THANKS FOR TESTING, THIS HAS BEEN RELEASED:
https://portableapps.com/news/2010-01-28_-_portableapps.com_platform_and...
Yes, you read that right. This is a quick 1.6 Beta 12 test.
Due to the work still being done on 2.0, we're going to do a quick 1.6 release with many of the features from the 2.0 Beta 3 release. This gets a new, stable, more full-featured version of the platform out there while we finish up the remaining features.
So, what are the changes from 2.0 Beta 3? Well, we had to disable a couple things:
No Theming - First off, theming is disabled. The theming format isn't quite done, so we don't want folks using them on the main branch yet. If you install over an existing 2.0 install, be sure to switch back to the default theme first.
Ok, so what's new since the 2.0 Beta 3 release?
Eject - There is now an integrated eject feature courtesy of USB Disk Ejector (also written in Delphi). When you click Eject, it'll eject the current drive. Unless it's your Windows/System drive, in which case it will just exit.
Windows 7 Taskbar Icon - On Windows 7, the PortableApps.com Menu will now appear on the taskbar in addition to the systray. This makes it MUCH easier to work with on Windows 7. Sadly, it's not pinnable if you're running from an external drive.
Updated Locales - All the locales have been updated to the current submissions from everyone for the 2.0 release.
Improved installer - Just works a bit better.
WHAT'S NEW IN 1.6 BETA 2?
- [BUGFIX] Installer no longer overwrites menu settings
- [BUGFIX] No more minimized window under 2000/XP/Vista
- [BUGFIX] System tray icon under Wine fixed
- [BUGFIX] Extra Croatian translation removed
- [FEATURE] Disable Win7 taskbar within the INI's [Display] section by setting Windows7TaskbarIcon=false
- [FEATURE] Manually setting fade in/out is re-enabled and should work properly but may be buggy in Windows 7 with the taskbar on
- [REFINEMENT] The icon shown within Windows Explorer for the drive is now a high-quality icon of the PA.c USB drive as seen on the Suite page
Ok, so, please download it and give it a try:
Download PortableApps.com Platform 1.6 Beta 2 [1.6MB]
MD5: 2950e6ed0b30a4c6ba408bf5aff74251
Please test this and report back as soon as you can.
Thanks!
PS - For those wondering about 2.0 Beta 3, I'll post a 2.0 Beta 3.1 tomorrow afternoon with all these new bits and then we'll work on moving forward from there.
Known Issues
Menu Fade - May be buggy in Windows 7 with the taskbar icon enabled
Help | About displays "Windows Vista 6.0 Build 7600" when I am running Windows 7 (version 6.1 Build 7600)
Many thanks for the updated version!
Installing over the previous public Beta (2.0 beta 3 I believe?) nuked all custom settings (favourites, single icon for multiple part apps such as open office, manually hidden icons etc). If this is a necessity (if it was the only way to disable theming for now) then it should probably be in the release notes, or fixed for later releases if not. Seems to run well once reconfigured though.
The version (2.0 Beta 3) run up to now quite really well with me, has found up to now no mistakes, however, extend would not be bad;-)
Hello, I installed 1.6 Beta 1 over 2.0 Beta 3. If the menu minimizes it is still visable on the desktop as a small titlebar in the lower left corner. I'm running XP SP3.
The menu is much faster, thank you for that.
Menu minimizes to a title bar (shaped like a button?) sitting above the windows start button. I installed it in it's own folder so I could compare the two versions running side by side. XP SP2
Okay, I had also renamed all progs from "Whatever Portable" to "Whatever 1.2.3", but that isn't so much a problem IMO. The "not hiding" problem looks like this:
http://img49.yfrog.com/img49/2623/zuschneiden.jpg
I "updated" from 2.0B3 to 1.6B1.
L8RZ!!
You cannot do the minimised back? So pull, nevertheless, simply the strip upwards or do doubleclick. I have Window XP Pro. ^^
I can "maximize" it as usual, by clicking the tray icon. This was just a screeny to help out a bit...
Yep, getting that here too. Upgraded from 2.0b3 on XP SP2 admin.
I have done sometimes screen from version 2.0 beta 3. Will still test, however, 1.6 beta!
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/8876/screamdad.png
Catalan language switching is fixed but Bulgarian still seems to be broken?
Upgraded over 2.0b3. Tested with Notepad++.
cause i need the favorites and the themes.
I'll hope this features are included in the next version.
This HAS favs. And I'll be releasing a Beta 3.1 update with these fixes. But I still need people to test it.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Hi,
I'm Sorry my poor English.
I found a bug with the "Install a New App" Window, the steps are:
1. Open PortableApps.com Menu.
2. Click "Options" Button.
3. Select "Install a New App" Option.
4. When the "Install a New App" appears click im another windows, the PortableApps.com Menu and the select file windows hide.
5. Then click in the PortableApps.com Menu Tray Icon, the windows appears and hide, this don't let close de select file windows.
Thanks.
Can we have an option to hide the superbar icon? I understand why it was implemented, but it's not that hard for me to drag the tray icon out of the overflow (Win7 supports drag and drop in the tray) and once I do the superbar icon is redundant. At the very least if you're going to leave the superbar icon, then hide the tray icon on Win7. It's a waste of space to have two icons that do the same thing.
Also, perhaps select the entire Rename edit field when the rename box is opened, just like every other program's Rename works? It's annoying to have to select the field manually every time I go to rename something.
Okay, the menu showing up when I press Alt+Tab to switch apps is a deal breaker for me. I'm going back to 2.0b3 until you add an option to turn off the superbar icon.
I'll add in an INI option to disable it for folks who want to manually mess with the systray.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
John said:
> I'll add in an INI option to disable it for folks who
> want to manually mess with the systray.
I'm not sure where this idea of "messing" with the systray comes from. I happily run quite a few apps - Skype, Live, F-Prot AV, Pidgin Portable, to name but a few - from there and have used it in this way for several years and several versions of Windows. It may not be what it was originally intended for but I find it convenient.
I really want to test this out, John, but I installed 1.6 beta 1 on a test stick and the inability to get rid of the taskbar icon in W7 annoys the hell out of me. Is there likely to be a new beta with the .ini option implemented? If so I'll happily install that in place of 2.0 beta 3 on my "normal" stick and give it a good run.
Regards
Nick
The Windows 7 notification area (or "systray" as we prefer to call it) is a very different animal from previous versions. Stuff like the PortableApps.com Platform which runs from it does NOT show up by default. On Vista or XP when you fire it up, it will show up in the system tray as soon as you start it. On Windows 7, nothing shows up. You have to click the arrow to expand out and then click the PA.c icon. The expanded sytray then sits there and obscures the menu.
New users of our platform on Windows 7, without fail, say that they click to start an app and then the menu disappears and they can't bring it back. Users don't understand the new Win7 systray behavior and don't know to look for stuff there until you explain it.
Add to that the fact that since Windows 7 only shows icons instead of big taskbar buttons... and groups app windows... and you have this huge taskbar waiting to be made use of. So it makes perfect sense for the menu to appear there. It's much more usable.
But yes, some users will prefer to hide it. So I added an INI option to Beta 2, which I am uploading now.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
I don't hide any of the systray icons anyway, but for those who do, surely you can just edit the settings to make the PortableApps icon always visible?
http://blogs.msdn.com/oldnewthing/archive/2003/09/10/54831.aspx
While I myself prefer the "tray" nomenclature over "notification area" (the former is easier to say and less verbose, and generally everybody understands what you mean anyway), the article above gives a little insight into the matter.
The Windows 7 tray is relegated to 4th class status, so from a developer's perspective, it's useless. Most users will NEVER open it. So we'll basically be ignoring it in Win7. We're just not disabling it at the moment as it's easier to put it in both. It doesn't take any extra space since it's hidden on Windows 7 (until you click that up button).
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
The tray was always meant to have that status, it's just that developers (including MS, unfortunately) abused it because it was so convenient ("Ooh, I can put a tiny icon here to show people I'm resident! Or how about take it a step further and make a quick access menu..."). Officially it's actually called the "notification area" and was designed only for temporary notifications, like the printer icon while you're printing stuff, Windows Updates, etc.
So yeah, Win7 hiding tray icons by default until they show a balloon is actually in keeping with its original purpose.
Anybody else getting:
"The version of this file is not compatible with the version of WIndows you're running. Check your computer's system information to see whether you need an x(86) or x64 version of the program, and then contact the software publisher."
I'd previously installed the 2.0 Betas on Windows XP. I've tried now on two Windows 7 machines and get this result. Both are x64. This happens for 2.0 Betas and the 1.6 beta. I can install 1.5 on these machines though.
The installer works fine on Vista 32 bit and Windows 7 64 bit for me. You're not using an oddball winlite build are you?
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
I am doing extreme testing on Portableapps Platform 1.6 Beta 1 and I am posting every single result.
Opening PAP brings the menu up.
Clicking on anywhere else besides the menu results the bar to show up on the bottom left.
Clicking the PAP System tray Icon twice and one will reopen the menu over and over.
Commands:
Run: Runs the application
Run as Administrator: Runs with extra box (To protect the computer)
Rename: Renames the Application
Rename (delete everything in the box): Puts the name back to original
Refresh: Refreshes the Menu
Hide: Hides the Application like normal.
Show Hidden Items: Refreshes the Menu and shows hidden items.
Favorite: Brings the app above the line on top of the menu
Favorite (Removal): Removes the item from top of the list
Start Automatically: Starts the item automatically
Uninstall: Uninstalls the Item and refreshes
Menu:
Posting Personal Picture works
Right clicking Personal Picture get's rid of it
Minimizing Movement Recognition works (Moving the menu, minimizing, and reopen)
Closing and Opening Movement Recognition Glitches up and moves it randomly directly above the taskbar
F5 refreshes the menu
Eject and the close button works fine
Renaming the Drive and saves
Side Icons:
Documents, Music, Pictures, Video, Explore Opens up the explorer into their location
Backup and restoring Works like normal
Options:
Small Font and Large Font Changes the font size
Installing App Opens the .paf.exe to install
Refresh App Icons works Refreshes the menu
Get more Apps opens the Application page correctly
Hides Desktop Icons like normal
Transparency 10% - 90% works perfectly
Check drive for errors works as normal
Search Drive, Computer, and web works normally
Help Support and update works fine
Help About works fine
Languages:
All Languages work (Note: I do not have the language packs installed so I couldn't see the Symbols EX: Japanese doesn't show the hiragana,katakana, and kanji.
tl;dr version:
Everything works but a few things can be aggravating. The PAP bar and reopening constantly with clicking on the Systrey icon.
Moving the Menu, closing, and opening again glitches up and moves directly above the taskbar.
Some Languages could not be confirmed by me as I do not have the language packs installed.
Everything else works.
I like the eject, but I don't like the superbutton over the start button, and I think that there is no problem with the systray, because you can configure it to be always shown if want that.
However is a very good release, I'm waiting for the update that in 2.0 can automatically be ejected by the program
Is this an option, which can be disabled? I use Windows 7 and can think of no good reason why I'd want a PortableApps icon on the taskbar. Having it in the system tray works just fine for me.
Regards
Nick
works quick and perfect for me with:
Win XP SP3
Vista Home Premium and Business 32bit
Win 7 Home Premium (32 and 64bit)
Is there a chance for the updater in the next 2 Beta 3.1?
Paid for Software more or less?
What You need is OSS!
Win + Alt + Space no longer works. Nor does Win + P.
I also dislike the box above the start button. I always use the keyboard shortcut or (rarely) the system tray button. I understand that it is useful to some, so there should be an option.
I'll skip this release. It seems a small step back from 2.0 B3 (I use a nice skin, thank you). I guess I have to wait longer.
Lol. A meh comment. I think the idea is for people to check his work, so it can get released. But to be honest, I'm fairly unamused and haven't put any eggs on seeing the 2.0 beta 4 or whatever it is tomorrow.
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
First, he needs the feedback from this 1.6 release, which will take a while, then he needs to address the bugs, which will lead to 1.6.1 or whatever...
So we really need people to rigorously test this as Oni-Neoxes has done ASAP, so that we can help JTH keep up the momentum - and maybe we'll see 2.0 sooner than later.
I made this half-pony, half-monkey monster to please you.
I was in my computer class and since I had everything done, I just started to test out the menu. All out of boredom
It's a test. Please test it.
2.0 B3.1 will be this exact release with the Theming enabled again (so the 2.0 Beta has all the 1.6 fixes).
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
I understand it. But to be honest I'm using beta's of the menu all the time it seems on my XP SP3 and it seems they always work for me without any problems. Most current issues seem to revolve around tweaks for Windows 7 or Wine which I don't have.
I see if I can test this version as well.
I am testing this version on Windows 7 and it works great.
I immediately fell in love with the new eject function. And the taskbar integration works great.
I only wish it would autostart in Win7 as it did in Vista/XP.
Wait, I'm confused as to why the Fade Menu option was disabled? I loved it
It was what made PortableApps.com separate from other menus.
You mentioned that it was removed to one of the additions below. What additions?
It's not compatible with the methods of having the taskbar icon there. And very few people use the fade since its a GUI-less option.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
But why remove a perfectly good feature? Why not just leave it for the people who don't like the new Superbar button?
[Edit: Nevermind, you just released Beta 2, thanks :)]
...what has it been since the last beta?
Beta 2 has been posted and should fix out outstanding issues:
- [BUGFIX] Installer no longer overwrites menu settings
- [BUGFIX] No more minimized window under 2000/XP/Vista
- [BUGFIX] System tray icon under Wine fixed
- [BUGFIX] Extra Croatian translation removed
- [FEATURE] Disable Win7 taskbar within the INI's [Display] section by setting Windows7TaskbarIcon=false
- [FEATURE] Manually setting fade in/out is re-enabled and should work properly but may be buggy in Windows 7 with the taskbar on
- [REFINEMENT] The icon shown within Windows Explorer for the drive is now a high-quality icon of the PA.c USB drive as seen on the Suite page
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
> [FEATURE] Disable Win7 taskbar within the INI's [Display]
> section by setting Windows7TaskbarIcon=false
I presume that this is in PortableAppsMenu.ini and it's actually the [DisplayOptions] section.
Not being pedantic - just wanted to double check that I'm making the right addition.
Beta 2 now working fine on XP. Will try it on the W7 machine later.
Regards
Nick
I've found now that it helps running Wine via bash. That way you get stdout and stderr.
This I presume is the issue bound up with the transparency of the magenta and thus their fault... and you even went and made square corners for Wine
All round, it seems to me that it works well in Wine
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
(This is still on beta 1 - have installed beta 2 but won't get to try it on the W7 machine until this evening.)
The new eject function still doesn't work for me with Windows 7 - it just shuts down the PortableApps menu but doesn't eject the drive. (Works fine on XP so I can see how it's supposed to work.)
This didn't work in 2.0 beta 3 either. In that case it fired up an eject dialogue which, when I tried to eject the drive, told me it was a fixed drive and couldn't be ejected.
But it's a standard USB key - nothing unusual - and when I use the standard Windows system tray "Safely Remove Hardware" I can eject it with no problem.
Looks like it still calls up the wrong function in W7.
Regards
Nick
I dig it but why does the update page show this https://portableapps.com/update?platform=1.999.3.0
I think, because this is a Beta Test version...
but it's not telling me though now is it?
Eject function now working splendidly for me in 1.6 beta 2 running under Windows 7 with two different USB keys. Nice work, and thanks.
...I installed 1.6B2 right now. The minimize issue is solved! No other problems found so far... All light are green!
WinXP Home SP3
same here, I installed 1.6Beta2 to be used on XP SP3 and the minimize problem is solved.
Minimize problem is fixed. Bulgarian language environment variables still returning English values.
XP SP2 admin
I have no idea what you mean, the Bulgarian settings are right in this release:
[Details]
Name=Bulgarian
LocalizedName=български език
Version=1.3
ContibutedBy=TROBCHO & Валентин Вълчев & Ignis Fatuus
LocaleID=1026
LocaleWinName=LANG_BULGARIAN
LocaleCode2=bg
LocaleCode3=bul
LanguageCode=bg
Localeglibc=bg
Codepage=1251
Nevermind... figured it out. [Details] should be [PortableApps.comLocaleDetails]. This will be fixed in final.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
I've found that I can deal with the taskbar icon under Win7 (it's a much larger click target than the tray icon), but my main gripe with it is that it's never in the same spot depending on which machine I happen to be using at the time, as each has different pinned icons.
So my question is: Would it be possible to programmatically move the PortableApps icon to the left side of the taskbar, this way it's always directly to the right of the Start orb and thus in a consistent location?
Microsoft is very picky about not letting developers alter the taskbar, so I don't think it's possible
I don't mean modifying the taskbar to add a custom widget, that would be overkill. The Windows 7 taskbar allows you to drag and drop icons where you want them, so I would think there would be a way to move the icons around programmatically...
I don't know if there is. I think they may have disabled it on purpose.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
it isn't allowed, simply because it would be very annoying for a random app to rearrange your taskbar
I like this. Something that you use as often as a menu should, if possible, be consistently located. If impossible, too bad, but it makes good ergonomic (if I can use that here)sense.
I am not my signature.
The new launcher icon is really unnecessary if you have the status bar Icon then I really didn't even know it was there till it just caught my eye it seems sort of like the U3 start menu icon but is slow. The speed of the suit is faster but has slow hashing when starting or when u hit refresh. other than that it is looking good keep up the good work & thanks for all that u are doing for us and keeping us portable keep cool and watch out for the swine flu again its coming around in full force.
Good work! 1.6b2 installed fine on top of my previous 1.5.2.
Now anxiously awaiting the Updater functionality. Will it be able to update my VLC installation by itself? Just the other day my machine crashed on a .ogg movie, but it was really just VLC that needed to get updated. Updating software manually feels so last century. Actually I'd happily pay for the updater functionality (feel free to remind me when the updater is out there and working
Next in wish list would be a "software repository" that makes it easy to install/remove apps that area listed on portableapps.com. This project could be started as a stand-alone application that could be called from the portaleApps executable. (via "Shell()" or its Delphi equivalent). Having a software repository as a separate executable is anyway required to be able to update (=replace) the menu .exe files. The updater of course already is doing something similar.
The updater is coming in 2.0. We'll be doing an additional couple 2.0 betas after the quick Beta 3.1 update today that adds in the 1.6 fixes to the 2.0 branch. The first new beta with the updater will be coming after that.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
So 2.0b4 should be around Christmas, then.
Seriously though, why Beta 3.1 and not Beta 4? That's just confusing. Beta numbers are sequential, it's not supposed to be a secondary version number. "Beta 3" means "the third beta", so the next one should be Beta 4 for "the fourth beta", regardless of how many or how few changes were actually made.
Yeah, I've been thinking that, too. Since we're gonna have a few more, I guess I'll do that.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Like the other XP Pro users, I get the lower left title bar when the menu minimizes, but I get the icon in the system tray, too. I just want the system tray icon, but when I close the minimized title bar, I lose the system tray icon as well! Argh. Noticeably quicker...yay!
TF