PortableApps.com Platform 18 Beta 3: 64-bit Apps, More .NET Support, Performance, and Stability

John T. Haller's picture
Submitted by John T. Haller on May 19, 2021 - 11:58pm

PortableApps.com is proud to announce the PortableApps.com Platform 18.0 Beta 3 release. The 18 beta branch adds support for showing 64-bit-only apps in the app store (in addition to our dual-mode 32-bit and 64-bit packages), support for .NET apps that work with versions 3 and 4 or 3.5 and 4, performance and stability improvements, locale updates (and new strings to translate) and more. Read on for all the details...(permalink)

Existing Platform users can automatically update by clicking Help - Check for Updates if they have selected to receive Beta updates within Options - Advanced.

New in 18.0 Beta 3

The 3rd beta adds show/hide support for 64-bit apps, support for .NET 3/4 apps, and updates multiple locales. Full details on all versions are in the PortableApps.com Platform changelog.

New in 18.0 Beta 2

The 2nd beta fixes two bugs, switches the default view to show all apps with categories, and updates multiple locales. Full details on all versions are in the PortableApps.com Platform changelog.

New in 18.0 Beta 1

This beta adds updates to the latest Delphi compiler for improved performance and stability, adds support for 64-bit only apps in the app store and associated options in the Options window (with new strings to translate), crash fixes, updater performance improvements, locale updates, and more. Full details on all versions are in the PortableApps.com Platform changelog.

Platform Features

As always, the PortableApps.com Platform is packed with great features like:

  • Automatic App Closing - Closing down and getting going is easier than ever with the platform automatically (and safely) closing your running portable apps and letting you know which ones need to be closed before you eject and finish syncing your cloud drive. Luthfi Harahap was kind enough to re-license some of his code to help with this feature
  • Awesome Themes - The modern default theme matches well with Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 10 and all your favorite classic themes are included as well.
  • Cascading Tray App Menu - Get quick access to all your apps with a right click in the system tray
  • Always-Ready Search - The app search box is always visible and ready by default, so you can open the platform - possibly with the CTRL-ALT-SPACE hotkey - and just start typing to launch your favorite app. You can even search in app descriptions if you'd like by ticking a box in Options
  • Proxy Support - The connections tab in Options lets you automatically or manually configure the platform to work with your internet proxy
  • Full Featured Installer - The Platform installer can detect and install to your portable devices, synced cloud directories, local machine, and more
  • Fast Updater / App Store - Quickly check for updates to your existing apps and find new ones by name, category, release date, and more
  • Eject or Power Off - For local users, the eject button automatically switches to a shutdown/restart/log off button, bringing up the Windows prompt to select your choice. You can also right-click on the button to select to show either eject or shutdown/restart/log off.
  • Portable Fonts - Take all your fonts with you and use them in all your portable apps
  • Organize Your Apps Your Way - Use the default of favorites and most used apps with all apps by category on the second page or switch it up by selecting alphabetical apps, categories and favorites by default, and other options
  • All the fixes and features are details in the PortableApps.com Platform Changelog

Next Version, Translators Needed

We're starting work on the next beta and we'll be going over the list of requested features and bugs to prioritize the additions and fixes in the next couple release. We'll be needing more translators watching the beta channel and translating the few new features in this release.

Ongoing Donation Drive

PortableApps.com needs your help to keep bringing you great software! To learn more, read a personal appeal from PortableApps.com founder John T. Haller. Now you can sponsor the PortableApps.com Platform and help us keep delivering awesome software for free. 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! Ad revenue and donations have decreased drastically due to the global pandemic and associated economic impact, so we need your help more than ever.

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

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

Discussing The 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:

Download Today

You can download the new version of the PortableApps.com Platform from the beta download page. Get it today!

Please note that any bug reports and feature requests go in the PortableApps.com Platform Bug Report and Feature Request Tracker.

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Comments

John T. Haller's picture

John T. Haller

May 20, 2021 - 12:02am

You can try showing/hiding 64-bit only apps in the app store by testing it with Google Chrome 64-bit Test channel. You'll need to have Advanced apps turned on as well.

.NET apps in PA.c Format can now set UsesDotNetVersion= to 3-4 or 3.5-4 if your app supports either version 3 and 4 or version 3.5 and 4 (and is set as such in the manifest), the same way 2-4 worked as with KeePass Pro. The platform automatically checks for the appropriate .NET versions.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!