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The Cameo Project

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memstat
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The Cameo Project

Hello All! We at the Binary Bums have a new project we have been working on called Cameo. It aims to be a portable desktop environment based on a customized bbLean shell and utilizing portable apps so you can have your favorite desktop environment with your favorite apps anywhere you go. It currently is in stage two of beta development. To visit the Cameo website [link removed by mod JTH for trademark, open source licensing violations]. Feel free to send us some feedback (as it is always needed), or if you are a developer and would like to help out on this project, please contact us here.

Pyromaniac
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This looks cool

But I got a question, does it remove the taskbar from windows (I didn't see it in the screenshots). I like that. Geoshell still keeps it there Sad

Why don't you put a download link in this post. I would download it but I can't do so on school computers.

memstat
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Thank You

if you install the shell on the computer it WILL replace the taskbar, if you run it portable it will not remove it just autohides it (if it reacts differently let us know so we can address it, atleast make it an option to hide/show it). the download links are provided below.

[link removed by mod JTH for trademark, open source licensing violations]

John T. Haller
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Removed

The links have been removed and I have dropped them an email. The project itself is not open source and cannot be promoted here. This project is bundling our apps with the splash screens removed. They're modifying and redistributing the Mozilla apps in violation of the Mozilla Trademark Guidelines. Finally, they're not hosting the source code for apps they are redistributing like AbiWord and OpenOffice.org (which is required by the GPL and LGPL).

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

memstat
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ok

a: its beta
b: its free
c: the source is still being uploaded and page still being created by webdev.
d: how are the mozilla apps being modded other than including plugins.
e: how is it not opensource, its based on bbLean which is opensource.

so basically the source needs to be added to the site.

also the splash is removed to help with testing. also we do say the whole project is powered by bbLean and portable apps.com applications, so it is stated that the project is powered by those. if possible, other than what i understand above, what do we need to do to avoid this. because it is nothing more than a compilation of free applications. just bundled all together. just curious.

Pyromaniac
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Take a look at this (and

Take a look at this (and actually read it, don't skim it)
http://www.mozilla.org/foundation/trademarks/policy.html
I think that fact that your distributing plugins is also violating adobe's license.
It being beta doesn't make it legal.

John T. Haller
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Repackaged = Modified

You can only redistribute Firefox Portable and the other Mozilla apps from us as our unaltered binary installer (you can't put them into your own installer or archive). Anything else is considered a modification (as is adding extensions, plugins, changing bookmarks/settings, etc). So you have to pull those from your distribution unless you get permission from Mozilla. Read the trademark policy that was linked.

Also, if you're including any freeware, you probably need to get permission unless you're distributing their unaltered binary installers. Most freeware won't let you repackage or bundle without permission either.

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

memstat
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ok

to clear it up, no binaries source was altered in anyway except for the bbLean based shell, everything else was just ascii files[ini's],. non of the portable apps binaries where altered or touched in anyway shape or form, once again just altering the '.ini' files (since it says if you wish to use the ini copy and paste it to the source directory). sorry if i sound like a douche bag. i actually really appreciate the input to help make this more "up to code" so to speak, i don't really want to have a dead project on my hands.

thanks

John T. Haller
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Modified

The problem is that your definition of modified is not what Mozilla considers modified. Unless you are distributing the *unaltered*, digitally-signed binary installer from us, you're modifying it. You can't take the files out of the installer and package them yourself. You can redistribute the standard Mozilla Firefox desktop installer intact and unaltered. Or you can redistribute the standard Mozilla Firefox, Portable Edition installer intact and unaltered.

The short answer is, if you want to include Firefox, Thunderbird and Sunbird with their trademarks intact (ie still called Firefox, Thunderbird and Sunbird and with their respective icons and logos) in your project the way you are doing now, you have to get Mozilla's permission first by contacting them at the email address they list in their trademark guidelines. Until you do that, you can not include them.

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

memstat
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ok,

o, i totally understand that. use the 'stock' signed version, or not at all. but does it have to be the installer executable, or can it be included if the install is unaltered?

John T. Haller
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No

Once again, you can ONLY distribute the unaltered binary installer. Period. You can't extract it or repackage it without permission. You can't take the unaltered installed files and package them up. You can ONLY redistribute the official desktop or portable installer. You can not do what you are doing without permission from Mozilla.

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

memstat
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dude

dude, once again i understand that what was done cannot be done without permission from mozilla, i just wasn't clear on the installer. that is all.

John T. Haller
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Repeat

Sorry, just seemed like you asked the exact same question 3 times in a row.

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

memstat
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i see how

i see how, i couldn't quite figure out how to phrase what i was asking really. and we will be removing the mozilla applications, and it will stay that way until i hear back from the mozilla foundation. and once again, thank you, i would rather address an (legal)issue then leave it for the 'wolves' to decide. and for what pyro mentioned, i didn't know one of the other contributors snuck that in there, it was supposed to only have firefox plugins, but i digress as none of that really matters now. but good eye, i didn't even notice.

memstat
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w/o mozilla

well we have uploaded the non-mozilla version to the site now. please view it and let me know if it is up to par. i'd post the link but i'm sure you still have it Biggrin
also the source code for the bbLean modified binary will be posted on the site soon, i just need to gather it up and send it to the webdev.

thanks man!

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If you could only see the expression on my face when I saw this

HOLY CRAP!!!!!
THIS IS (BLEEP)'n AWESOME!!!!!!!
HOLY CRAP!!!!!

A few bugs (and nit-picky things) though...
-I tested out the "backbone" Cameo and noticed (after I exited out) that the status bar seemed slightly bigger then the normal one.

-ITS AWESOME!

-It took me longer than a second to find out how to quit the program a little "x" might help

-ITS AWESOME

-when I minimize a window it goes down (I'm running it off of my flash drive)

-ITS AWESOME

-I have no idea what the little square next to the clock with the dot in the middle is for (when I click it nothing happens)

-ITS AWESOME

-whats the arrows on the top left hand corner for?

-ITS AWESOME

-you should get your whole "team" or whoever is the leader to think about making this an operating system

-ITS AWESOME

-I will NEVER EVER use windows without this program!

Oh, and did I mention...
ITS AWESOME!

EDIT: If I add for example flash and shockwave to the plugins folder, will I have flash and shockwave and java everywhere I go?

memstat
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Thank You.

Yes, as long as you install the flash and shockwave into the proper directories. Same with the Java (basically to your portable media).

The Little Dot shows only applications in the toolbar that are open on that workspace, or the applications that are open across all workspaces.

The Arrows in the left hand are to switch workspaces, alternatively you can use your mousewheel or [windows key] + [left arrow] or [right arrow]. Also you can just drag an application across the screen to another workspace, similar to how Compiz works on *nix environments.

Also thank you for the response. I am the project manager/lead developer, and we are exploring the possibilities of making at the very minimum a live distro, we are currently testing that possibility along with a 'deluxe' suite with a more applications bundled in (openoffice, etc). So keep an eye those should be posted online in a few days. Also in development are "upgrade packages", basic simple installers to add/update apps and what not to make it easier for people with no *box knowledge to add more applications to their menu file (think of them as a type of deb package).

Once again Thank You, and feel more than free to drop an e-mail to my personal "memstat@gmail.com" with any suggestions, bugs, comments, they are always appreciated and always needed.

P.S.
I noticed your website...Feel free to link Cameo on there. Biggrin

John T. Haller
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Sources

You still need to post the sources for all the GPLed projects you're including (like OpenOffice.org, CoolPlayer, etc) to comply with the GPL. You need to host these yourself (you can't just link to the sources hosted by someone else) for each binary version you distribute.

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

memstat
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Well

Just curious why you have no problem sending out posts and e-mail but you rarely respond when some is willing to solve the issue. You come off as an elitist, fyi. All source will be up within 3 hours.

An Open Source Community is only as Open as their collective thought.

John T. Haller
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Forums

I've responded to every post where you've asked me a question. And I already told you that you had to post the sources above.

If you sent me an email, I haven't read it yet. We get tons of email and don't get to it all. Primary communication that isn't related to folks packaging apps in PortableApps.com Format, press inquiries or business development should be in the forums. We don't have time for app suggestions, support requests, etc via email.

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

memstat
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K

Well thank you for responding, in a timely manner, I am assuming portableapps.com isn't a very large team, just has a lot of third party developers. Or you just get flooded (which I also see). But as I had mentioned the source will be up shortly for all apps. I don't know why web dev didn't already handle it, I am doing personally.

memstat
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OK JTH

ok JTH the source for the GPL apps is posted, the link can be accessed via the download page, anything not posted there is not GPL and we have an OK to do so.

Now can you finally enjoy?...

John T. Haller
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Some More Things

You can't bundle uTorrent or Chrome binaries without permission (and neither uTorrent or Google have given permission to anyone that I know of) so you'll need to remove those. Same with cCleaner, Defraggler and Reach-a-mail... you need specific permission to bundle each as none are open source. You should check with Tor as they are now more protective of their trademark, too. XChat is protective of theirs and not open source... so if you're using an open source build of it, it has to be re-branded as Y-Chat (that's actually why we haven't released it yet).

Also, please re-enable the splash screens on our apps. They serve a dual function so that folks know not to bug, say, AbiWord for support first. They come up much faster than the apps themselves. And we don't support the INI as a distributed option... only user-enabled. You should also make a note that your users won't be able to upgrade from one package of your stuff to another app-wise. You can't just unzip an app over another in many cases (they'll break) and since you're not using our installers, upgrades can't be performed and supported.

I know that's a lot, but this is the first time I took a look at your app list and what you're doing. We run into these issues all the time and have been doing this for years, so we follow the guidelines, trademark, open source licenses, etc (unlike most sites).

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

memstat
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Done with you

Upgrades are supported, since we have a Cameo Installer in the works, which falls within the open source guidelines. You just seem like a scared little rabbit, no support just shut down....run rabbit run!!!!

Here, do me a favor, if I poop on your dinner table come and complain, otherwise, we will see what they have to say as you have NO say in other people's projects and are just threatened. You are a moderator, a hall monitor, leave us alone, and we will post where ever the 'free' world allows, obviously you guys are turning open source into EULA, what happen to the "Woz mentality" that brought open source to the world?.

Kill our links, do what you want, we are fully within legal rights (you don't know who ok'd and not you just assume).

People get screwed for less (blog opinions which this can be construed as) Since you are assuming we have open office and crap i mean cool player bundled, you obviously don't know what is going on with this 'bundle' and are trying to protect something that is not being attacked.

This is the last post, remove if you must, but if we see one post "degrading" this bundle on your site, you opened another can of worms, once again YOU DO NOT WORK FOR GNU, MOZILLA, OPENOFFICE, GOOGLE, PIRIFORM, ETC, you work for portableapps.com's website, your a forum monitor, a glorified hall monitor.

Maybe this bundle is more for the technically advanced other than the casual portable app user.....

When you Close and Open Source Community you Might as Well be Microsoft, i mean PortableSoft, it's our problem not yours, also the xchat was opensource from another site so argue them, not us.

Once again, It's our problem not yours.

someone needs to brush up on their 2600 ideals.....stuff like this advances the community, not hold it at a standstill. Deal with it, portable apps will not be the end all be all, it's based on NSIS and opensource, any one with the time and effort can make it....and make it better.

I also suggest using http://www.portablefreeware.com/, they are more for the community than the copyright.

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Wow...

Someone has their panties in a bunch.

John is giving out free advice that you can either graciously accept and follow to avoid problems down the road or ignore it. I think we know what you'll be doing.

Once you go portable...

John T. Haller
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The Way This Works

Like it or not, software has guidelines which you have to follow. Even open source software has specific guidelines (like the GPL which requires you to provide the source to all users you provide the binary to). Plus, trademark law still applies. We've been doing this a while and we work with the software publishers as much as possible. And all the guidelines I gave to you are rules we play by.

All the apps I mentioned as having legal issues are apps that we have not done due to those same reasons. Piriform has said they won't let people repackage their apps (CCleaner and Defraggler). uTorrent has been unresponsive when approached. Unless you have permission from all of those entities to repackage their software, you're breaking the law by doing so. You can continue to do so if you want (I'm not trying to police their stuff) but I'm saying that you can't promote it here since it's legally questionable. And I merely pointed it out to you so that your package doesn't run afoul of copyright law later the way other sites have.

None of what I've asked is unreasonable or outside the bounds of open source software and trademark law. It's stuff we've been working within the bounds of for years. Open source is not a free for all. And freeware is even less 'free'. There are guidelines and rules to it all. There are trademarks and EULAs to deal with. There are many portable software sites that ignore those rules... most, in fact... but I was not implying that you were one of them or intended to be -- if that's the way you read that last bit of my post, I apologize for that -- I was just pointing out that if you want to keep things legal and above board, these are the things you need to think about.

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

memstat
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I Understand

and we will look into making those changes in the next version that will be out in the next few days. We understand that you are looking out, and your apology is accepted, I guess text is so impersonal and when your trying to say you 'care' you come off like an a-hole, but I guess I can say the same about myself.
I guess I'm trying to say thank you for all the information to help make it legit so we can advertise on here. Is it possible that you might join the team to help with that kind of stuff?

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If you have the ability to

If you have the ability to install new applications into your suite as you claim, you might consider the equivalent of what we do on this site as a "launcher-only" release. Your installer would contain all of the files necessary to portablize the apps that you cannot distribute yourself, and then give the user clear instructions on downloading the original application and copying the files over into your distribution. The same could be said about the use of the PortableApps releases' INI files. As John said, they are not intended to be used in a distribution package the way that you have, but you could easily provide the end-user with the information necessary to do it themselves. While such measures may be inconvenient, it is certainly worth it to play by the rules. If not, you could always distribute your program through warez channels, but from what I can see, it seems that you want to run your project as legitimate software. If that's the case, then you do have to follow the rules. It's not John or anyone else here making this stuff up, that's just the way the world is. I've been where you are right now, and John was just as equally fair and stern then as he's being now.

I wish I had a "GPL for dummies"... It certainly would have helped me.

Quamquam omniam nescio, nec nihil scio.

memstat
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Yeah

I understand and agree, I also appreciate all the input, but yeah they do need to make a "GPL For Dummies" it would save a lot of us quite a bit of headaches.

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A big part of getting it

A big part of getting it right is having someone with that kind of knowledge and experience looking it over. I was using the apps to run on SanDisk's U3 platform and, like you, had no idea how to do it right. Pretty much every explanation of the GPL that was simple enough for me to understand at the time read pretty much "do whatever you want because you can! ...just be sure to release your modded source too" Unfortunately, that's not quite how it works, but it wasn't until I got it all sorted that I realized how much sense it really made to do it that way. You can see my experience in your shoes over on this thread down towards the bottom. Good luck with your project Smile And as far as search engines go, try checking your site out here to get a look at how your site is "seen" by those search engine index crawlers. It's got a lot of good info.

Quamquam omniam nescio, nec nihil scio.

RagManX
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Wowzer

Was considering trying this out when I'd first read about it here. Took the time to hunt down the site, and thought the screenies look pretty cool. Then, this spew of whatever that was, and I've written off the project. I can't even work up the energy to wish you luck in what you are doing, because someone points out the problems they know about with using some of the software your project is using and you get insulting and hateful. Here's hoping you go away.

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I added it

I also added geoshell. I don't know of any other environments though. That page looks so blank Sad

memstat
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nice

thank you pyro.

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Suggestion

I found the website hard to find on google.
Maybe you should purchase a domain like cameo.org or something.

memstat
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the sad thing is....

...if you search for cameo pde or similar it shows up in the top 5 on yahoo and msn, why google is lagging i have no clue. but also before the first 'official release' we might 're-brand' it also.

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well if you do or don't rebrand it

you should make a logo (like a Windows logo) and maybe put it at the top left and all you would have to do is click that to get to the cameo controls.

Pyromaniac
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Problems running cameo from flash drive

It runs too slow and often freezes for long periods of time when I'm running it and firefox from my flash drive at the same time.

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