Tip #2614 - Portable Applications
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Portable
Applications
Most of us use our
USB memory sticks to transfer files from one computer to another, which
is definitely more convenient than using CDs or even worse, floppies.
However, what most of us don’t realize is that a USB stick can be
used in several efficient ways that can even make our lives much easier.
This is especially true for people who are constantly on the move or those
of you who find yourself working at different computers at different places,
like at home, work, at a friend's place or at the library.
This article is meant
for all of you mobile folks and it will teach you how to run applications
from your USB memory stick. Well, before we get started, you might ask,”
Why do I need it“?
Well, for an example,
let’s say that your computer at work doesn’t have Firefox
installed and the arrogant system administrator simply refuses to install
one for you. No problem! You can run Firefox and many more useful applications
right from your USB stick. Below, I will discuss a few freeware applications
that you can run right from your USB stick.
1. Portable
Firefox
Firefox is fast becoming
everyone’s favorite browser. However, there are still people who
are running their lives and machines on other browsers. More often than
not, it's Internet Explorer. So, if one of your family members simply
refuses to install Firefox on your home PC and you find it terribly inconvenient
to do your work from Internet Explorer, worry no more! You can just carry
a USB memory stick with Portable Firefox on it! With this, you can carry
all of your bookmarks and any other information you need to run from another
computer.
You can download Portable
Firefox here.
2. Foxit PDF
Reader
Foxit PDF Reader does
what the name suggests. It helps you open, read and print PDF files. It
supports all of the standard features that a PDF reader must have. For
example, browser integration, copy/paste of text from documents, etc.
The good thing is that, unlike Adobe Reader, it takes a lot less time
to open files.
Download Foxit PDF
Reader here.
3. Treepad
Lite
Treepad Lite is your
friendly personal information manager. It can help you store your e-mails,
notes, hyperlinks, text, etc. in one or many different databases. It looks
just like the Windows Explorer most people are familiar with, which makes
storing, browsing and searching data within it so much easier. To find
your information, you can just browse through it just like you would browse
through directories in Windows Explorer. Or you can simply use the search
function. Treepad and the data that you have stored in it can be conveniently
run from a USB stick, making it extremely useful for people who work on
different computers during the course of their day.
To download Treepad,
click here.
4. Quick Mailer
The Quick Mailer simply
helps you shoot off a quick e-mail without having to load up an entire
e-mail suite. It’s extremely small and doesn’t need any installation.
It effortlessly integrates into your browser and it also lets you send
e-mail from multiple accounts. To do this, all you have to do is edit
the From: field.
Download Quick Mailer
here.
5. WordWeb
WordWeb is a comprehensive
English thesaurus and dictionary that can be used to look up words from
within most of the programs that people have installed on their computers.
Features include definitions and synonyms, proper nouns and related words
and even pronunciations.
To download WordWeb,
click here.
6. Miranda
Instant Messenger
This application is
very useful for people in offices and schools where access to instant
messengers isn’t allowed. Miranda IM is a small multi protocol IM
client that lets you connect to most of the IM services like MSN, Yahoo,
ICQ, AIM, etc. It does not need any installation, which means it can be
run from the USB stick. You also have availability of more than 350 plug-ins,
which you can use to make your Miranda IM even cooler!
To start using the
Miranda IM, download it here.
7. Open Office
Portable
This is a big one.
Now, wouldn’t it be just great if you had a portable office suite
(something like MS Office), but free of cost? Well, the Open Office Portable
can do just that. This is an office suite that you can run from your USB
memory stick. The suite contains a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation
tool, drawing package and database all in one. It is compatible with MS
Office, Word Perfect, Lotus and other major office applications. By using
this, you can take your documents wherever you go.
To download Open Office
Portable, click here.
8. Portable
GIMP
Portable GIMP is a
simple to use image editor for Windows. It’s a freely distributed
program that can be used for tasks such as photo retouching, image composition
and authoring. GIMP is a program for everyone. It can be used as a paint
program or even as a batch processing system. It can also be used as an
image format converter or an image renderer, depending on what you want
to get out of it and what your skill level is. You can augment it by using
plug-ins and add ons, which are available online.
Download Portable
GIMP here.
9. XM Play
XMPLAY is an audio
player that plays most of the popular audio formats like MP3, OGG, WAV,
WMA, etc. It functions just like most of the other audio players that
are out in the market and it can be easily customized and extended with
the help of freely available plug-ins and skins.
Download XMPLAY here.
10. Universal
Extractor
Universal Extractor
is a program used to extract files from any type of archive. Be it a simple
zip file, a .rar file or even a Windows installer package, this can do
the job. To extract files, you just need to right click on your archives
and extract them to the desired folder. It’s works as simple as
the description given here. Nothing more and nothing less.
To download Universal
Extractor, click here.
Above, we have a list
of extremely useful Applications that can be run from the USB. However,
an important thing to be aware of is the fact that when using USB sticks,
it’s possible to spread viruses between different machines. When
you use a portable application on an unknown machine, the outcome can
sometimes be undesired.
Follow these steps
to ensure your safety:
- Make sure you
have a reliable antivirus program on your PC and make sure the virus
definitions are up to date.
- Scan your PC and
the USB stick regularly for viruses.
- If possible, make
sure the other computer you use your USB drive with is also being scanned
regularly.
- To remove your
USB stick after use, first make sure that the drive access light has
stopped blinking. Then click the USB icon in the system tray to "safely
remove hardware." Don’t just remove it after closing the
window.
- And always make
sure to backup your applications and important files.
As long as you follow
these safety measures, you will not only enjoy the convenience of running
applications from your USB stick, but you will also realize that when
used efficiently, it can be a lethal weapon in your arsenal making your
work life even more effective.
~ Yogesh Bakshi
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