First we had the PortableApps Menu, then the PortableApps.com Platform... I think we should replace both with a PortableApps "Hub". This is a collection of my ideas but borrows heavily from suggestions I've heard as well and is my attempt to represent both what people want and would be better for many people.
The hub would replace the menu (and look mostly like it), except...
1. Below "Help" and "Search" would be a "Host Computer Info" box which would show the CPU, RAM, OS version, whether the account is admin or limited, and other useful specs.
2. An Integration app under Options. One tab would allow users to select however many, all, or none of the apps to have shortcuts made and placed on the desktop. Another tab would do the same for fonts -- selected fonts would be accessible from installed and portable apps alike. Another tab would define the local portable browser (e.g. portable Firefox) for other portable apps to use. (The PA format would necessarily have to be updated to allow certain variables, e.g. default browser, to be passed to the portable app from the hub.) Backup would be taken off the main menu and put here as another tab.
3. Widgets. Because they're all the rage. No, seriously, if they can be done without admin access, why not? Because they're resource hungry and wasteful? Bad answer. They can do whatever they're coded to do.
4. No categories, but rather tabs, on the menu itself. The categories here except operating systems, plus a favorites tab which can have apps from other tabs (all other tabs would be exclusive, however). Maybe the Integration app (see #2) could be a tab itself.
5. When you hold ALT, the letters light up from the stuff on the right like usual, plus each app gets a letter, "A" through whatever, skipping the ones used on the right, of course. ALT+A would launch the first app. ALT+C, the second (because B is for Backup).
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I support Ideas 1,3,4.
So Awesome!
Starting coding my friend, that the ONLY way you'll EVER see it done.
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
I'd like to add to that list:
Some kind of shortcut directory when you really need apps fast (not sure if I posted this before, it's been in my head for a while). There would be quick shortcut launchers in that directory which we can open instead of the menu.
Insert original signature here with Greasemonkey Script.
Not sure how that would work but a practical alternative would be to simply have favourites be the default tab on opening the menu. This should be configurable to any of the tabs or even last used.
PortableApps.com Advocate
1) Definitely a good idea.
2) This seems good but I think it would work better as a single tab with sub/side-menu/tabs. There would be a single tab with sub/side-tabs/menus like how the "Integrated Gmail" keeps the different services separated and only one accessible at a time.
3) Sounds good but this takes control away from PA.com. I don't mean it should all be tightly administered App Store style but how could PA.com ensure the safety of widgets? Maybe have an integrated desktop widgets set up that uses an already existing, open and trusted system? Again this takes away what we can monitor as different users will already have widgets installed and impossible to predict how they'll interact.
4) I've been a long term supporter (nagger) for categories and if there's a good alternative to get the same functionality this is it. Nice.
5) Seems ok but not quite so sure. I'd prefer a search bar built into the default or favourites or its own search tab that could be used to give real time results.
Again these are great ideas but getting them done are massively difficult. I guess one of the first things is to migrate the menu away from Delphi to something less restrictive and free. From it should be easier to get more developers involved. However this is so much harder easier said than done.
Good luck John
PortableApps.com Advocate
I suppose it depends on what the goal of the PA.c menu is. It's my understanding that it's supposed to be as simple as possible to accommodate the less technically inclined. Thus, you sacrifice some customization capability.
To be quite frank, the PA.c menu has never cut it for me, which is why I've been a fan of PStart, and more recently of ASuite. It suits my needs better and gives me greater flexibility as to how I want to organize my portable setup.
Another motivating factor for me to not use the PA.c menu is that I use portable apps that are not from here, so they don't easily integrate anyway.
Anyway, some good suggestions and maybe the PA.c menu will eventually become an option for me, which would be great because the more stuff I get from this website, the less I have to go elsewhere.