July: Suite 2,0 Beta, Vote for PortableApps.com, Updater, Format and more

Welcome to the July 2009 edition of the PortableApps.com newsletter. Each month, we'll go over some of the recent releases, talk about the upcoming apps, highlight some of our developers and contributors, link to our press coverage, offer special preview releases to newsletter subscribers and do a contest or two along the way. This month we'll go over the 2.0 Beta 1 release, tell you how to show your support for PortableApps.com by voting for us in the SourceForge.net 2009 Community Choice Awards and more. So, here we go...

IN THIS ISSUE:
1. Vote for PortableApps.com - SourceForge.net 2009 Community Choice Awards
2. PortableApps.com Platform 2.0 Beta 1
3. New Releases
4. PortableApps.com Format and Installer
5. Recent Press: PC Magazine, The Boston Globe, The Washington Post

1. VOTE FOR PORTABLEAPPS.COM - SOURCEFORGE.NET 2009 COMMUNITY CHOICE AWARDS

PortableApps.com is honored to be a Finalist in the 2009 SourceForge.net Community Choice Awards. These annual awards recognize the world's best open source projects. We've been nominated in several categories and are really hoping to win Most Likely to Change the Way You Do Everything, though we'd be perfectly happy to win Best Project! Voting ends on Monday, so please vote today!

http://sf.net/community/cca09/vote/?f=495

2. PORTABLEAPPS.COM PLATFORM 2.0 BETA 1

We've just posted the first beta of the upcoming 2.0 Platform release. This test release adds a number of features including theme switching, custom themes, automatic starting of apps, favorites, app hiding, better performance and more. And, as always, it's all open source and completely free. You can get the full details and head to the download page here:

https://portableapps.com/news/2009-07-19_-_platform_2.0_beta_1

And Beta 2 will see the debut of our automatic portable apps updater!

3. NEW RELEASES

In the past few months, we've had a number of great new releases. Here are a few of the highlights:

Blender Portable - 3D modeling, animation, rendering, post-production
Billy Mays Caps Lock - a fun utility to remember Billy Mays
Java Portable Launcher - run Java apps portably
Java Portable - install Java to your device without a local install!
The Mana World Portable - Massively multiplayer online role-playing game
NSIS Portable - installer creation to go

You'll find them all in the PortableApps.com App Directory:
https://portableapps.com/apps

4. PORTABLEAPPS.COM FORMAT AND INSTALLER

In the past few months, we've nearly finalized the PortableApps.com Format and our revolutionary installer. All the specs are published online and the installer can be used with simple INI configuration files (no coding required). We've also opened up the format to outside open source developers and freeware publishers. We're about to open the format up to commercial publishers as well so you can carry ALL your favorite software with you wherever you go. Keep watching PortableApps.com for details!

5. RECENT PRESS: PC MAGAZINE, THE BOSTON GLOBE, THE WASHINGTON POST

The great press we've been getting continues with mentions in TechSpot, jkOnTheRun, lifehacker, TechRadar, OStatic, The Boston Globe, PC Magazine, The Washington Post and more. Check them out on our Press Page:
https://portableapps.com/about/press/news

That brings this month's newsletter to a close. August's newsletter will have even more news and maybe even the chance for you to win a free flash drive. Stay tuned... and don't forget to vote!

http://sf.net/community/cca09/vote/?f=495

- Your friends at PortableApps.com