the "home" icon didn't go to Today screen, had a "blank" icon that toggled Today & Phone Log, but a soft reset fixed this. Couldn't close Contacts until I reset it to "Don't Show When Inactive" (tap & hold icon to change). Thanks!

***** [Jul 29, 2007] by Chucks using ipaq 2495
Great, but please fix the X to look like WM5 instead of PPC2002/2003!

* [May 15, 2007] by Jenna using Cingular 8525
Worked well for the first day or two. I really loved how it closed all the programs. Then it started to keep programs open, open its own program or just froze my phone. Had to hard reset phone. Didnt think it was magic button so reinstalled it and the same things started happening. My contacts wouldnt show up or it would open something other than what i clicked on. So it froze again and had to hard reset and now my phone works perfect no problems at all now that I don't have that program on my phone!

***** [Jan 10, 2007] by Robert using Samsung i730
Great program! Does exactly what I need, and that is to shut down an application when the X button is pressed. (The application has sensitive data, protected by password. The password isn't checked on restore from minimized state)

***** [Sep 13, 2006] by Ben.R.Lee using HTC TyTn MDA Vario II
Excellent tool but unfortunately had to remove it as I had same problem as a number of others - could not close phone dialer page.

**** [Aug 4, 2006] by Jan using Mitac Mio P550
Good application but one problem with wireless connection manager in WM 5.0. If I open the wireless connection manager to start Wireless LAN for e.g. Magic Button handles it as normal application. If I close it only to get this wireless connection manager out of my view it closes it and the WLAN connection is down. If I let it run in Background, it shows this ICON on the taskbar, not very nice. Is there any solution for this?

**** [Jul 21, 2006] by Adrian using ipaq 6965
Really cool app! Something tat should have been in wm5 right from the start. Great app!

** [Jul 17, 2006] by Modesty using MDA Vario
Unfortunately when magic button is activated, the home (house) icon on the taskbar covers my connectivity (G) icon.

**** [Apr 24, 2006] by abc using iPAQ hx2000 series
Good utility. Sometimes it accidentally closes the "Today" panel (PPC desktop version), the main reason why other comment/s complains about stability and cannot cloase the last page opened. Hopefully a patch to this problem will be made in the future to resolve this issue.

**** [Mar 20, 2006] by Robert using Dell Axim x51
So far it works a treat. I was looking for a battery meter, and now have a task switcher as well.

*** [Feb 8, 2006] by Mark using xv 6700 same as ppc 6700
Liked the program very much until found out doesn't know what to do with phone dialer.

**** [Jan 9, 2006] by globalvtec using O2 Atom
Tried using mb in my atom.. works fine at first.. really like the overall performance but after awhile it hangs. Leaving the last page open n cannot be close.. juz wondering if its the mb problem or the atom problem.. a very useful utility wich will be better if I can used in on my atom.

**** [Nov 9, 2005] by Glenn using Dell Axim x51
I'll give it one more star if you bring back my nice looking WM 5.0 Ok and X buttons :O) Otherwise - pretty much perfect!

*** [Oct 17, 2005] by dismayed using Sprint ppc-6601 (Harrier)
Love the program. Most intuitive task manger out there. Unfortunatly, causes major stability issues on my phone.

***** [Aug 24, 2005] by Leo using Toshiba e830
Been looking for something like this for a while now. Haven't used it for long, but it seems to work great.

* [Aug 15, 2005] by sl using Toshiba e335
Unfortunately, I had the same problems as Duncan and Danise Miller. It started opening things and refusing to close them. :(

***** [Jun 1, 2005] by John Douwes using HP iPAQ 6340
One of the best little Pocket PC applications I've seen so far! So easy and intuitively to use, blends in perfectly with the operating system.

***** [May 2, 2005] by Jbrugger using Mda Compact
Simply wow, Just what i allways wanted, and compatible with my pda!

***** [Feb 21, 2005] by Jason using Dell Axim X50v
Great program. Just upgraded to this version and love it.

***** [Feb 7, 2005] by ScottyWZ.COM using HP iPAQ rx3115 (Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition)
I love it! I love having a *REAL* taskbar at the top. Before I switched to 1.7, it would bring up Programs after I closed out Settings. The latest version fixes that! I also like and recommend their Nice Start ($10) password screen replacement program. Give these two programs a try! You'll be glad you did!

*** [Dec 29, 2004] by Duncan using ipaq 1710
It is a shame because this is a great little program. And at first I would have gladly payed a few $$$ for it. But all of a sudden it started displaying my programs instead of my today screen. I had to soft reset to get back to mt today screen.Unfortunately had to uninstall.

**** [Dec 24, 2004] by Mort using MDA compact
Very nice program, and currently one of the few that works with WM2003SE PE. Only drawback: It doesn't close or hide the phone application, even if "Keep alive" is set.

***** [Dec 17, 2004] by Troy Tudor using Toshiba e405 Win 2003 SE
I recently switched from version 1.4 and love the fixes. If anyone is looking for a task manager, this one's great! I've tried a few others, but none worked as nice as this one. Try their Nice Start program, too.

***** [Dec 15, 2004] by gigamanx using Dell Axim x50v - Windows Mobile 2003 SE
I didn't like the pre-installed "switcherbar" that came with the Dell application suite. The Magic bar is far superior. I like how it hides where the 'X' is so it looks like a part of the OS. I have not had problems with any crashing or programs not closing. This is an A++ program!

*** [Dec 6, 2004] by Menno using Asus A730 - WM 2003 SE
It seemed like a perfect solution. However, ít often replaces my today screen for the program menu. Has anyone found a solution for this yet. I really love the program, too bad for this bug...

***** [Nov 3, 2004] by Richard using iPAQ 1715
GREAT! Now, I can move around to the different applications with a touch of a button (rather than having to go to the Start Menu. Thanks for this very useful program!

***** [Oct 20, 2004] by Tinker2000 using ipaq hx4700
Excellent.... though occasionally acts slowly, especially if the x button closes rather than minimises.

** [Oct 15, 2004] by Pat Devoy using iPAQ 2215
This program generates soft resests... It freezes on an open window over and over and caused a hard reset on my device. It is a good concept but coded poorly.

**** [Sep 3, 2004] by Jeremy using T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone Edition 2003
Great program! I love it except it has compatability issues with the phone edition. If you use this it works great until you get a phone call, then you can't close the phone program. Maybe it's designed to alwasy stay on in the background??

***** [Aug 27, 2004] by Snakebyte using IPAQ 6315
Awesome app, feature packed, well desighned easy to use, small, not buggy at all.

***** [Aug 16, 2004] by Mark using Dell Axim X30 High
This is the best task switcher/closer. It looks like it is integrated into the O/S, unlike a lot of gaudy other programs. Keep up the good work!

*** [Aug 11, 2004] by Wolfgang using Siemens SX56
I had problems running it with my Pocket PC phone edition. It kept on bringing up the phone dialer program. It seems that there are some compatibility issues with the phone edition.

***** [May 19, 2004] by James Crowl using Toshiba e755
This adds two things most PPC users would like to have: the "close" button, and the battery indicator on top bar. While there are many other apps that can do the same, this one does it in <50KB. This is perfect for those of us who don't need the other fancy (but heavy on memory) stuff. I do wish that the battery meter can be made skinnable (e.g. with a bmp of certain size/color, as in Wisbar Adv), since the current one does not match all themes.

* [Mar 15, 2004] by Danise Miller using Hitachi G1000
I installed this app on my PPC 2002 and it brought up my phone and wouldn't let me close it. Everytime I tried to close it, it would either bring up my speed dial screen or enter a 1 like I pressed the number one on dialing a number. When I tried to open other applications, it would put the phone screen on top of it. I tried turning my ppc off and back on and it came on with the phone screen. When I tried to remove it I received an error that the .exe file was still in use and it couldn't remove it but when I went to running apps, it wasn't there to stop. I finally reset it and finished the remove.

***** [Dec 10, 2003] by russ using iPaq 1915
Works like a charm! Very handy.

***** [Nov 5, 2003] by Jeff Adams using Toshiba e310
The updated version of this software solved my one and only issue. This is now a perfect program! Thank you very much. I will not use another task killer for the rest of my life.

***** [Oct 30, 2003] by Jeff Adams using Toshiba e310
This is the only software that I have found that even comes close to the functionality of a windows PC. I love this, and use only this program for task switching. Very intuitive. Thank you. I only wish that I could keep the active program icons up at the same time as my volume control and clock.

***** [Oct 20, 2003] by lazyhorse using iPaq
This really is magic! Easy icon task switching / closing with optional battery meter display. Very intuitive, everything just how you would want it. It hides for full-screen applications, too (unlike "giga-bar"). I un-installed crashy, clunky "giga-bar", and use this instead.

***** [Oct 15, 2003] by John Doe using Toshiba e740
This is a great little app. Works great on my PPC.

***** [Aug 4, 2003] by Craig using Dell Axim
The best thing to happen to my Pocket PC. Check out their WordBook program as well! (no I don't work for them, they just make excellent products)