Latest in portable app

Fill your USB stick with great games, so you can play even on computers that don't allow you to install software. Whether you're at work, the library or even someone else's house, sometimes you cannot – or simply don't want to – install a game on a computer. But what if you could take some games with you on a USB drive, and play them on any Windows computer?
Keep Reading »

Windows 8 has managed to do a pretty decent job of putting all of your favorite and most-used applications right in your face with their rendition of the startup screen. Not all of us fancy it though. I personally skip straight the desktop. With all of these commonly-used applications so separated, daily tasks can seem like a hassle. Ubiquitous Player makes an attempt at alleviating that and serving as your Swiss Army Knife of application goodies.
Keep Reading »

I often joke about being the only IT guy with a 36-inch pipe wrench in his toolbox. Funny, but also probably true. But I do carry one IT tool in my kit that is just as powerful and hefty as that pipe wrench - the Windows System Control Center on my Tools USB flash drive. The WSCC is an interface that gives you access to the SysInternals and NirSoft suite of tools. It's like having a 3 foot pipe wrench in your back pocket! Only considerably more comfortable.
Keep Reading »

Securely store your passwords. Complete with encryption and a decent password generator – not to mention plugins for Chrome and Firefox – KeePass just might be the best password management system out there. If you read our password management guide you will know the importance of having diverse passwords. Sure, using one password for all of your online services is simple...until someone compromises one of your accounts.
Keep Reading »

Quickly make an animated GIF of anything. GifCam is a free, portable app for Windows that provides you with a simple frame. Resize and position it, then hit record - everything that happens within that frame will be recorded. It's the easiest way to create your own GIF of just about anything — from desktop demonstrations to clips from any video, online or off. If you love creating GIFs, but wish the process was quicker, you need to check this app out.
Keep Reading »

It doesn't matter if you're running XP, Vista, 7, or 8, there are glaring weaknesses to Windows Explorer that we've all got to deal with. Fortunately, third-party developers have us covered (as always). If you're turned away by Windows' search indexing or the clunky feel of the Windows Explorer interface, you have other options. File management can be made incredibly easier if you look into something other than what Windows offers by default.
Keep Reading »

The grave has been dug for Google Reader. It's almost dead and gone, and I'll surely miss it. It definitely surprised me to hear that they were putting an end to this beloved service, but it didn't worry me. Savvy folks like you and I will always know of alternatives. You should see this as an opportunity, not a letdown. Maybe you'll find something new that you would have liked more than Google Reader all along.
Keep Reading »

When I'm listening to music downloaded to a local drive, I don't need Spotify or iTunes in charge of my music. I've slowly started to fall in love with a new, free, and portable alternative to Winamp Lite that seems to incorporate the same elements of simplicity while also offering some really awesome extra functionality. Let me tell you about Hokrain!
Keep Reading »

Great software can be hard to come by. That is why there are a select few that stand out and become increasingly popular. What defines "great software"? Typically a program should be practical and useful, lightweight - even portable, feature-packed, and to top it all off, free. Fotografix is all of those and that is why it landed a spot in the Image Editors and Viewers category on our Best Of Portable Apps page.
Keep Reading »

In these heady days when everything seems to be cloud-based, is there still room for a lowly desktop note manager? I think there is, and we covered quite a few of these over the years - WikiPad, Zim, and more recently, ResophNotes. Today, it’s time to take a look at an oldie - a free, portable utility Treepad Lite. It’s a classic, but it received its most recent update back in 2009. Is that because the developer lost interest, or because at version 4.3, it’s just deemed "done"?
Keep Reading »

MUO readers who know my articles or know me as a person can testify that two of my favorite things in the world are portable applications and automation. How great would it be if a portable application could automate the process of organizing your folders? Download Mover has been one of my best-kept secrets for a while now, and in this article it's time to shed some light on exactly what it's capable of doing.
Keep Reading »

If you've ever paid a chunk of change for a shareware application or subscription, you know the drill. Serial keys in the form of plain-text strings or files are pretty much the universal standard. The web has evolved in a way that should make it relatively easy for you to track down any keys you've paid for, be it by searching through your Gmail account or emailing the vendor directly, but that takes time. If you ever lose one of these keys, the preferred solution should (obviously) be to find it for yourself!
Keep Reading »

What would you say about an audio player that’s rounds up to a size of an average Chrome extension? What would you say about this MP3 player that is not only tiny in size, but is actually tiny in the space it occupies on a screen’s real estate as well? Well, you can say that good things come in small packages, or you can simply say – CoolPlayer.
Keep Reading »

Trying out note-taking apps is bit of an obsession. You can make do with the simplest ones around, but can’t avoid taking a look at the next one that arrives with a download link. If you are one of the many like me who still use the humble Notepad (or a Notepad alternative), you could do with some help from ResophNotes. ResophNotes is not a Notepad replacement, but a fast note-taking tool for Windows that offers you organization and backup in a small portable bundle.
Keep Reading »

I bet you are going – not yet another Notepad replacement! Well, the humble Notepad is one of the most under-appreciated programs on a Windows machine. The only reflection of its utility comes from the flattering array of software we tend to bunch together as Notepad alternatives or Notepad replacements. I have gone through quite a few myself. But time and again, I have relied on a little piece of portable freeware called Notepad2.
Keep Reading »