UsbFlashDrive posts

Filed under: Internet, Windows, Freeware, P2P

PortableApps.com releases portable (µ) uTorrent

by Lee Mathews Oct 23rd 2009

Just yesterday, PortableApps.com made its first foray into the world of freeware. Round one of the new releases included Skype and Google Chrome, two Download Squad favorites.

Today, John T. Haller and crew have added another winner to the mix. The world's most popular torrent client, µTorrent, is the most recent addition to the PortableApps freeware family.

You've been able to make µTorrent mostly portable for quite some time, but it's nice to finally have a pre-packaged version - especially one designed to drop in alongside the rest of the PortableApps suite. Portable µTorrent is especially useful on super-sized external hard drives for on-the-go torrenting of massive files.

ed note: pardon the 'u' in the title - but that's what most people search for when they're looking for this app on our site --Lee.

Tags: p2p, portable, portableapps.com, torrent, usb flash drive, UsbFlashDrive, utorrent

Filed under: OS Updates, Utilities, Windows, Microsoft, Freeware

Microsoft offers tool to burn Windows 7 ISO - or put it on a USB flash drive

by Lee Mathews Oct 22nd 2009

If you have already downloaded - or plan on downloading - a purchased copy of Windows 7, you may need a tool to help you turn the bits into something bootable so you can actually start installing your new OS.

By some amazing coincidence, Microsoft has a tool designed to handle just such an emergency! Grab the Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool and follow the on-screen instructions and you'll have a bootable DVD or USB flash drive in no time. You'll also need your downloaded Windows .ISO file, of course. If you plan on using a flash drive, it needs to be 4Gb or larger.

Microsoft's page includes exhaustive (and I mean exhaustive) instructions and a list of frequently asked questions on the download tool page.

More experienced users may want to stick with the app I've mentioned before - WinToFlash. It's fully portable, whereas the Microsoft app has to be installed.

Tags: burn, dvd, imaging, install, installer, usb flash drive, UsbFlashDrive, windows-7, windows7

Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Freeware, Open Source

Portableapps.com debuts Portable Google Chrome and Portable Skype

by Lee Mathews Oct 22nd 2009

PortableApps.com has been amassing a large, loyal fanbase for years - and with good reason. The project continues to turn out useful applications that we love to run from our USB flash drives.

Today, project lead John T. Haller announced the addition of a handful of closed source applications to the PortableApps family - something that has never been done before. Haller offers a number of reasons for the move, ending with "it's the right thing to do. Keeping an open platform and allowing all software to compete on a level playing field just makes sense."

So what's been added to the suite? For starters, portable versions of Google Chrome and Skype. Also offered are Download Squad reader favorites like Free Commander as well as the 2x terminal client and SpyDLLRemover (an anti-malware app). More apps - like IcoFX and XMPlay - are coming soon.

Open source devotees, never fear - the OSS PortableApps suite download doesn't include the freeware apps by default.

Tags: flash-drive, portable, portable-apps, portableapps.com, usb, usb flash drive, UsbFlashDrive

Filed under: Features, Windows, Freeware, Browsers, Lists

14 portable web browsers for Windows

by Lee Mathews Sep 14th 2009

Just about everyone has a usb flash drive by now. Apart from all that data you're packing (which you no doubt have encrypted in case your drive gets lost -- but that's a post for another day), why not pack up your favorite web browser and take it along for the ride.

There are a lot more options than you think - here are 13 different options for users of Windows PCs. Don't see your choice on the list? Share it with us in the comments!

Mozilla

Portable Firefox (current) [download] and Portable Minefield [download]
John T. Haller's Portable Apps project is always right on top of the latest Firefox updates, so it's the place to go if you need the Fox in your pocket. The most recent unstable branch is provided as well, in case you want to test it without installing.

PocketFlock v2 [download]
The kicked-up Firefox remix for social networking types is also available in a portable version, thanks to enthusiast Dave Ferrite.

Tags: browser, chrome, firefox, flock, iron, opera, portable, portable-apps, usb flash drive, UsbFlashDrive, web browsers, WebBrowsers

Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Linux

MobaLiveCD adds USB drive support to Linux virtualization app

by Lee Mathews Sep 9th 2009

A while back, Brad introduced Dowload Squad to MobaLiveCD, a handy little app that allows you to virtualize Linux LiveCD distros right in Windows using QEMU integration.

Moba 2.1 now includes support for bootable USB drives. Got a favorite distro installed on your trusty thumbdrive? Pop it in, wait for the drive to become visible in Explorer, then press the LiveUSB button in Moba. Performance is on par with that of LiveCD ISOs running under QEMU. Of course, you get the added benefit of being able to access all the apps and data you have stashed on your drive.

Performance isn't quite what you get from running live distros in VMWare or VirtualBox, but it's a decent, low-impact way to test all those distros you downloaded and planned to check out -- but never did.

Tags: distro, linux, liveusb, moba livecd, MobaLivecd, usb flash drive, UsbFlashDrive

Filed under: Internet, Utilities, Windows, Productivity, Freeware, Lists

24 Killer Portable Apps For Your USB Flash Drive

by Lee Mathews Sep 2nd 2008

My flash drive works pretty hard, so I've spent a lot of time gathering a reliable, powerful set of portable tools that allow me to work hard and play hard, even if I can't do it on my own PC. Here are two dozen apps that I always have at the ready.

Encryption

Truecrypt - Why is TrueCrypt first on the list? Simple. A multi-gig, easy-to-lose, unencrypted drive with your data on it is a terrible security risk. Truecrypt helps me keep all my private stuff locked down. Read the "traveller mode" documentation for help setting it up.

Web and Internet

Operator - I'm not an Opera fanboy by any stretch, but if I've got to surf on a public computer, I'm using Operator. It's got Tor anonymous browsing built in to keep you safe. You can read more about it in my previous post. If I'm on a trusted computer, I'll go for Portable Firefox.

Pidgin - I don't usually need to IM from a client's site, but just in case I need to stay in touch I bring Pidgin with me. For portable multi-network chat, it's the best option out there. Add the encryption plugin to keep it secure.

Filezilla - Half the time I need Notepad++, it's because I'm editing files on my FTP server from the road. Filezilla portable keeps all my sites accesible from wherever I am.

Tags: flash, list, portable, portable apps, PortableApps, usb, usb flash drive, UsbFlashDrive

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