55 Portable Apps for Making a USB Super Stick

Update: This post has been amazing and generated a lot of interest.  To make things easier, I have compiled a USB Super Stick for you.  If you are interested in a 1GB drive with all the apps [below] for $20 – shoot me an email: gmo<at>getusb.info and I’ll send you more details.

USB flash is not (yet) a portable PC whereby any USB KVM monitor is your workstation – but it will get there. In the meantime, making the most of your USB stick and creating a portable software suite isn’t hard – you just need a little guidance. So… for you road-warriors or super geeks, the following list of 55 portable applications is worth taking note of. With 2GB, 4GB and 8GB drives readily available at extremely cheap prices, making a portable software suite and creating a Super Stick is quite easy.

When building your Super Stick there are numerous programs designed to run specifically from a USB drive. Best of all, almost all these programs are free, so put that Amex back in your wallet and let’s start downloading. Here’s a list of 55 of the most useful USB programs around.

System Utilities

1. CurrPorts – Monitor and control network ports and connections.
2. WinAudit – Generate detailed audits of hardware/software with reports.
3. Damn Small Linux – Tiny Linux OS you can boot from USB.
4. StartupList – List startup programs and file operations.
5. PStart – Portable start menu launcher for your apps.
6. AIDA32 – System info and benchmarking tool.
7. Restoration – Recover or wipe deleted files.
8. RockXP – Retrieve lost Windows XP and MS product keys.

Sponsored:  Nexcopy offers USB Copy Protection.  Protect your intellectual property.  Don’t let others copy your files.  Partition USB sticks into CD-ROM or Read Only drives with DRM features… learn more >>

Security

9. Avast Cleaner – Remove viruses and worms on-the-go.
10. Dr.Web CureIt – On-demand malware scanner.
11. Omziff – Encrypt and decrypt files for secure use.
12. SmartSniff – Analyze network packets visually.
13. KeePass Password Safe – Manage and encrypt passwords.
14. AdAware – Detect and remove spyware/malware threats.
15. RoboForm2Go – Store and auto-fill passwords securely.
16. CryptoAnywhere – Encrypt outgoing emails for security.

Productivity

17. IZArc2Go – Compress, extract, repair and password-protect archives.
18. UK Kalender – Organize events with alarms and document links.
19. Country Codes – Lookup dialing codes, ISO and time zones worldwide.
20. LockNote – Make quick password-protected notes.
21. TreePad Lite – Manage notes, emails and hyperlinks easily.
22. Convert – Convert units of measurement and custom values.
23. ToDoList – Organize tasks and projects digitally.
24. Essential PIM – Consolidate contacts, schedules and tasks.
25. Anim8or – Create 3D models and scenes.
26. Mozilla SunBird – Portable calendar app for events and tasks.

Readers/Editors

27. FoxIt PDF Reader – Lightweight alternative to Adobe Reader.
28. TexNotesPRO – Organize and edit text documents easily.
29. Atlantis – Secure and customizable word processor.
30. EditPad Lite – Multi-tab lightweight text editor.
31. eTextReader – Read eBooks with adjustable fonts and layouts.

Email

32. Reach-a-Mail – Full-featured portable email client.
33. JBMail 3.2 – Access online email accounts without downloading locally.
34. Portable Thunderbird – Mozilla Thunderbird for USB drives.
35. Quick Mailer – Lightweight email tool for fast messages.

Chat

36. Trillian Anywhere – Multi-protocol chat client with portable settings.
37. Miranda – Lightweight instant messenger with plugin support.
38. Easy Message – Tiny 240K multi-network instant messenger.

Browser

39. Portable Firefox – Carry your bookmarks and settings anywhere.
40. OperaUSB – Portable Opera browser with privacy mode.
41. Portable Safari – USB version of Apple’s Safari browser for Mac.

Entertainment

42. Yamipod – Manage your iPod without installing iTunes.
43. Beneath a Steel Sky – Free point-and-click adventure game.
44. Flight of the Amazon Queen – Classic Amiga adventure game re-released free.
45. Zoom Player – Feature-rich, fast video player.
46. foobar2000 – Lightweight, customizable audio player.
47. Media Player Classic – Portable video player supporting most formats.

Other Web

48. TrayURL – Carry and launch your browser bookmarks.
49. GreatNews – Fast portable RSS feed reader.
50. Http File Server (HFS) – Drag-and-drop file sharing via HTML page.
51. WhoisThisDomain – Quickly lookup domain ownership details.
52. Quick ‘n Easy FTP Server Lite – Manage FTP hosting easily.
53. FTP Wanderer – Portable FTP client with drag-and-drop support.
54. Angry IP Scanner – Lightweight IP scanning tool.
55. FollowMeIP Lite – Display your current IP address behind firewalls.

USB drives aren’t just for carrying around your music and important files; they can also be a great way to bring your most important or favorite applications with you. A majority of these programs are free to download, so give them a try. It’s a painless way to make the most out of a great technology, and maybe impress a few of your friends with a Super Stick, all-around portable workhorse (provided they aren’t geekier than you).

Source: TheFreeGeek