Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Beta
Create one installer for dozens of apps with Volery
by Brad Linder Oct 5th 2009 at 3:00PM
Or you can use Volery. This service lets you create a single installer for dozens of popular freeware applications. You can pick and choose from a long list of web browsers, multimedia applications, and other utilities. Honestly, almost every application I use on a daily basis was on the list. And if you wish a program that wasn't on the list was included, you can fill out the suggest an app box at the bottom of the page.
Once you choose your applications, you just click the Get Installer button and Volery will download all of the programs and create a single installer. Click it to run, and the installer will load all of the selected applications onto your PC. The apps will all be installed to their default directories and shortcuts will be added to your desktop and Start Menu. You don't get all the advanced installation options you might be used to, but the fact that you can leave the installer running unattended kind of makes up for that.
Volery is in private beta at the moment, but the first 500 people to sign up using the following link should be able to get in on the action:
The program is free while in beta, but eventually the company plans to charge for access to the service. In other words, there will never be any offers to install the Google Toolbar or other applications that you didn't ask for during the installation process.
Final pricing hasn't been set yet, and while the company will begin charging for service, any installers you create with a beta account will continue to work even after Volery goes pro. Of course, if you want to create installers with the most up-to-date versions of each application, you'll need to pay up.
[via How-To Geek]
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Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game.
The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DeadlYRage said 3:57PM on 10-05-2009
I like this...and you guys thought I was critical! :)>
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ArcticFox said 3:26PM on 10-05-2009
Why the hell would i PAY for some program to install multiple programs at once, free ones at that.
If i really wanted to i could use Auto IT or some other similar scripting program, or if i really wanted to i could create a slipstreamed Windows with all my programs preinstalled with the OS.
Ridiculous, these jokers are never gonna make any money .
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Patrick Swieskowski said 5:01PM on 10-05-2009
You've actually got a nice pitch in there for why people would pay for Volery. The alternatives you mention are completely valid, but extremely difficult in comparison to Volery.
We've found that people tend to value their time.
Patrick Swieskowski
Co-Founder -- Volery
Fred said 5:10PM on 10-05-2009
Hey Patrick, just a suggestion, it would be nice if, on the app selection page, if when you moused over an app, or clicked on it, it gave a brief description. I know what th vast majority are, but I do not know XnView, for example.
Fred said 5:16PM on 10-05-2009
Also, there needs to be a 'deselect all' option.
Matt Newbould said 3:30PM on 10-05-2009
Quality, cheers for the info and the limited signup.
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maf teechr said 5:01PM on 10-05-2009
Makes you wonder: why the hell isn't there a free program to do this?
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richard.gailey said 5:01PM on 10-05-2009
I liked it, and to be honest it was probably the most simple install for multiple programmes that I have ever used.
I like the fact that they also have a section where you can request programmes to be added also.
Will there ever be an off-line version that people could use? For example, I have just selected about 12 of the available items available and have just finished downloading and installing them. Now say that I would like to do the same for a friends computer, but they are currently off-line. Would I be able to clone the downloaded programmes into an installer that you created, so I would be able to install them with the same (one touch) simplicity that I original did on my PC?
Would I consider buying this product when it's out of beta; Yes I would for the simple fact that it can save a bunch of time, and of course if the price is right.
I hope that made sense?
P.s The only one that failed to install was AVG.
I am running Windows 7 RC1 Build 7100
Chrome v3.0.194.24
Not sure if this has anything to do with AVG not installing correctly, but when you right-click on the installer (that I got from the Volery site) and select Properties, under the General Tab, there is a section on Security at the bottom with a 'Unblock' button. On most of my other programmes this is not there.
It may have nothing to do with it, but thought it may help.
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Fred said 5:09PM on 10-05-2009
IN.
Thanks DS! This will be an incredibly usefull app. I am trying to become the go-to guy at my law school for computer setup/repair, and this kind of thing is going to be great.
I already set up an installer for a blank computer, and another for a broken computer.
I also suggested Windirstat and Microsoft Security Essentials...
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KeegdnaB said 5:17PM on 10-05-2009
This should be very convenient when I reinstall my machine for Windows 7 (currently running RC)
Suggested Security Essentials and Zune
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Rahabib said 5:39PM on 10-05-2009
so if it installs default options am I going to get the google/yahoo toolbars and other crapware as well?
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Patrick Swieskowski said 7:32AM on 10-06-2009
Declining those toolbars and other junk is the one place where we deviate from default options.
Volery is sort of a crapware preventer in this way.
Patrick Swieskowski
Co-Founder -- Volery
edward said 7:33AM on 10-06-2009
"Hey Patrick, just a suggestion, it would be nice if, on the app selection page, if when you moused over an app, or clicked on it, it gave a brief description. I know what th vast majority are, but I do not know XnView, for example."
That is EXACTLY what I thought the first time I looked at your web app. I would love to be able to click to view the programs homepage.
This looks like a wonderful service. What would make it pure awesome is if I could add my own apps with limited support (IE provide download link (or upload of the installer) and when you download your package it also downloads the installer for that program but it would still have to be installed manually.
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Shan said 7:26AM on 10-06-2009
Good idea - some suggestions:
1. would like to see an offline version that I could carry around on a USB stick.
2. Allow us to click on a program and be taken to the homepage so we can find out what it is about.
3. Moving forward, you should sort the listing out A-Z. Right now it is a mess. In the future if it does expand - you would need to organise everything into sections eg internet.
Other programs you should include:
Microsoft Security Essentials
Combined Community Codec Pack (Handles pretty much every audio/video format going with a nice 5MB file size)
Avira
Internet Explorer 8 (If someone insists on using IE - they may as well have the latest much more secure version)
Paint.NET
Windows Live Messenger
Yahoo Messenger
Google Talk
AIM
Daemon Tools Lite
ImgBurn
Comodo Internet Security
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Ving-gah said 4:25PM on 10-06-2009
Great idea, not crazy about having to pay for it, but there's always a price for convenience. That said, I'd probably buy it. Provided it wasn't much.
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(v) said 5:07PM on 10-07-2009
http://wpkg.org/ — do it by yrself
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Bebe said 1:12PM on 10-08-2009
Since you are already pulling free-ware from the net. the max i would pay for this is 99 cents. This is not any more valuable than an iPhone app that cost 99 and could do a lot more.
If you are thinking in making a fortune out of this, you are going to fail because your forums will be blasted with
www.filehippo.com
since it may be the place where your app is getting everything thanks to their organization with apps and links.
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Bebe said 1:35PM on 10-08-2009
I just gave it a try and i know is in beta. But it should already check if the program is already installed. I made a list and it reinstalled firefox and now is asking me to restart my computer to finish the download.
Dropbox is just stuck in there and i cant even click on skip or something like that.
i like the idea and the concept. Again, even working i would not pay more than 99 cents.
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