PortableApps.com Platform 'Next' Pre-Release 6 Released: Automatic Updates, Folders, App Store, Search, Portable Fonts, Theming and More!

PortableApps.com is proud to announce the latest release of our Platform (codename: Leo). Pre-Release 6 of the 'Next' platform, which become the stable version 10 of the PortableApps.com Platform this week, is available for immediate download. This 'Next' release has automated and customizable folders (aka categories) in the menu, our new theming engine with multiple chrome styles, the Portable App Directory app store for automatic download and installation of portable apps, find-as-you-type search to easily find apps in your ever-growing collection, an improved updater with better support for proxies, an improved options selection window, more-complete translations into more languages and lots more. Pre-Release 6 adds our brand new themes, bug fixes and is a last chance for translators to get their translations done for the final release. This is also the final call to sponsor the PortableApps.com Platform for this release, so you can be part of the action. Read on for all the details...(permalink)

Existing users can automatically update by clicking Manage Apps - Check for Updates

New in Pre-Release 6

Pre-Release 6 introduces our final set of themes for the big release and fixes some final bugs as well as expanding the Options window. The new default theme has a nice modern look the works well with all versions of Windows. Also included are Modern - an aero-style theme that complements Windows Vista and 7; Retro - the previous default theme; Glassy - a high-gloss theme that looks more glass-like; Flat - a very basic theme; Classic - the good old theme from 1.6 release and early 2.0 betas. All of them are available as light and dark themes in 14 different colors.

New in Pre-Release 5

This refines the previous release and adds numerous locale fixes. Automatic updating on start is now ready for prime time and enabled by default. (Advanced users can easily turn it off, of course). Stability has been improved as well. The complete list of bug fixes and feature additions is available on our pre-release bug tracking page.

We'll be doing additional releases today/tomorrow with new features and functionality.

The rest of the features listed were introduced in previous releases...

Customizable App Organization With Automatic and Custom Folders

You asked for it, you got it. And then some. The ability to organize apps into folders is just the tip of the iceberg. You can combine automatic folders (all apps 'know' if they are an Internet app or an Office app and will show up in the appropriate folder), your own custom folders, favorites to pin apps at the top or to the first page and a 'smart' list ordered by the apps you use most. You get to decide how to organize your apps so you can easily get to them. Here's a preview:

Portable App Directory™ - A Built-In Portable App Store

Now it's easier than ever to download, install and use the portable apps you want with the built-in app store. The Portable App Directory shows you an easy-to-navigate list of all the available apps you don't yet have organized by category. You check off the ones you'd like to install and it does the rest, just like our automated Updater. They'll even show up in the right categories in the menu when they're installed, all automatically.

New Themes and a New Theming Engine

This release also sees the introduction of our new theming engine. With a choice of 6 chromes and 17 colors each, you've got a lot of choices in how you'd like the menu to look. From our classic beveled style, to our modern flat look to our Aerish theme that blends right in with Windows Vista and 7, you can easily pick the look you like. And soon, you'll be able to add in custom themes as well.

Find-As-You-Type to Quickly Search Your App List

In this release, you're now able to automatically filter the app list by typing a few letters of the name of the app you are looking for. With the menu displayed, you can just start typing (or type / to switch to find mode just like in Firefox). As you type, the app list is narrowed down to only apps that match what you've typed. You can hit enter to launch the first app in the list. Hitting escape or backspacing all the characters out and then once more with none entered will exit Find-As-You-Type mode and switch back to your normal app list. You can even hit the menu's hotkey (CTRL-ALT-SPACE) from any app to pop it up and just start typing to launch your app, all without a mouse.

Easy to Use Options Window

Customizing the PortableApps.com Platform to your liking is even easier with the organized Options window. You can alter the language, font size, transparency, automated language switching, app icon organization, change themes and more.

Improved PortableApps.com Updater - Keep All Your Apps Up To Date

The bundled PortableApps.com Updater has seen some nice usability improvements. It will automatically download the extra bits for online installers itself so you'll know exactly how much time is left. It's got improved translations. It automatically works with most proxies, even for online installers. There's even an option to have it automatically and silently check for app updates as you launch the platform.

Portable Fonts

The PortableApps.com Platform now supports the ability to carry fonts on your portable device and use them with your portable software without the need to install the fonts into Windows, even without admin rights. Just place the fonts you'd like to use in your X:\PortableApps\PortableApps.com\Data\Fonts folder and the platform will automatically load them as it starts up and unload them as it exits. This feature supports TrueType (TTF), OpenType (OTF), TrueType Collections (TTC) and other font formats.

Advanced Features

The PortableApps.com Platform includes several advanced features like hiding the word 'Portable' from your app listings, hiding all splash screens for apps, hiding freeware, automatic proxy detection and configuration within the updater and app store, and much more.

Discussing The Pre-Release, Enhancements and Bug Reports

As there is much to discuss with this new release, we've separated out a few forum threads for discussing:

• Pre-Release bug reports
• Default app organization settings and "smart" list sorting
• Language updates and changes
• Portable Apps that have outdated installers and need an update to better work with the new app store

Version Number Change - Next Stable Will Be 10 This Week

As we've changed a lot from the old 2.0 beta releases, we've decided to alter the version numbering for the next 'stable' release. This release will be called 10, aka 2 in binary. This is to avoid any confusion with the 'Next' numbering scheme. Future versions will continue from 10 in standard decimal style (11, 12, etc), with a new stable version released about every month as part of our fast development track.

Sponsor the PortableApps.com Platform! Be Part Of The Action!

We're still accepting sponsors for the next PortableApps.com Platform release. With options ranging from having your name included to a full-blown site-wide sponsorship, there's a good fit for everyone. Sponsor us today and be a part of the action!

We also accept donations of any size to help with development and hosting:

- Please help support PortableApps.com's development and hosting

Final Sprint To Release

We're finishing up our 48-hour sprint to the next release with bug fixes, locale updates, and feature enhancements. Please help look for bugs, update translations and sponsor us to help out!

Coming This Week: The World's Best Flash Drive

We've been talking about it for a while, and now it's going to happen. We're releasing our very own flash drive. It's got a USB 3.0 SuperSpeed interface that's fully 2.0 compatible. 5x better portable software performance over a USB 2.0 connection than most current retail drives. It's pre-loaded with the PortableApps.com Suite. It's got a durable high-impact aluminum case you can have engraved with your name, url or phrase of your choice. And it's packaged in an attractive custom tin which makes a great gift. Best of all, it will start at under $40. The complete details will be available this week on the World's Best Flash Drive website. Don't worry, we'll be announcing it here, too!

Download Today

You can download the new test version from the download page. Get it today!

Please note that any bug reports go in the PortableApps.com Platform Next Bug Reports Topic. Any bug reports made here will be removed and addressed in that topic.