This topic is to answer the question of what apps are legal and what aren't allowed it is primarily for the PA Mods, but not exclusive.
I feel there is a need for clarification on legality of apps. Here is why?
Google Chrome Portable 2.0.162.0 https://portableapps.com/node/18051. There is a question posted there stating is the app legal.
In this request for Google Chrome Browser https://portableapps.com/node/17050 it was mentioned that Google Chrome cant be hosted here but Chromium can.
I am assuming that Chrome(ium) Portable!! - Now using Iron https://portableapps.com/node/15720. is ok as its not Chrome
What are the rules on particular apps that use automatic downloading "Launcher Only" releases, not supported by PA, this is a bit of a gray area.
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First of all, all the apps you mentioned are legal.
Apps hosted on PortableApps.com such as Firefox Portable are licensed in such a way that they can be modified and redistributed freely. PortableApps.com deals only in FOSS (Free, open-source software).
Launcher-only downloads via the forums are usually for freeware programs like Chrome which are free for anyone to download and use, but not to modify or redistribute. So you download the launcher and follow the instructions to legally acquire the freeware software and get it integrated into your PortableApps.com platform menu.
Not too sure about launchers for commercial software. If I can figure out how to make a launcher, that's exactly what I'm going to do for a game I play (though the game is basically portable already, some things need refinement). Quite obviously, sites listing portable versions of commercial programs (e.g. Photoshop) are highly illegal and are not to be linked, though I doubt a launcher to be used with your legal copy would be forbidden. But these guys are big open-source fans, so Photoshop's frowned upon anyway, in favor of The GIMP, for example.
It's not a grey area, though. Unless the software license explicitly states you can't use the software from removable media and it has to be tied to a particular set of hardware (such as Microsoft Windows) there's really no problem.
in relation to Firefox was originally not allowed to be hosted, due to the branding of the Mozilla Logos. until John.H.T. got permission to use them, then the PA Firefox Portable was born. I assume that is the same with Google's Chrome Browser.
An Old Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
MickeyJ4J
"Google Chrome" is closed source - utilising the MIT license part of their open-source "Chromium". The Google Chrome Portable thing here is actually Chromium.
Google Chrome has Google branding and the Google Updater added to it. Now that the Google Updater has gone open source (yesterday or so) Google Chrome may go completely open source, but even if it did, I would still expect it to have the same sorts of trademarking holds. To be entirely honest, when Chromium first came out I was expecting someone here to make a version of it for us here, e.g. PortableApps.com Chrome, with PortableApps.com colouring and branding (as as done in Google Chrome - the logo near the right hand corner, and the colouring). Maybe someone could still do this? From memory the skins get done in a DLL of some sort.
I am a Christian and a developer and moderator here.
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” – Proverbs 15:1
I'm still waiting for something like this as well. Is anyone planning to do an official-ish Chromium portable?
On a side note, you were right about the theme being stored in a DLL (linky).
But there’s no sense crying over every mistake,
You just keep on trying till you run out of cake.
Google "opensorce google browser" or similar adn see what you get Googles opensorce browser is Chrome.
then i looked in Wikipedia and got this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Browser
it seems that some people have got it wrong. t think it goes something like this Google chrome is free but not opensorce. Google chromium is free and opensorce
thanks i get it now
also I think we should be calling the app Chromium to save from copyright issues legality and to save confusion like I had.
An Old Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
MickeyJ4J