Thindownload.com [discontinued]
Thindownload.com [discontinued]
I discovered this site with "thinstalled" freeware.
Take a look at:
http://www.thindownload.com/
Greetings
Take a look at:
http://www.thindownload.com/
Greetings
2acgrego
Very interesting site, thanks for sharing.
Did you try any application already?
EDIT: After posting this, I see that in the meantime M@tty already answered my question
Very interesting site, thanks for sharing.
Did you try any application already?
But are Thinstalled apps really portable? or even: stealth? Where does this software save it's settings?Thinstall is an application virtualization platform that enables complex software to be delivered as self-contained EXE files which can run instantly with zero installation from any data source
EDIT: After posting this, I see that in the meantime M@tty already answered my question
only half true.. make a folder named "thinstall" in the same dir of the exe app. Then all the data will save into this folder, emulate save settings into application folderM@tty wrote:Thinstall is really nice, but the programs it builds are not stealth. They save all their data to the Application Data folder.
Thindownload
About the data writing to the Application Data Folder, crownixx is absolutely right:
"make a folder named "thinstall" in the same dir of the exe app. Then all the data will save into this folder, emulate save settings into application folder"
I already tested some of the software and they work quite well.
For example, GIMP in the version available on portablefreeware.com didn't work very well, because presented some error messages. With the thinstalled version I had no problem, although the folder size for the program is quite bigger.
"make a folder named "thinstall" in the same dir of the exe app. Then all the data will save into this folder, emulate save settings into application folder"
I already tested some of the software and they work quite well.
For example, GIMP in the version available on portablefreeware.com didn't work very well, because presented some error messages. With the thinstalled version I had no problem, although the folder size for the program is quite bigger.
- grannyGeek
- Posts: 218
- Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2007 10:54 pm
Increased file size IS a bit odd.
MediaCoder is almost 60 mb compared to 40 mb for the normal installed version.
I posted some time back
LINK
about Open Office download from the Thinstall official site being only 115 mb compared to PortableApps.com paf version of 185 mb.
Now here comes this zipped file from ThinDownload at 163 mb.
Unpacked from the zip file, it is *** 389 mb ***.
Outrageous! Avoid the ThinDownload version of OpenOffice, it is also slow as a snail on Valium!
Get the one from the official Thinstall site for 115 mb for the total installation.
I would assume that the folks at the ThinDownload site used the "Evaluation" version of Thinstall to create these thinstalled versions of freeware apps, and did not optimize their setup for file size.
The "evaluation" agreement appears to be with JITIT, the makers of ThinStall, and I wonder if the EULA should properly be addressed to the ThinDownload folks, not to us end-users. Maybe it is something that Thinstall required them to do in order to use the evaluation version. All the apps they provide appear to be true freeware or Open Source.
I bumped my computer date up to two months from now, and Open Office is still functioning, but using Control Panel to reset dates does not always predict how actual time passage will affect things.
MediaCoder is almost 60 mb compared to 40 mb for the normal installed version.
I posted some time back
LINK
about Open Office download from the Thinstall official site being only 115 mb compared to PortableApps.com paf version of 185 mb.
Now here comes this zipped file from ThinDownload at 163 mb.
Unpacked from the zip file, it is *** 389 mb ***.
Outrageous! Avoid the ThinDownload version of OpenOffice, it is also slow as a snail on Valium!
Get the one from the official Thinstall site for 115 mb for the total installation.
I would assume that the folks at the ThinDownload site used the "Evaluation" version of Thinstall to create these thinstalled versions of freeware apps, and did not optimize their setup for file size.
The "evaluation" agreement appears to be with JITIT, the makers of ThinStall, and I wonder if the EULA should properly be addressed to the ThinDownload folks, not to us end-users. Maybe it is something that Thinstall required them to do in order to use the evaluation version. All the apps they provide appear to be true freeware or Open Source.
I bumped my computer date up to two months from now, and Open Office is still functioning, but using Control Panel to reset dates does not always predict how actual time passage will affect things.
Thanks crownixx!crownixx wrote:only half true.. make a folder named "thinstall" in the same dir of the exe app. Then all the data will save into this folder, emulate save settings into application folder
I had no idea about this!
EDIT: And I can confirm, with using this option that no data is left behind in Application Data folder.
Regarding the size of the files - each one is a self-contained executable, that packs the original installation as well as the Thinstall virtualisation environment (virtual registry and file system), so I guess this is what causes the size.
- grannyGeek
- Posts: 218
- Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2007 10:54 pm
M@tty, I am still (stubbornly) wondering about the file-size.
From the Thinstall site:
Why else would the OpenOffice from Thinstall = 115 mb
and the OpenOffice from ThinDownload = 389 mb
On the other hand, there is only about 2 mb difference for FireFox between the two sites.
I wonder why there is no contact information on the ThinDownload site. It's a question I'd like to ask.
From the Thinstall site:
I still think the ThinDownload folks just failed to optimize their setup in some cases.Because the Thinstall runtime is super-small (~400k), and package data is stored in a compressed state, the overall disk footprint is usual 2X smaller than traditional deployments of the same application not using Thinstall.
Why else would the OpenOffice from Thinstall = 115 mb
and the OpenOffice from ThinDownload = 389 mb
On the other hand, there is only about 2 mb difference for FireFox between the two sites.
I wonder why there is no contact information on the ThinDownload site. It's a question I'd like to ask.
Ah right, I had no idea the Thinstall runtime was that small.
I don't know then, can't answer that question.
However - Thindownload.com uses the evaluation copy of Thinstall. If you aren't happy with how they have done it, why not have a go yourself? Just grab the 30 day evaluation copy and give it a go.
This allows you to have, in my opinion, a neater directory structure.
I don't know then, can't answer that question.
However - Thindownload.com uses the evaluation copy of Thinstall. If you aren't happy with how they have done it, why not have a go yourself? Just grab the 30 day evaluation copy and give it a go.
In addition to this - once you have run the application at least once to generate the required defaults, you can copy the subfolder and Thinstall.ini out of the Thinstall folder, and put them in the same folder as the executable.crownixx wrote:only half true.. make a folder named "thinstall" in the same dir of the exe app. Then all the data will save into this folder, emulate save settings into application folder
This allows you to have, in my opinion, a neater directory structure.
- grannyGeek
- Posts: 218
- Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2007 10:54 pm
M@tty, you are right of course, I did not mean to sound like I was griping about something that was offered for free. I just meant that I think their setup might have not been optimized when they did the OpenOffice complilation, hence the huge file size and slow operation of the app.
(sometime, check out a really good post on doom9about "Free Pie" -- a lesson I must remind myself of now and then when I get to feeling old and crotchety and grumpy.)
I just might try out the eval, but my understanding is that you must connect to the official ThinStall site to perform the final compilation --- I wonder if that is do-able from a public computer (I have no connection at home).
crownixx, I forgot to thank you earlier for the tip about adding the "thinstall" folder to capture the app settings, and M@tty, thanks for the suggestion about rearranging the folders.
My thinstall versions of OpenOffice and Firefox will be much tidier now
(sometime, check out a really good post on doom9about "Free Pie" -- a lesson I must remind myself of now and then when I get to feeling old and crotchety and grumpy.)
I just might try out the eval, but my understanding is that you must connect to the official ThinStall site to perform the final compilation --- I wonder if that is do-able from a public computer (I have no connection at home).
crownixx, I forgot to thank you earlier for the tip about adding the "thinstall" folder to capture the app settings, and M@tty, thanks for the suggestion about rearranging the folders.
My thinstall versions of OpenOffice and Firefox will be much tidier now
GrannyGeek, you were right about the file size.
I downloaded this version from thinstall itself and it's only 115MB installed.
http://thinstall.com/sales/demo.php
Go to the bottom of the page, right click on the link and "Save as"
There is also a Firefox and an Citrix ICA Client there.
If anyone has a copy it would be great to have a link to theirs
I downloaded this version from thinstall itself and it's only 115MB installed.
http://thinstall.com/sales/demo.php
Go to the bottom of the page, right click on the link and "Save as"
There is also a Firefox and an Citrix ICA Client there.
I believe you need to have a business E-mail account to be able to try out the trial.Just grab the 30 day evaluation copy and give it a go.
If anyone has a copy it would be great to have a link to theirs
I really like the Thinstall concept, but $5000 for a Virtualization Suite license is a bit steep for the hobbyist community.
Not sure, if the demo version is a viable alternative in the long run. For 30 days you can build your own portable applications - but then what? However, once you click on a download link on the Thindownload website, the left hand window pane offers you to submit applications you wish to have virtualized. But I wonder how they can do this, when they continue to operate with the demo version? Nonetheless, the Thinstall website links to the Thindownload website, which suggests, their service might be kosher.
Re file size of MediaCoder: In order to make it portable, the MC website suggests to put o copy of Firefox in the MC directory - that pretty much brings it up to 60MB.
@grannyGeek: when you start up one of their programs a window briefly pops up and shows an email address: info@thindownload.com
Not sure, if the demo version is a viable alternative in the long run. For 30 days you can build your own portable applications - but then what? However, once you click on a download link on the Thindownload website, the left hand window pane offers you to submit applications you wish to have virtualized. But I wonder how they can do this, when they continue to operate with the demo version? Nonetheless, the Thinstall website links to the Thindownload website, which suggests, their service might be kosher.
Re file size of MediaCoder: In order to make it portable, the MC website suggests to put o copy of Firefox in the MC directory - that pretty much brings it up to 60MB.
@grannyGeek: when you start up one of their programs a window briefly pops up and shows an email address: info@thindownload.com
I managed to "Aquire" a copy of VS to try out.
It really seems to work well, I managed to make a portable version of Divx encoder complete with the K-lite codec pack installed to use on any PC without codecs.
The only problem I'm having with it is trying to get the App to use the systems temp folder, my Flash drive can't take 700MB of temp files every time I use it
It really seems to work well, I managed to make a portable version of Divx encoder complete with the K-lite codec pack installed to use on any PC without codecs.
The only problem I'm having with it is trying to get the App to use the systems temp folder, my Flash drive can't take 700MB of temp files every time I use it
- grannyGeek
- Posts: 218
- Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2007 10:54 pm
acgrego, thanks for providing that link -- see what a lively discussion you inspired? Sorry if we have hijacked your thread a bit, but there is lots of good education happening here!
@Local -- so, do you have to connect to Thinstall site to do the final compile?
(I read that somewhere months ago, don't know if it was true)
@Local -- so, do you have to connect to Thinstall site to do the final compile?
(I read that somewhere months ago, don't know if it was true)