Would it be possible for PA to have a specific forum or a dedicated page (with a link at the top) with a listing of other applications (still "safe" and recommended, but possibly closed source) portable applications?
I think it might limit the number of requests seen in the apps request forum, and also inform visitors that there are applications already portable out there---PA just can't host them here since they can't be made PA portable. PA doesn't need to host the software; it would just need a link to the homepage or portable build page, and include a short discussion on how to make it portable.
I am sure that an official list of tips and tricks wouldn't take long to create with this community.
Some recommended bits of freeware (free as in free beer) that immediately come to mind...
CCleaner, Recuva, and Defraggler are file/system management tools from Piriform--all have portable builds.
CCleaner - http://www.ccleaner.com/ - http://www.ccleaner.com/download/builds
Recuva - http://www.recuva.com/ - http://www.recuva.com/download/builds
Defraggler - http://www.recuva.com/download/builds - http://www.defraggler.com/download/builds
ImgBurn is a popular piece of software that has portable modes and configuration.
Imgburn - http://www.imgburn.com/ - http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?showtopic=9696
DeepBurner is an alternative CD/DVD burning application.
DeepBurner - http://www.deepburner.com/ - http://www.deepburner.com/index.php?r=download
Skype is frequently requested, and it has removable mode command line switches.
Skype - http://www.skype.com/ - http://www.von-phone.com/portable-skype.php
Foobar2000 is an advanced audio player and media tool that has a portable installation mode.
Foobar2000 - http://www.foobar2000.org/
TrueCrypt is an advanced file/drive encryption tool with a portable extraction in the installer. It does require Administrative rights to operate.
TrueCrypt - http://www.truecrypt.org/
CDex is an advanced CD Ripper, but I am not sure if it is portable (there is an extractable ZIP archive of the program).
CDex - http://cdexos.sourceforge.net/ - http://cdexos.sourceforge.net/?q=download
Peerguardian Lite is a CL version of the popular PeerGuardian. It is Open source too.
Peerguardian Lite - http://phoenixlabs.org/pglite/
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John has this in the works. Not exactly sure when it's going to happen, but as has been the mantra here, "it will happen when it happens". Basically from what I have gathered, the idea is to extend PortableApps's offerings to include "freeware" licensed apps in addition to the current assortment of "open-source" software. I believe a large part of the problem is hosting, seeing as sourceforge.net (where all of the official apps here are hosted) does not allow hosting of closed-source programs. In the mean time, search the forums, as I am sure most of the apps you mentioned already have PAF launchers so you just have to separately download the original app yourself and add it into the app directory. Once closed-source freeware is supported here I would bet there will be quite a few entries in a rather short time.
Quamquam omniam nescio, nec nihil scio.
I can't for that day.
While launchers are handy to have, they aren't necessary.
License legalities are still something of a mystery to me as "free" to me is on level with "free beer." I do not understand why PA would not be allowed to host the launcher if it does not contain the closed source application. As if it is so difficult for a user to click on a link to a webpage to download the official application. Continuing, if the user has the launcher and the program installer files in the same directory (or the launcher just downloads the appropriate EXE or ZIP when no app files are present), could the launcher perform the necessary operations to install the app to the PA folders?
This is just the mechanical engineer in me thinking of the technical steps---I have no idea if that is desired or legal.
Limits are for people with no imagination.
Overzealous companies that would sue us for using the application name is one reason.
Yep, the launchers could do it for you.
Thinking is illegal, haven't you got the memo
(Please release that was a joke, hence the smiley).
Too many lonely hearts in the real world
Too many bridges you can burn
Too many tables you can't turn
Don't wanna live my life in the real world
PortableApps DOES have many of these launchers, they just don't have their own pages, and PA doesn't host them because they are not "official PA releases". They can be found by searching the forums. When the site opens up to freeware licenses I would bet that they will be hosted and made "official" at that point. John works hard to make sure everything is done right and proper on the legal front, which takes time. Give him that time and I think you won't be disappointed. I mean hey, it's free, right? It's not like we're paying him to do this.
Quamquam omniam nescio, nec nihil scio.
I am not interested in the launchers, while there could be links to the forums about such things.
My interest is in applications that are native portable, simply extract-and-go type programs that already exist, like the ones I mentioned. There are bound to be more. I'd like to see pages dedicated to these apps. We'd be explaining to new users that there are apps outside of PA that one can use, but PA can't host.
Limits are for people with no imagination.
then look to portablefreeware.com
Too many lonely hearts in the real world
Too many bridges you can burn
Too many tables you can't turn
Don't wanna live my life in the real world
The ImgBurn's forum's instructions to make ImgBurn portable do not actually work, at least not for 2.4.4.0. Someone with an account ought to let him know. He's using an Invision forum, it'll let him post attachments if he has permission (and he should, he's the admin). He can post the .ini that supposedly worked for him and maybe that'll help, but ImgBurn doesn't use a .ini, at least nowhere I can see.
No doubt, but an ini file was created in the main folder of my version. IDK if it's actually used, but
here's a portion of it: (it's long....) (Possibly created after first use. It has
bits of info of the first disc I burned, history, stored in it.)
[Settings]
MainWindow=0000014100000056
LogWindow=00000141000002120000027F0000014A
LogWindowOpen=1
LogWindowSnapped=1
DropWindow=000004980000037A
DropWindowOpen=0
ProgramMode=3
BuildMode=1
OperatingSystem=5.1
LastCheckForProgramUpdate=05/05/2009 01:24:04
AWS_MRUFile=
IBB_MRUFile=
IBG_MRUFile=
IBQ_MRUFile=
LOG_MRUFile=
TotalNumberOfBurns=2
LOG_BuryHead=0
GENERAL_ProgramDebugMode=0
GENERAL_MinimizeToSystemTray=0
GENERAL_SynchroniseWriteDiscoveryOptions=1
GENERAL_QueueWindowStayOnTop=1
GENERAL_PreventScreenSaverFromStarting=1
GENERAL_PreventEnteringStandBy=1
GENERAL_DontShowStatusBarMessages=0
GENERAL_ShowShutdownWindow=1
GENERAL_ShutdownAction=3
GENERAL_NeverForceShutdownAction=0
GENERAL_Language=2057
GENERAL_WarningsImagesStillQueued=1
GENERAL_WarningsInterferingPrograms=1
GENERAL_WarningsLayerBreakOnDVDRDL=1
GENERAL_WarningsOverburning=1
GENERAL_WarningsProtectedDisc=1
GENERAL_WarningsMaximumFileSize=1
GENERAL_WarningsMDSNotISO=1
GENERAL_WarningsSeamlessLayerBreak=1
GENERAL_WarningsDontUpdateIFOBUPFiles=1
GENERAL_WarningsWriteModeNotBuildMode=1
GENERAL_ImgBurnPreviewFileName=F:\PortableApps\ImgBurn\ImgBurnPreview.exe
GENERAL_ImgBurnPreviewShowInformation=1
GENERAL_ImgBurnPreviewShowRealSize=1
It works as far as I can tell. I run it in a sandbox and I don't see anything leaving the directory or any temporary registry settings be stored in the sandbox.
Before running ImgBurn, you need to create an empty INI file in the directory. You then run ImgBurn with the command line settings /PORTABLE and /SETTINGS "". After that you go into the INI and add "PortableMode=1" to the top. Tada!
Nice signature, by the way.
Limits are for people with no imagination.
I didn't do the blank .INI file. That's probably where I went wrong.
And thanks, I like to match forums with TV shows I like and then update them as I watch, as better quotes come out. That was from the Christmas special prior to Season 4, and they're taking 2009 off for whatever reason.