PortableApps adds Chrome and Skype

The PortableApps Suite is a storehouse and management system for "portable" versions of some of the most popular freeware around. That collection used to be limited only to open-source programs. But on Wednesday it started making portable versions of closed-source freeware to users. The first batch of portable freeware includes Web browser Google Chrome, VoIP client Skype, BitTorrent client uTorrent, antispyware tool SpyDLLRemover, and three others at the time of writing. The new portable versions of these programs work both independently and in tandem with the PortableApps suite.

In a statement published on its Web site, PortableApps.com founder and CEO John Haller said that PortableApps "remains committed" to open-source software, but that closed-source freeware publishers would find other venues for USB stick-friendly versions of their programs if PortableApps didn't open its doors to them. For users that want to support only open-source programs, he said that the PortableApps directory will soon be filterable.

PortableApps is also planning to accept portable versions of commercial software, although it hasn't announced a timeline yet. Readers can check on the latest updates to the PortableApps catalog at their Web site, although we do host most of them at Download.com as well.

[ctt1wbw]

Uh, I already have all these portable apps. They are on my freakin laptops. Therefore, portable.

[thydavidcome]

You don't get the purpose of USB stick apps do you?

[Philips]

You put the portable apps on USB stick and can use them on pretty much any Windows PC.

PortableApps.com try their best to make sure that applications wouldn't leave any junk on system where you use them.

Thanks to them, e.g. I can use OpenOffice.org to on my job. Mere mortals are obviously not allowed to install any software on their PCs. My company is officially on Office 2007 (which is probably worst office suit I have seen coming from Redmond) while most of my internal documents/etc I do in OO.o which is simple and Just Works (c).

[bryan_cvkn]

PortableApps is great tool to organize your documents and applications. I use PortableApps and USB Secure to both organize and secure my USB Drive completely. I would recommend you guys have a look at both these applications and make full use of them. USB Secure lets me password protects USB drives and features autoplay and full plug-play support and doesn't require admin rights or installation on other computer. Both these application make for a great portable experience of organizing and security portable devices.

[ctt1wbw]

Yeah, I had to put Windows 7 on it to install. I downloaded it the other day. But why not just download Chrome to a computer? Or just copy to install file to a usb drive? Isn't that the same thing?

[Pregnancom2404]

Did PortableApps had permission to the creators of the following applications? Because it looks like illegal to copy looks and code from other applications, right?

[Silas0220]

"...closed-source freeware publishers would find other venues for USB stick-friendly versions of their programs if PortableApps didn't open its doors to them."

Sounds like they came to PortableApps, not the other way around.

[One-Eared Gundark]

To clear up any confusion: The reason for "portable apps" is to eliminate the need for installation. This allows you to run them without the app going in and mucking up your registry, or putting other hooks into the OS, thus allowing you to run them from removable media.

I love the portable apps, and usually copy them to my desktop computer in lieu of using the "full install" version.

[loose_screw]

Thanks for the heads up! I love PortableApps!