portable

If open-source freeware has a weak spot, it's the hobbyist thing, and nowhere is that more evident than in media players. "Wait while it updates what? Font cache? I just want to hear 'Surfin' Bird!'" Many people are more than willing to forgo the advantages of open-source players for something easier to use.

MPlayer is an open-source media player optimized for playing movies, but it has a lot of options and capabilities, with more coming all the time. SMPlayer aims to be a unified front end for MPlayer, simplifying access to basic features such as playing videos … Read more

Inkscape is a popular open-source vector graphics editor that has earned high praise for its powerful features. Inkscape Portable takes these powerful features on the go, letting users store the program on a USB drive or other portable device for access anywhere.

Like its installable cousin, Inkscape Portable is not for beginners, unless you're a beginner who's ready to put some effort into learning about vector graphics. An array of toolbars line three sides of the interface, and they can be overwhelming if you don't already have some idea of what you're looking at. Experienced artists, … Read more

There are many choices when it comes to file-compression tools, but sometimes you simply want to extract some files as quickly as possible. ExtractNow fits the spec. It's compact, portable, and free. You can drag and drop files or batches of files into it, select several options from the context menu in Explorer, or add files and folders by browsing. It offers post-extraction operations, passwords, file monitoring, and external processing.

As portable freeware, ExtractNow can run from just about any folder, drive, or destination without having to be installed. Its compact interface lists files by name, status, and progress (… Read more

Led by products like the Jawbone Jambox and Bose SoundLink Wireless Mobile Speaker, compact Bluetooth speakers are hot little items these days, and Geneva Lab has placed itself in the middle of the fray with its Sound System Model XS, which retails for $250 and comes in black, red, or white.

In case you've never heard of Geneva Lab, as its name implies, it's based in Switzerland, and has been making high-end iPod and iPhone audio systems since 2006. Most of its speakers--such as the Model L we reviewed back in 2007--are actually quite beefy, so it surprised me to see the company go extra-small with an XS model. However, I'm glad it did because, despite the somewhat inflated price tag, it's a very solid product. … Read more

About 15 years ago, I bought a Neo Geo at an antique store. I paid $1. And I still think I overpaid. But SNK Playmore, an Osaka-based game company, must believe that there's some value left in the Neo Geo name, if the latest reports are to be believed.

According to Japanese gaming site Famicom-Plaza (Translate), as well as U.S.-based game site Kotaku, SNK has developed a portable Neo Geo device that will launch with a 4.3-inch LCD display, 2GB of memory, an SD card slot, and 20 Neo Geo games preloaded.

Those of us old … Read more

Quick housekeeping note: I apologize to those of you who had difficulty on Friday getting the Acronis True Image freebie. When I wrote about the deal that morning, I'd followed the instructions, received my license keys (there were two), and successfully activated the software. I wish I could explain why some of you had a different experience, but I can't.

However, as some commenters noted, there are a number of extremely good backup programs that are always free--not the least of which is the one built into Windows 7. Other solid choices: Easeus Todo Backup and Macrium Reflect Free. … Read more

LAS VEGAS--If you don't know what a Thunderbolt drive is, and most importantly, how vulnerable your data can be, IoSafe wants to sear that in your mind.

Following its tradition of the last three CES shows, (and as I predicted prior to CES 2012), the maker of disaster-proof hard drives pulled off a spectacular show this year to unveil its Rugged Portable Thunderbolt drive. This time the demo came with a little twist.

The new drive itself is very similar to the previous USB 3.0 Rugged Portable that was introduced at last year's demo--and shot with shotguns. … Read more

Duplicate files can take up a lot of valuable space on your hard drive, but it's not easy to find and get rid of them without a specialized tool. AllDup Portable is exactly that kind of tool, and it can be kept on a USB drive for on-the-go use. The program is packed with features, doing a thorough job of locating duplicate files and giving plenty of options for dealing with them.

The program opens with a screen where you can select which drives you want to scan for duplicates. There are plenty of options for customizing the search, … Read more

LAS VEGAS--Years late to the game, Epson enters the portable document-scanning market with the WorkForce DS-30, a mobile workstation that lets users hit one button to scan originals directly to Web-based cloud services like Google Docs, Evernote, and SharePoint.

As more professionals take their desks on the road, mobile workstations are increasingly in need of portable scanners like the DS-30 that draw power from a laptop's USB port, meaning users don't need to lug around another bulky power cord.

In terms of design, the DS-30 isn't winning any beauty contests and certainly doesn't sound as adorable as the similarly featured Doxie Go, but it weighs just 11.5 ounces and looks easy enough to slip in a bag or briefcase.… Read more