I'm a long time PortableApps user and a recent iPhone user. (The iPhone is jailbroken, in case that is relevant.)
I realize that you cannot run PortableApps on an iPhone - that is clear.
However, I'm wondering if I install one of the many file storage iPhone Apps (Air Sharing is one that comes to mind), and then store various PortableApps on the iPhone in that manner, can I then run the PortableApps off the iPhone from a PC, via either wifi or a USB connection?
I've held off on getting a file storage iPhone App thus far, but if something like what I describe is possible, it would certainly influence my decision.
Perhaps this is a naive and ignorant question, but I'm intrigued by the possibility.
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You can run portable applications on any portable device which shows up as a removable drive when you plug it in. This includes cell phones, digital cameras, the PSP, and a number of other devices. The speed may not be what you want, though.
Basically, if you plug the iPhone up to your PC and you can see the files and folders stored on it, you can install the PortableApps.com Platform and/or any portable applications you like, and they should run from it.
Storage is storage. If the device lets you access the data like a flash drive or memory card, you're good to go. I know almost nothing about the iPhone, though, so I can't answer your question any more specifically than that.
Vintage!
I'm just tinkering around with some of the free storage apps for the iPhone, before springing for any of the costly ones. So far, they can let me load files on and off from my PC via wifi on a port on an http page on my PC's browser, but won't allow me to run anything like a PortableApp.
Does anyone know of any iPhone apps that would do that?
It depends on how it shows up. It needs to be able to show up as a drive letter in Windows and support hierarchical folders. I know the iPhone itself doesn't support this with storing files. There may be a file storage app for hacked iPhones that does this, though. Just check the features of them and as long as it'll show up as a drive letter and work like a regular drive when connected, portable apps will work.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Thank you John. The way it stands right now, I don't think I can make it work. But if anyone knows of a reliable jailbroken iPhone App that will let me do as John describes above, please let me know.
Alright, for the benefit of others who may have the same question, I think I'm on the trail of an answer.
Indeed, it cannot be done just with your normal iPhone. You do need some sort of iPhone file storage app to do it. The one that seems to have the best reviews (or maybe the best marketing) is one called "Air Sharing" by a company called Avatron software. It is not a free App.
It seems that on Vista, Air Sharing does indeed appear to create a drive letter in Windows, and I think it support hierarchical files. Here's a page which describes and illustrates how that works:
http://www.iphonehacks.com/2008/10/air-sharing-app.html
Trouble is, after reading that same link, I still wasn't completely sure if it would assign a drive letter on XP, which is (at least for now) the primary OS on which I would like to run PortableApps. So, I Googled some more, and found this thread from Avatron's own forums:
http://www.avatron.com/support/read.php?11,6750,6750#msg-6750
Based on that, it appears that I would also need to install NetDrive and there are other further knotty complexities involving port numbers, etc. These are complications that I can't afford when trying to run PortableApps in between different XP machines in strange places.
That said, on Vista at least, it appears that while using something like Air Share, running PortableApps off of an iPhone would work, no?
Wait a minute, how much space do you need? And how much does that app cost?
If you need 2GB or less, you should be able to get a flash drive for $5 or less. I got a 4GB Corsair on Newegg for $11 shipped. My 16GB was more like $30-$32 shipped, but I needed a lot more space for videos and such. If you don't mind videos on your iPhone you might just want to use a flash drive for portable apps only. In which case 2GB is more than enough and 4GB is... way more than enough.
If you don't mind spending closer to $55 and size isn't an issue, you can pick up external hard drives for that price - 80 to 160GB for the smaller ones that don't need a power supply and fit in your pocket, or 250-500GB for the bigger ones that do need a power supply and don't fit in your pocket.
Thanks, your point is well taken. The iPhone app is $10 for the pro version.
I travel in some very remote places, and I always carry with me a cell phone, my PortableApps on a USB stick, and a duplicate USB stick with the same PortableApps in a pouch under my pants.
The iPhone is an attempt to upgrade my previous non-smart cell phone and should help a lot. I was hoping to eliminate one of the USB drives from my immediate person while traveling.
(As a brief aside, the PortableApps Suite - along with Portable Tor - got me through the uprising while in Tibet last year. I'm not sure how I would have managed without them.)
That's an amazing story there. Tibet, wow. I haven't been outside the United States. Got a half-dozen or so places in Europe I'd visit before looking at Asia, if I were to travel overseas, though.
You should have got a different smartphone, I'm thinking, such as the Motorola Q, perhaps. Nothing against the iPhone, but I use a Motorola ROKR slider, not a smartphone, but it has a microSD slot (512MB, but upgradeable to 2GB) and a standard mini USB port like on a digital camera, and when I plug it into a computer, it comes up as a drive (I have to set an option in the phone, just once though). I like being able to make my own wallpapers and ringtones, and not have to pay for them. They look and sound better from those I've bought in the past, too, and I have complete creative control over the process.
(That reminds me, see if your iPhone has an option to change the phone's PC connectivity purpose between modem, media sync, and USB drive - your phone is probably set to media sync, not sure if you can change that, though, but if you could, that should solve the problem.)
Good advice, but one caveat for the reader. If using Verizon's (and perhaps some other carriers') phones, be aware that they have changed much of the phone basic installed software to force the user to use additional services or extra software (all available by paying them more money). I can't get pictures off of my phone without emailing them or use bitpim, in spite of having a usb port and the manufacturer saying the phone can do it.
Too much detail !!
Is that a PortableApps in your pants or are you just happy to see me?
Once you go portable...