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Hi,
I have just developed a portable version of Winamp 5.24, but due to the licensing I obviously can't distribute this. So - I would like to attempt to make a program that will build PortableWinamp from an existing installation, but I'm not sure exactly how much I'm allowed to package with this - I would like include the winamp icon, and several winamp-generated .ini config files with the 'builder'. Does anyone know more about this? [edit: email offer removed]. Cheers.
It's illegal to even email it to someone else, since you've modified a proprietary app without the publisher's permission... so I'd suggest not offering to do that. Including the icon would be a no no as well. Even calling it Portable Winamp is illegal.
Joys of commercial software and trademarks.
OK, Thanks for that (apologies to anyone wanting a copy, but I'm taking John's advice). Does this mean that I'm not allowed to include the Winamp-generated (but not actually distributed with Winamp) .ini config files? As far as I can tell there's nothing in the Winamp EULA that restricts this, but I'm not a lawyer - so I may not be interpreting it correctly. Also, is UPX compression considered 'modification' for the purposes of the EULA?
INI files are usually OK. UPX compression, though not a recompilation (and not a modification of the source), is a modification of the binaries, so, technically, it is a modification. For most commercial software, you can't even wrap up unmodified binaries in your own installer or zip package and redistribute them unless the publisher specifically says it's ok.
I have finished the first version of a "builder" that will create a complete portable (and optionally UPX compressed) version of winamp out of an existing, standard 5.24 installation.
John - can I link to this here, or would you rather see it first? (Or shouldn't I distribute this one at all either?)
If Winamp's licensing prohibits modification, everything you're doing is illegal. However, if it only prohibits redistribution, you're fine. You can always distribute software that you create unless it does something illegal. I'll read Winamp's license and get back to you.
I did read the licensing for winamp - and yes, it does prohibit modification but allows for distribution - that's why I'm doing this project the way I am. The way I see it, I am not distributing or modifying Winamp in any way, shape or form. I'm simply distributing a tool allowing others to 'modify' winamp (by copying & UPX-compressing various files, and adding a custom launcher). Whether or not people choose to use that tool is up to them, although the legality of using it I think would differ depending on which country you were in. As far as I can see, it would fall under the same legality as Resource Hacker - and that's a program that's been around for years without any legal trouble.
I still want John's approval before linking to it from this site though, as it's him who will cop any flak for it if I do so.
Since you can distribute it without modification, and you can also distribute your own software, you should be able to package them together. You'd have to really read the agreement and conform to their terms. Of course, asking for permission wouldn't hurt, and you'd know for sure what's legal and what's not. The only problem with that is that you would probably not get a response, at least not right away.
It's 4AM. I need to go to bed. 
That would be nice to be able to do this - I have asked (on the winamp.com development forums) but I have yet to receive a clear reply. In the meantime I have a download link embedded into PWBuilder.
You're always free to modify your own copy of software, regardless of what the EULA tries to tell you. That's called fair use. Copyright only applies to redistribution. No license agreement can really prohibit you from doing anything you want with your own copy of a piece of software so long as you don't give it to anyone else.
Therefore, I don't think what Bletch is making (a program that someone else has to run to portablize their own copy of Winamp) is illegal so long as he doesn't use Winamp trademarks in it--which is a completely different issue altogether.
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Lauren She eats everything! It's like having a goat. A giant, two-Godzillaton goat.
maggie Hey, I resent that remark! I only weigh ONE Godzillaton!
~ Spectacles: Bruce's Story
Legal or not, I would love to see the code on your product. I have been interested in doing the same for many programs, I just haven't had the time. It would be great to create a tool that would make programs portable. Is there a way you could send me the code? Thanks for the info.
Sure - I have no issues with that. The launcher is just a modified version of the Abiword one. Other than that, there are a few INI config files, and that's pretty much all that's packaged with it. UPX and 4 files from 7-zip are also packaged (for various compression options). The nifty thing that actually 'portablises' Winamp is actually an INNO Setup installer script - using iss made life a lot easier than it otherwise would have been. If anyone is interested in the source, I'm no longer emailing it. See further down this page for a download link.
"It would be great to create a tool that would make programs portable." - I agree, but what I have done is not really a general-purpose 'portabliser'; it's Winamp-specific.
John - am I allowed to put a link to this program (and sources) here?
I have just sent the program and sources to those who asked for them. Apologies for the large attachment size (~7MB).
John - can I please link to PWBuilder (and its sources) here? I'm getting a lot of email requests for it, and I don't really want to keep sending it out, I would much rather it just came straight off the web.
I would love to have a copy of this program...can you please send it to me at:
ovrkast(@)gmail(dot)com
Thanks in advance!
Done. I suggest you remove your address from the post entirely.
Kinda late now. Members here can't edit their posts once someone directly replies to them.
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Fatzilla Explosiveprincess 1.5.0.6
"the most explosive web browser in the world"
Could you email it to me at
l-i-u.z-a-c-h-a-r-y(at)g-m-a-i-l(dot)c-o-m
(without the hyphens)
I would rather stop 'computing' than give up one single feature in Winamp!
I tried somebody's 'Portable Winamp', a while ago, and it was like traveling back to the Paleolithic era in a time machine. I had forgotten why I didn't use Winamp for the first few years -- gawd, I hated that ugly, eye-straining, little black box interface -- still do, evidently!
Anyway, I hope that isn't what your Portable Winamp interface looks like!
Secondly, all you have to do is copy the Winamp folder from your HD and stick it on a USB stick, and it works fine! It might not be a TRUE green app, but it works, all the same, without any messing around!
So, what am I missing here?!?!?!
BTW, don't take this as a severe criticism. I'm just curious as to why anybody would need this... 
You do know that you can re-skin Winamp, right? You don't have to put up with the ugly black-and-green one if you don't want to. Even the old 2.x versions of Winamp were skinnable.
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< ExplosivePrincess 1.5 Atomic Bomb Edition >
warning: keep explosiveprincess away from children
Firstly:
I have been receiving WAY too many email requests for this, and as John has failed to respond, here's the link: PWBuilder can be downloaded here. Please don't ask me to email it to you.
Secondly:
...and it was like traveling back to the Paleolithic era in a time machine. I had forgotten why I didn't use Winamp for the first few years -- gawd, I hated that ugly, eye-straining, little black box interface -- still do, evidently! Anyway, I hope that isn't what your Portable Winamp interface looks like!
Unfortunately for you, I intend on supporting lower-specced systems too. It defaults to the 'classic' skin you seem to hate so much, although it does also include full modern skin support.
Secondly, all you have to do is copy the Winamp folder from your HD and stick it on a USB stick, and it works fine! It might not be a TRUE green app, but it works, all the same, without any messing around!
Not true - depending on how it's configured (shared/per user), it can lose its config every time you move it. It can also nuke the winamp config for the PC you run it on. What the portable launcher does is launch it in such a way that all the config stuff is restricted to the location it's run from - nothing is left on the host machine.
If you had tried to start any recent (non-lite) version of Winamp from a USB key in the manner that you claim, you would find that it does not 'work fine' - you will get error messages due to missing components of the CD burning stuff, unless Winamp was already installed on the PC you are using - and that's not exactly portable is it?
PWBuilder also optimizes for space, with optional UPX compression. It also allows a component-by component breakdown so you can choose which features to use - again, this saves a lot of disk space.
so you can post a link here.
*Australian inside bursts out* Bloody New Zealanders 
(No offence)
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On a side note, nice music.
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R McCue
PortaBlog Home and My Website
And before anyone complains about the grammar, I'm so jetlagged that my
hands aren't even in the same time zone...
*Australian inside bursts out* Bloody New Zealanders
Ummm... Ummm... dammit can't think of a rebuttal, 2am is the wrong time for that.
On a side note, nice music.
Cheers 
- it still has a long way to come though.
Can you please email it to hello5959us(@)gmail.c o m (without spaces and parantheses obviously).? Thank you,
Does it works with the new Winamp 5.3?
Can I make my Winamp Pro portable with your builder?
Thanks!
I suggest we call it "PortableAmp" - that wouldn't infringe the copyright would it ?
May I suggest trying to get official permmission to distribution ?
check here: http://www.winamp.com/community/promote/distribution/
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