Suggestions

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October 29, 2009 - 7:12pm

Pyromaniac

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Suggestions

Well first off, I'd like to say PortableApps.com has been one of the best and most useful websites I've ever seen. So I've decided to bring up some ideas to what PortableApps.com could do in the future:

--Applications Page: Scrolling down is lame. Why not have a little tab on top that has most popular apps and then another tab that shows all apps (and soon a Freeware tab, I know that's happening soon). People can just take a look at the most popular apps and see what everyone is in on. (of course, Firefox Portble would be on top

--Suite: I know this would be a pain to do but just to throw this out there: How about a little page under suite that would let you customize the apps you would want to have and then you could download the installer with all your favorite apps. The installer would download the apps you choose based on the apps you choose to be bundled with the suite. There would be a little checkbox next to every app and you click on it if you want it an in the end, there would be a little button that says "Download Suite". Based on your choices, PA would link to an installer with all that stuff in the check boxes.

--Applications themselves: A loading bar. Kind of like OO.o Portable (currently hosting the only splash screen by PA with a loading bar). So we could have something to look at while we wait for the app to load (particularly FFP)

I got more ideas, but I'm pretty sure they'll be done soon, so I won't post them.

October 29, 2009 - 8:21pm

muswell

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Hi, Are you talking about the

Hi,

Are you talking about the installer or the website?

I'm a little confused as to what you are actually trying to say.

October 29, 2009 - 10:57pm

(Reply to #2) #3

Chris Morgan

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I think:

Website (and Platform?)
Website
Platform

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

October 29, 2009 - 11:05pm

OliverK

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--Applications themselves: A

--Applications themselves: A loading bar. Kind of like OO.o Portable (currently hosting the only splash screen by PA with a loading bar). So we could have something to look at while we wait for the app to load (particularly FFP)

We might be able to with NSIS, but I doubt it. Even if we did, as I understand it, for a accurate description of how much time is left it needs to be hard coded into the base app.

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

October 30, 2009 - 4:06pm

(Reply to #4) #5

digitxp

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Aesthetics

I wouldn't really care. As long as I see that the program is running, is responding, and that it's working like a slave, I'm happy.

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October 29, 2009 - 11:08pm

Chris Morgan

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I think you will find that

I think you will find that soon a better solution is coming. As you've described it, I don't think it would help much at all, it would just make it more confusing. Simplicity is almost the ultimate good with a directory like we have.
This has been suggested a few times before and the answer is still that it is from a practical perspective utterly impossible. You'll be able to use the PortableApps.com Updater to download new apps though when it comes out shortly.
No. We can't do anything about that in the Platform or the launchers. That's part of what the splash screen is for though.

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

October 30, 2009 - 12:24am

(Reply to #6) #7

muswell

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I'm looking very forward to

I'm looking very forward to the updater (when it comes out), does that mean it will only need to download certain files or will entire packages need to be "redownloaded".

Thank you

October 30, 2009 - 1:47am

(Reply to #7) #8

Chris Morgan

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You will download the

You will download the PortableApps.com Platform which will contain the PortableApps.com Updater; it will be able to download new applications and update old ones. The initial implementation at least will just download all of the new version of a package, and it's likely to stay that way (as it's by far the easiest way). Put your way entire packages will need to be downloaded for updates.

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

October 30, 2009 - 2:40am

Simeon

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lame?

I don't find scrolling lame. I like having one list and not multiple tabs.

"What about Love?" - "Overrated. Biochemically no different than eating large quantities of chocolate." - Al Pacino in The Devils Advocate

October 30, 2009 - 9:46am

(Reply to #9) #10

OliverK

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yesh. CTRL+F FTW wow.

yesh. CTRL+F FTW
wow. Could I have abbreviated that any more?

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

October 30, 2009 - 4:06pm

(Reply to #10) #11

digitxp

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Ya.

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October 30, 2009 - 4:09pm

(Reply to #11) #12

digitxp

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Ctrl+F

The only thing that bothers me about Iron is that the '/' quick shortcut doesn't work. Oh well...
Anyway, I'd prefer maybe a built in search-as-you-type for the poor folks using IE 6. It wouldn't be to hard--just search for the titles and descriptions onKeyUp.

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October 30, 2009 - 7:41pm

(Reply to #12) #13

OliverK

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They should either be using

They should either be using ie8 or ff3.5 In rare cases, 2.0.0.17(was that the latest version?).

IE6 is a relic and sites should stop supporting them. Its a danger to a user's security online.

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

October 30, 2009 - 10:15pm

(Reply to #13) #14

digitxp

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Irony

Ever hear how corporate IT doesn't upgrade to IE 8 or FF 3.5 because of 'security concerns'?
It's hilarious.

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November 1, 2009 - 6:23pm

(Reply to #14) #15

OliverK

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No, I've never heard of that.

No, I've never heard of that. I've heard its because they had to hack the crap out of their system to get it to show correctly within IE6. And now it doesn't work correctly anywhere else.

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

November 3, 2009 - 11:58am

(Reply to #15) #16

Darkbee

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It's not that uncommon

I have. Our organization is advising users against upgrading to IE 8 because it breaks compatibility with some Oracle applications. It happens all the time. And no, it's not because we've hacked the crap out of our software, it's simply because Oracle is dragging their behinds or something.

Of course, we've already found several workarounds, probably most notable is not using IE in the first place.

October 30, 2009 - 10:04am

(Reply to #16) #17

Darkbee

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Agreed

Isn't that what the wheel on the mouse is for?

I've even set up a mouse gesture to scroll to the bottom of the page.

October 30, 2009 - 3:14am

#18

muswell

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That's ok but how will the

That's ok but how will the management of the files work, ie you have a place where applications are installed and NSIS has a good habit of being able to detect where that is but does it mean that there will be a place to store the executables?

I note clamwin does a really good job of finding trojans in executables, so no issue there but does this mean that the menu in effect will become a standalone download manager in addition to performing incremental backups, management of add ins etc say for mozilla applications at least or is it too hard, ie open source may be open in the sense that anyone can contribute to the development but methods and conventions between OSI certified programs are not in any way "standard".

Thank you

October 30, 2009 - 10:05am

#19

ceciliaFX

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actually, the only real

actually, the only real improvement I would like (on the menu) is the ability to make notes about the programs and be able to see these notes by hovering over the names of said programs and getting a little popup window. yes, right now we can see the whole name (and version number which is useful).

see, there's some programs I hardly ever use and sometimes I sit there trying to figure out what the heck they are. sorry, but my brain sometimes just does not kick in with those details as much as I'd like it to.

"No one man can terrorize a whole nation unless we are all his accomplices." - Edward R. Murrow

October 30, 2009 - 10:09am

(Reply to #19) #20

Darkbee

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It is useful

This feature is useful also for the less technically savvy who might not be familiar with all the apps and their uses. In my case, I set up family members with portable apps but they have no idea what they are used for. So it's certainly not just for brain dead people.

October 30, 2009 - 11:32am

(Reply to #20) #21

Pyromaniac

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Yeah!

I can tell you a bunch of people who don't know what half the apps are on my flash drive. That would be kind of cool to have that window pop up but I think that renaming could solve the issue (Firefox could be "Internet", etc.). And shouldn't your family look at the website themselves to find out what apps they want? They might know what each on is used for if they know why they downloaded it in the first place.

October 30, 2009 - 11:51am

(Reply to #21) #22

Darkbee

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Keep It Simple Stupid

They don't know what they want because they don't know what is available e.g. "Internet Explorer is the only browser in the world because it's the one that comes with Windows, so that is what I will use."

If you don't know any different, how can you hope to understand what is out there.

It's easier for me to give them "technical support" if I know (control) what apps they are using. Their needs are typically very basic so they don't need to download new apps all the time.

I probably sound like some evil portable app dictator but I've found that it's best to heavily guide the unknowledgeable, rather than give them free reign, lest they download "Bogus-Screw-Up-Your-Computer-App 2000 Portable". Like I said, their needs are typically very basic and thus easily met: Browser, Email (even then they mostly use webmail), Instant Messaging, Simple Disk Cleanup, Office software, Media player and maybe a few other minor apps like a PDF viewer. Nothing fancy, they don't need Putty Portable or Super-Dooper-Mess-With-Hardcore-Registry-Tweaks Portable etc.

EDIT: Just to put it into perspective, I'm (mostly) talking about my parents who are 50 somethings, who didn't grow up with computers and so are looking to be spoon-fed, in order to be able to do the things they want to do.

October 30, 2009 - 6:35pm

(Reply to #22) #23

Pyromaniac

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My math teacher taught me how to KISS some years ago...

...he also told me not to assume

And no, you don't sound like an evil portable app dictator, cause if you did, then I would have to call myself one

My mom's boss is fascinated with all this "technology" and so I set her up with CodySafe. It looks like the PAM the it lets a pop-up box come when you hover the mouse over the shortcut.

She uses OO.o Writer (I called it "typer") and OO.o Calc ("Xcel"). Firfox is "Internet" and Thunderbird is "email". she gave my mom a bonus after that.

She's 40-something...

October 30, 2009 - 7:25pm

(Reply to #23) #24

digitxp

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Nice.

Nice. 8)

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October 30, 2009 - 10:01pm

(Reply to #24) #25

tgrantt

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Really?

My math teacher taught me how to KISS some years ago...

Couldn't he get fired for that?

I am not my signature.

November 1, 2009 - 4:33pm

(Reply to #25) #26

Pyromaniac

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KISS

Keep
It
Simple
Stupid

And he actually resigned after the first semester I had him.

November 2, 2009 - 8:06am

(Reply to #26) #27

jamvaru

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well...

you probably shouldn't have HAD him

---

I'd like to see a simple installer that does the pam thing, even optimizing the disk by formatting (optional) to the fastest setting, fat v. ntfs, cluster size, etc. Notifying you of the speed rating of your stick.

Then, youopen pam and select the install option. A dialogue slides open sideways with names of available apps and checkboxes. You select what you want and click "engage" and the download manager begins installing silently in the background. Tabs for GPL, OpSrc, FrWr, etc.

Same for upgrade, select boxes for available upgrades, based on your installed apps. Click "make it so" and the dl mgr/upg mgr takes care of it silently, preserving your settings and profiles, etc.

Uninstall should be pretty simple. Remove menu links. Delete folder. Option to keep settings/profiles.

Tabs for categories, custom groups in droplist of app launchers.

;>jamvaru

October 30, 2009 - 10:06pm

(Reply to #27) #28

OliverK

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he gave my mom a bonus after

he gave my mom a bonus after that.

Score

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

October 30, 2009 - 10:40pm

(Reply to #28) #29

Darkbee

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Knowing when to quit is half the battle

There's just so much I want to say right now, but none of it relevant to portable apps... I've enjoyed an evening of drinks so I shall refrain from sharing.

November 1, 2009 - 4:34pm

(Reply to #29) #30

Pyromaniac

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Go ahead. I'm moving this to

Go ahead. I'm moving this to off topic anyway since there is so much off topic stuff!

October 30, 2009 - 2:21pm

(Reply to #30) #31

RogerL

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thanks

ceciliaFX for raising this again, we only had 8 votes when I made this request in https://portableapps.com/node/20587

October 30, 2009 - 2:28pm

(Reply to #31) #32

Darkbee

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Duly noted...errrr voted.

I have voiced my support.

Let the people speak!

November 6, 2009 - 3:54am

#33

Oni-Neoxes

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10,000

I would LOVE a loading bar.
also 10,000th off topic post

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