Desktop Alert Blog

The usage of a Desktop Alert client application requires the application to run constantly as the alert application polls the server at predefined intervals for alerts.  Many applications that run constantly take on the form of a "icon tray" application.  These applications are usually referenced in the registry at:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

and/or

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

These registry key locations were designed specifically to allow applications to “start up” during logon.

The problem is that many adware companies interpreted this icon tray positioning as a passport to the end-users Desktop and ultimately the end-users wallet.  Many applications billed as "free emoticons" and "free spyware protection" began to clutter the icon tray.  Add to that a weather alert, Googles Desktop Search, McAfee Firewall, Zone Alarm, Real Audio, MSN, AOL Instant Messenger and before you know it you have about 10 items running in the icon tray. 

Then there is that whole aggravating “chevron arrow” that lets you show and hide the icon tray icons but it always closes after a second like it’s on a rubber band.

Then, all of a sudden my mouse arrow turns into a hourglass icon, then back to a arrow, then back to a hourglass.

The end-result at best is that the logon to Windows takes about 60 seconds or more. 

Arghhhhhhh. 

Why is this?  Because the applications are launched one at a time.  Many administrators and end-users bring up the task manager and observe the memory being consumed by these icon tray applications.

The most common misconception about icon tray applications memory consumption is that most people think the memory being used is RAM (the random access memory chips).  While the usage and allocation of RAM is interspersed during any applications execution the majority of memory being used is actually provided by the file-system via the Windows Swap File.  So by uninstalling icon tray applications will in most cases make little to no difference in your systems overall RAM memory consumption.

However, a simple removal of the garbage from the icon tray will greatly enhance the computers logon speed.  This does not mean one needs to uninstall the application.  It only means that YOU have the choice in most cases if an application runs from your icon tray.  Most of the pain associated with icon tray applications is experienced by the delay during login.  All you want to do is check your email and you’re waiting 1, 2 or 3 minutes to do it while all the messages appear in the icon tray and sometimes, mysterious and newly arrived icon applications.

Most people do not know it but many if not most icon tray applications provide a configuration option that lets you remove the application from the icon tray at logon.  Do we really want to make sure Real Audio can interact with our Desktops 24x7?  Not really.  The downside is that less updates (borderline advertisements in most cases that deliver new “tools” that help you give them your money) will arrive at your Desktop!  I have personally removed Real Audio from the icon tray and then the next time I used Real Audio, bam!!!  its back in the icon tray!!  What da??  So when that happens I visit the add/remove feature in the control panel and use alternative media players.

The Desktop Alert rich content client application for example makes use of Microsoft's .Net 1.1 Framework.  On review of the applications memory consumption fluctuations the amount being used can range from 8000K to 30,000K depending on whether an alert is being shown or just polled for.  However, this memory is managed by Windows and Microsoft's Framework.  The actual usage of RAM is marginal to none during most of the applications lifecycle and operation.