More thumb drive apps

On top of PortableApps described in my previous blog posting, I also include the following free programs on my flash drive:

• Portable gvim (editor with spell check)
• Portable skype (voip). You install this by copying the Skype directory from a working installation to your flash drive. In the "Phone" subdirectory, make a new file "skype.bat" with the following as the contents: skype.exe /datapath:".." /removable
• YamiPod (ipod support)
• Restoration (undelete files)

There are a few other websites devoted to just this topic. These include:

• http://portableapps.com/
• http://www.pendriveapps.com/
• http://www.everythingusb.com/software.html
• http://usb-flash-drive-review.toptenreviews.com/the-best-free-usb-flash-drive-applications.html
• http://www.snapfiles.com/features/ed_usb_software.html

All the above together with PortableApps take less than 800 MB. With these installed, I can work completely from my flash drive. The same applications also live on my laptop.

PortableApps

USB flash drives are now pervasive as they are a convenient way to carry around large amounts of data. I will be travelling soon and used this as a reason to update my PortableApps installation on my flash drive.

PortableApps is a freww application, ideal for the user who wants to bring their computing environment along with them on a flash drive. I like to have OpenOffice, Firefox, music player, ssh and a few other applications with me at all times along with some of my data such as powerpoint slides for presentations, address book etc.

All of the above is made easy with PortableApps. If I need to use a machine which is not my own, all I have to do is to plug in my flash drive and all my preloaded applications are available. In addition, the applications are configured to save data and settings back to the thumb drive (without leaving anything on the host computer). This means that you will not accidentally leave private or confidential information on the host machine.

The following applications are included by default:

• Mozilla Firefox, Portable Edition (web browser)
• Mozilla Thunderbird, Portable Edition (email)
• Mozilla Sunbird, Portable Edition (calendar/tasks)
• ClamWin Portable (antivirus)
• Pidgin Portable (instant messaging)
• Sumatra PDF Portable (PDF reader
• KeePass Password Safe Portable (password manager)
• Sudoku Portable (game)
• Mines-Perfect Portable (game)
• CoolPlayer+ Portable (audio player)
• OpenOffice.org Portable (office suite)
  - Writer (word processor)
  - Calc (spreadsheet)
  - Impress (presentations)
  - Base (database utility)
  - Draw (drawing)

PortableApps allows other applications to be added on top of the base ones and I have included:

• 7-zip (compression software)
• Audacity (audio editor and recorder)
• BonkEnc (extract, convert and encode audio)
• Eraser (securely erase files)
• GIMP (photo and image editor)
• InfraRecorder (CD/DVD burner)
• Putty (ssh client)
• Toucan (backup, sync and encrypt)
• VLC media player (play videos)
• WinSCP (sftp, ftp and scp)

Overall, if you want a nice suite of tools to keep with you on your flash drive, PortableApps is highly recommended.

Sean Gallagher

Magnum photographer, David Alan Harvey, has an emerging photographer's fund. The first recipient, Sean Gallagher, had an excellent photographic essay on the encroaching desert in China which is well worth viewing.

Manuel Libres Librodo Jr.

I came across these wonderful photos of Asia by Manuel Libres Librodo Jr. He captures people in their environment and he is a truly excellent photographer.

Rainbow over Ocean Park

Caught this picture of a rainbow over Ocean Park while on my way to Lamma Island by ferry.

Fritz Hoffmann Photographs of China

Here is a link to some excellent photos of China by Fritz Hoffmann for National Geographic.

Golden Computer Center, Sham Shui Po

If you are reading this blog, it is very likely you own a computer, and this means you should visit the Golden Computer Center (also known as the Golden Computer Arcade) in Shum Shui Po. In the 1980s and 1990s, Golden was a center for pirated software and illegal computer clones. Since then, it has been substantially cleaned up but it is still a major retail outlet for computers, computer books, software and hardware accessories.

Golden is easily accessible by MTR and is located just across the road from the D2 MTR station exit. Roast Goose King is located nearby and worth visiting for a meal. We've provided a map at the end of this article.

Golden is a popular place for both locals and visitors. The prices are fixed and there is no need to haggle. All of the shop keepers I have dealt with have been very honest and you can shop with confidence there.

Here is a shop which specialises in computer accessories and media, particularly blank CDROMs and DVDs.



This shop sells peripheral devices such as mice, speakers and headphones.



Here is a place that sells memory cards at very low prices.



Finally, one of my favourites, this shop which is located on the first floor sells classical music CDs and DVDs at unbelievably low prices.




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Electrical Plugs

This electrical plug guide is a comprehensive list of electrical plug types used worldwide. In Hong Kong, we use the same plugs as in the UK.

Roast Goose King Sham Shui Po (燒鵝大王)

This restaurant serves all of the standard types of barbecue food but its specialty is roast goose. Whenever we go to Sham Shui Po, one of the most interesting suburbs in Hong Kong, we stop there for lunch. It serves the traditional stuff such as soya sauce chicken, bbq pork, roast pork etc. A normal rice dish costs about $25 and two kinds of meat are an extra $3. Soup is $6 a bowl.



Goose King has a lot of atmosphere and is highly recommended if your hygiene requirements are not too high. Service is fast an efficient and it is located very close to the Golden Shopping Center, the closest MTR exit being D2 of the Sham Shui Po station. Overall, we give it a 4 out of 5.



Roast Goose King
119 Fuk Wing Street
Sham Shui Po
Tel. 27259118


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