ok in XP but my WOT not work so I get Chrome SRWWare Iron & Iron Portable can get at portableapps.com.

Thanks, Chazzo. Oh, now this one sounds really interesting. Being portable is cool too. Gonna have to try to jump the buildings.

Glad you like the portable games site WR, I haven't had a chance to look through this properly myself yet. It was a very lucky chance find! :)

Thanks Whiterabbit, looking forwards to your games post shortly! You've built up my suspense! :)

Nice one chazzo. Thank you.

Canabalt(5Mb)

This hit flash game is now available in portable form so you can play it offline or play it from a USB stick, hence this post. It’s a game that’s in black/grey and white and plays using one button. It shouldn’t work at all in the light of today’s 3D hyper-colored multi-button smash-button frenzies.

Yet it so absolutely does, is a tribute to the game’s design and the very accurate timing and accurate jumping you need, to survive for very long to advance through the game. It gets everything just right in terms of level design and increasing difficulty as you progress through the game. You just fail at a certain point with the emphasis on ‘just’ and the game almost implores you to give it just ‘one more try’ and tens or more of goes later, when you get past each ‘hiccup’ in your progress, you feel great until you hit the next big stumbling block! And so it goes on.

Minutes turn into hours and you still haven’t completed the game, though you may be a few blocks further on, but there are many more stages to go! So, you run and you jump across roof-tops and have to clear precipices and hazards in your path, scaring pigeons as you go. Sounds simple and relatively easy; but you have ignored the cunning of the game’s designer in setting traps for the unwary at almost every turn! You’ll be hooked from the moment you hit the top of the next block after jumping through that first window! You run at ever increasing speed, such is your haste to escape! Oh, and watch out for those distracting rockets!

Your city is being demolished and you have been told to escape, but look out for falling debris! Luck may play a (small) part and it’s mostly down to your skill how long you survive! It’s also available at $2.99 for the IPhone/IPad from the app store.

The real fun starts when you have to jump into adjacent buildings rather than to the next roof-top!

Wish you could stop and stare to judge that difficult jump rather than having to go for it running at or near full-tilt!

It's up there with the very best in terms of fun to play and addictiveness!

It’s different every time you play, as the game platforms and events are generated randomly. Jump using the ‘X’ or ‘C’ key and control how long/high the jump is by holding down the jump key for a longer or shorter time. The game plays windowed or full-screen (press the ‘Esc’ key for full-screen) in XP, Vista and Win 7. The game plays as well offline (with a longer/'wider' screen!) as the flash game, and has adequate graphics with a terrific music soundtrack. Gameplay is everything and the game displays how far you get in metres, along with a suitable message or cryptic message concerning your demise, when you miss that next all important jump or suddenly run into debris! You can play the game for as far as you can get in escaping, as the game carries on for however long you can survive!

You do need to install the game from the download file in the first place. But it will play directly from a USB stick if you copy the installed game folder onto the USB stick.

If you’ve played this online, need I say more? And if you haven’t, what are you waiting for? There’s a daring escape attempt waiting right here for you! Great stuff!

Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmTSez8xUSk

Play Online HERE (mouse clicks to start and jump)

Download HERE

http://www.comodo.com/home/browsers-toolbars/browser.php

Ran this through installation in the XP Mode VM, choosing the Portable option during install. I still recorded 423 new registry entries, BUT, copying just the program folder to other Windows installs it is indeed portable -- seems to work fine in XP & win7, with no recorded changes to Windows, so maybe the biggest hassle is installing to a VM or using something like Timefreeze or Returnil if those 400 new entries would bother you.

Now just have to try it out & see how it compares to the Chrome portable versions I've been picking up at portableapps.com.

Thanks Mikiem.

I don't know that there's a lot (or even any) interest, so I'll *try* to keep it short... What I like to do is create portable versions of apps, including games -- it's handy when someone in the family wants to try something out without the hassle of install & possibly un-install. Another advantage I found is that using the Portableapps.com format & menu, it's very easy to organize & keep track of a selection of games, while keeping them separate from all the games & apps that are already installed & in the Start Menu; I did this with a bunch of the free games from Playcity [thanks Whiterabbit], & using a Desktop shortcut my wife can launch the Portableapps menu, scroll through the games, try them out, & decide which ones she wants installed normally. That said, the Portableapps.com launcher will work with both portable & non-portable apps, e.g. you can put the "FishdomH2O" folder from Sunday's Game GOTD inside the launcher's PortableApps folder, & when you start the launcher the Fishdom game is right there in the menu. For that matter, many of the GOTD games have simply unpacked themselves into the C:\Game folder -- add the PortableApps launcher to your system drive [copy from a USB stick minus the Autorun.inf], drag those games into the PortableApps folder, & you've got a menu without bothering to create & place individual shortcuts. If you get the latest release [portableapps.com] you can create & save apps/games to categories [much like Start Menu sub-folders] for better organization. But on to how I went further & made these games portable...

Now the ideal portable app runs anywhere on any PC/laptop without touching the hard drive -- those are few [if it's even possible in Windows], so I settle for making as few permanent changes to the host system hard drive as possible, including changes to or in the registry. To make that work you need to know just what minimal changes an app/game makes, & what it requires in the way of stored files or registry entries. The 1st step is to get the app itself, minus any add-ons & the installer -- I use Universal Extractor [ http://legroom.net/software/uniextract ] to accomplish that. For the Playcity games that meant going to the resulting {app} folder, renaming it, & removing the toolbar installer, all url shortcuts, & the Playcity launcher. The next part, necessary for games & those apps that rely on hardware is more tedious, since you not only have to record all changes but put things back so you can make sure your portable version works.

Installwatch Pro works for 32 bit Windows, &/or you can use Regshot or Regshot2 to do that recording. I used Installwatch Pro in win7's XP Mode VM for an imcomplete overview [most games won't fully run], saving registry changes & any added folders -- e.g. a folder added to User Application Data is compressed into a 7-zip file named UsrAppDta.7z. Booting into XP Pro I used Wondershare's Timefreeze, though apps like Returnil or even just ERUNT work, and used something called Portable App Creator [ http://portableapps.com/node/9909 ] -- it's not perfect & the results are much less elegant than *real* conversions to the portableapps.com format, but it's relatively quick & it's very easy. Basically Portable App Creator takes before & after system snapshots, then creates a launcher that will *temporarily* create needed folders (with content) & registry entries. It will not always catch added folders or necessary registry keys/values, so I don't use it exactly as intended...

On a USB stick after installing the PortableApps launcher, I created the folder for a game, e.g. PortableApps\[Name of game]Portable. Inside that I added a "App" sub-folder, & copied the stripped down game folder into that "App" sub-folder. Starting up Portable App Creator, I browse to that game's .exe file where it asks what file to install, unchecking the UPX checkbox. Next it'll take its before snapshot, & next step is to install, in this case running & closing the game. Because of my Installwatch Pro records I know where to look, & I manually double check the 3 locations where these games typically add folders [User\ Application Data, User\ Local Settings\ Application Data, & All Users\ Application Data] -- if something's missing I can copy the folder I stored earlier into place, & if a folder's empty I'll add null.txt [an empty txt file] to make sure it's picked up. I can also merge reg files before or after starting a game or app, as long as it's after the 1st snapshot. Following the steps of the wizard interface, a couple of games were minimized when the Portable App Creator message box popped up saying install or run your app & then click OK -- it was no big deal to click OK & then restore the game.

Once the wizard's finished you'll have a "Data" folder alongside the "App" folder you created -- inside of it as needed you'll have copies of added folders, a .lst file [a text file with paths to those folders' contents], &/or a .reg file... I double check to make sure everything appears as it should be -- if needed you can add folders & reference them in that .lst file, as well as edit a .reg file. You'll also have an .ini file with the path to this now portable app -- you'll probably have to edit that to work if you put it in a folder on your hard drive. Now is where I'll restore everything re: XP Pro, rebooting to discard any changes (or restore an ERUNT backup for the registry etc.), then test to make sure the portable version of the game works -- here I started Time Freeze again, then used Regshot to monitor. Some registry entries like MUICache or Shell Bags or UserAssist etc. you're not going to get away from, but there is no great reference guide & 'bout all I can say is try to avoid any app/game specific entries & Google/Bing when in doubt until you build up a bit of experience.

Of course all this is fine & good if I was only in XP, but what if I might want to run this portable game in Vista/win7 32/64? Everything works the same way in those versions of Windows, but XP's easier to manage the process & I wanted XP compatibility too, so now I go into win7 64, fire up Time Freeze & Regshot2, & try everything out. 2 games worked as is -- they maybe shouldn't have, but they did. One game needed to have more registry entries added to it's .reg file. And a few needed to have those stored sub-folders [with configuration data] duplicated using the different paths in Vista/win7 -- e.g. User\ Application Data\ became User\ AppData\ Roaming\. One game needed to be run as admin [both the launcher & game], while a couple just wouldn't work at all, 1 not even as a stand-alone without the portable stuff.

In the end the project worked out well, but it's not a complete substitute for a regular installation -- add a profile/player name & that has to be added to the portable app setup or it's written to the hard drive. If you don't record & include where saved games go, those aren't stored in the portable game's folder either. The extra launcher the Portable App Creator adds is itself is a bit of baggage, so game performance, along with startup & close times suffer, even when this stuff is written to & read from a internal hard drive. Probably the main reason I tried to go more fully portable is that some of the games were different versions from what was already installed, & I didn't want them to muck up previously saved games or profiles etc.

PORTABLE to day and now say not like it as can not find in the ad-remove not know you just go Delete

Hi,

TBH, i wasn't expecting as much replies to this thread, as it got. Thanks to everyone who did. I half believed that this site was just people searching for free software, and not actually considering the work that has gone in to much of it.
I do realise that many comments are well thought out, and do assist in the developers quest of making the near perfect program ;-)

Maybe ideainformer should look at their own software.. It is obvious, sometimes, that suggestions are just added, without testing the software.

I have just come back from a five day holiday, so i missed any of last weeks comments, but today's comments don't have that suggestion. (Thanks be to all that is worth thanking, in the heavens or wherever they may be.)

Okay, i semi agree with mikiem2 about a truly portable app. The reason i say semi agree, is because, it's true, but doesn't really apply to most of the people that ask for a portable app.

I must apologise, i am literally only home, and checked my email, which led me here and i am not the best at explaining myself, as i have had very little sleep in the last few days, and am mostly checking my spelig misteaks. :-P (as i write)

I would, however, like to suggest, after ideainformer input is suggested, that maybe the "reward" for best suggestion, is backed up in this forum. i.e. If somebody does suggest something worth looking at in software that is on GAOTD (GOTD), then maybe they could go in to a little more detail in here.?

I do also realise, that this site works mainly on testing/trying out software. But if they are going to comment, why not write a few extra lines in the forum, and let people and/or the developers question them a little more on their reasoning?

goodnight for now..

P.S.. I LOVED MY HOLIDAY... :-D :-D :-D

Hats off to SeriousBit (and the few other developers who have done so) for responding rapidly to suggestions and comments/queries. That not only helps to address problems (and less than helpful suggestions) but demonstrates how thoughtful feedback influences program development.

Whilst I appreciate program portability, I'm not much worried about it. My reason for reading and commenting on this thread is more (in agreement with Bubby) about the frequency of entirely unhelpful suggestions (as in 'make portable' a program that is already provided in portable form).

It's possible to predict the make portable/make it skinnable/produce in 30 million dialects etc comments (and probably who will make them) every day.

Then there are the apparently sensible suggestions ("Make the preview window larger" when the previews are already zoomable), which attract lots of votes from folk who equally haven't bothered to check out an application.

With the GAOTD IdeaInformer rarely separating out suggestions/bugs/problems/info requests, a perceived fault with a program("HeavenstoBetsy, the Auto update box is checked!) or frustrations with installation/activation, result in useful suggestions being swamped, exacerbated by the ordering of 'suggestions' by numbers of votes.

Looking at the bunch of 'ideas' so far thrown at today's VideoMizer, it's difficult to see how the development team will garner much of use to guide the evolution of the program. Generally, most of the best ideas and views on GAOTD offerings seem to be in the comments.

If that is the case and it's not worth bothering with the filtered version of IdeaInformer, why bother with IdeaInformer at all?

One thought might be to limit folk to a single 'Idea' per day. Not exactly much of a suggestion in itself but perhaps there is some practicable way of getting better feedback for developers whilst enthusing more of the GAOTD downloaders to comment.

I'm learning a lot by reading everyone's helpful comments about portability options - and thanks to all for the useful links - much appreciated.

I agree very much with mikiem2.

There are many occasions where it is very handy to have a portable version, especially if you use work computers and do not have admin privileges, or have a nearly full laptop HD.

Obviously some programs are more suited to having a portable version than others, but for many of the giveaways, having a portable version would be very useful on occasion, where the program doesn't already have this option.

It also isn't obvious to non-IT non-technical people which programs preclude this by necessarily having to use registry entries and sometimes access admin enabled processes!

If a lot of people vote for a portable option, then I hope the program producer takes good note. The whole point of the suggestions is to provide feedback to the program producer and if that includes a well-supported 'make it portable' suggestion, then so be it!

Maybe too often saying *Something* is thought more important than *what is said*. Plus I imagine having a reward makes suggestions into a sort of sweepstakes entry for some folks -- every day they copy/paste the same thing, figuring maybe they'll get lucky, & they only spent seconds on the site if not.

When there has been a "prize" for the best suggestion - I now encourage the prize to be awarded to the suggestion that the developer feels has the most value for his program and users. Clearly the most "suggestion votes" means about as much as how many thumbs up/down a giveaway can get - or who gets in first/earliest with a pointless suggestion.

... It's VERY easy to make a portable version of any program...

Purely FWIW & with all respect I disagree.
A truly portable app will not make any permanent changes to the PC/laptop, & many people have a stricter definition that that, worrying about deleted file caches etc. when using something like a portable browser.

When started many apps will re-create registry entries & files/folders [usually in the Users section on the system drive], but that does not make them portable, & of course if the license key is stored in the registry or one of those folders it can't re-create that. The portableapps.com format can store registry entries & User files/folders together with the app itself, often re-creating those things on the host PC/laptop, then deleting them when closed, but there's little documentation & I think for most users it's beyond their expertise. Even using the Portable Apps Creator, a free beta tool using Auto It scripting it can amount to *quite* a bit of work, as every registry entry & user file created has to be monitored & then deleted from the host Windows, then the whole thing done again to make sure it worked.

It doesn't hold any merits towards grading the software itself, about how it well does or doesn't perform.

Again with all respect I have to disagree. I'll use the well known, popular VLC as an example [videolan.org]... Unlike many (most?)media players it does not install additional files to Windows, it doesn't heavily modify the registry, & it doesn't create/use a bunch of user files. Yet VLC has more playback functionality than most by far, is available cross-platform, & it does not break media handling in Windows, regardless how many media handling apps are installed. AFAIK in those respects it's unmatched. VLC wasn't designed to be portable -- it was designed & written to work well. Contrast that with Miro for example, which too has worthy goals. If the dev team spent the time & effort to make it self-contained, i.e. portable, it would have no impact on Windows or media handling so it wouldn't break stuff, & many more people might actually use it [no one's even bothered to rate it on videohelp.com]. At any rate the Miro team didn't make that kind of effort, & it shows in how the product underperforms it's potential regardless any impact or anything else. Now granted not every app can be designed from the get go to be portable, but like spelling/grammar errors & small bugs it very often does reflect the level of commitment to quality.

Hopefully users will take the time to use and understand the software BEFORE making "considered" suggestions on how it could be improved.

Very well put. Maybe too often saying *Something* is thought more important than *what is said*. Plus I imagine having a reward makes suggestions into a sort of sweepstakes entry for some folks -- every day they copy/paste the same thing, figuring maybe they'll get lucky, & they only spent seconds on the site if not. I'm not saying rewards should/shouldn't be offered -- only a possible side effect IMHO.

---

FWIW & all that, I'm a fan of portable software, but leave that choice to the devs -- a non-portable app simply has to meet higher standards before I'll install & give it an extended try out, potentially leading to recommendations & purchase. I think pasting in the suggestion to make it portable every day or most every day a bit ridiculous, just like most everyone else, perhaps more-so because it apparently sometimes leads to people getting the wrong ideas -- it was a couple of IMHO wrong ideas from the OP I was responding to, & not the general gist of the posting.

You can tell but can they read say make Portable & have Portable to download not look so how do you get them to look ?
All so some to dowload >
Portable Apps for USB or Run off HardDrive
http://www.pendriveapps.com/
http://www.portablefreeware.com/
http://portableapps.com/
http://www.snapfiles.com/features/ed_usb_software.html
http://www.softpedia.com/get/PORTABLE-SOFTWARE/

I think it is more telling that many of the suggestions come from the user not actually understanding what the program is supposed to do - an absurd example to highlight this would be if a file management program was being given away and the suggestion that it needed to be able to convert/edit graphic files or tag music files. Clearly the user hasn't actually understood what the programs intention/purpose was and is in fact trying suggesting that the program should be something that it is not (effectively a suggestion that the free car should also be able to fly and brew coffee).

To compound the problem users then vote on these suggestions getting a completely misleading impression of what the program is about and what it's perceived shortcomings and flaws are. (What's the point of trying out this software if it cannot fly and make coffee?)

Maybe if the developer had the ability to reset non-helpful suggestions to zero votes - and freeze them at the bottom of the list. Then users would have to find something new to complain about - if it isn't suggestions of "make it portable", it's that the votes are rigged, or the language on the developers website isn't perfect English...

Hopefully users will take the time to use and understand the software BEFORE making "considered" suggestions on how it could be improved.

Hi, Turvy, thanks for your comment.
You are right there are a lot of "suggestions" which make no sense at all, and show that the user did not really try to understand the programme.
However, we (Administrators/Moderators) of this forum are not able to moderate the informer box. As far as I know, only the developer's company which is connected on the other side can do that.
I hope the developers have a thick skin and take it with a good sense of humour.

graylox

Please do something about this.. It's VERY easy to make a portable version of any program, So please can you stop people from suggesting it for whatever rewards they seem to think they get for that suggestion..

It seems to be the most common suggestion, and in some cases, the program actually DOES support portable execution, proving that the "users" on this site, don't always test the software..

It doesn't hold any merits towards grading the software itself, about how it well does or doesn't perform. All it seems to do is promote demoting software that a team may have written.
They may have taken months in some cases to write the software, and have it given away here for free, for people to grade it on whether or not it should be portable is just, well, pathetic..
PLEASE PUT A STOP TO THIS!

Idea.Informer.com.. If you are reading this, maybe you should monitor posts..?? As portable versions do exist sometimes, and it is still coming through, as a suggestion..

When it comes to blocking ads, I haven't found anything more effective than a custom hosts file. Ad servers can simply map back to localhost, your local machine. I wouldn't recommend this method for everyone for several reasons however. The Hosts file is a hidden system file. It is not easily accessible for modification and many current security tools block access to it. It may also prove time consuming to find the IP address of an adserver and then enter it into the Hosts file. Fortunately there are tools out there to make all of this a simpler ordeal. To learn more about the Hosts file and how to use it to block ads and other internet annoyances check out the excellent MVPs article where you can also download a regularly updated hosts file to get you started.

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

The MVPs hosts file is loaded with hundreds of the most common ad servers and malicious sites. To further simplify the process there are several Hosts file editors available. My favorite being HostsXpert, a portable applcation which allows you to easily manage the contents of the hosts file. With HostsXpert you can add and delete entries, backup your hosts file and restore it when needed as well as download and install the latest MVPs hosts file. HostsXpert is free and highly recommended.

HostsXpert can be found at http://www.funkytoad.com/.

NOTES:

The MVPS Hosts file is a precompiled list, it may contain adresses that you would rather not have blocked. It may also inhibit the functionality of some websites that rely on referal and pay-per-click servers. To get around this problem use HostsXpert to back up your custom Hosts file next retore the Windows Hosts file. Do what you need to do with the website and then restore the backup of your custom Hosts file.

The Hosts file does not prevent pop-ups. You will likely get a blank pop-up but the occurence is still annoying, you still require a good pop-up blocker to handle this issue.

If your browser's default Page Not Found/Localhost page comes up on a link that should otherwise be valid the link is likely powered by a refferal service which is blocked by the MVPs Hosts file. Follow the instructions for restoring your Windows Hosts file and try again.

Google Adsense and Adwords are blocked, so links that rely on them will not work, particularly Sponsered Links via the Google search results.

Admuncher has issues with 3M sticky notes.

If using internet explorer 8 I must add.

no pop ups get firefox & AdBlock Plus for Firefox take out 95% or better, on dial-up Privoxy, may slow me down but thank's for the info may need one day.

Using AdMuncher I go into the settings and should I want to exclude one or more programs from being filtered - I select which program (from a list of currently running or recent programs) and that program won't be filtered any more (until I change my mind).

I've not come across anything that it breaks yet (even the GOTD Activation checks) - but it's nice to know I can turn it off for one site or program or port - and leave it running for everything else if needed.

Well if you use Windows Live Mail then the proxy inteferes with your mail.

Even at hotmail oin-line it also causes problems.

Well thanks, but no thanks!

Thanks BuBBy, another to vheck out when I have the time. :)

If it seems a lot of stuffing around and lots of programs to piecemeal block ads - there is one program that that does all the "complicated" stuff for you. AdMuncher is the closest thing I have seen to install and forget.

The AdMuncher people update the lists to catch new ads or new tricks to display ads about once a day - so you don't need to worry about it at all. I've been using it for several years and I've got nothing but praise for it.

It's a shareware program - but there is a free trial (30 days or something similar) on their site - http://admuncher.com/

For Windows 7 users there is a beta version you can download from http://www.admuncher.com/beta.pl

Thanks GMMan, will try this program. Despite having what I thought was a decen security suite installed I still get pop ups occasionally. :)

Hey, thanks, GMMan... I use Firefox, and will download Privoxy and AdBlock right now. I do have some kind of pop-up blocker, but will install these and see if there's an improvement.