The first time we crossed paths with Cameyo was six years ago approximately, but its main function remains the same: test applications without installing them, with the help of virtualization. It’s now much more than that. Cameyo has added cloud storage and the ability to run apps on HTML5 environments, so anyone can upload their own programs to Cameyo’s servers and open them with a compatible browser.
Portable applications are extremely valuable. Not only can they be moved from one computer to another without consequences, but they also have a “cleaner” profile compared to their traditionally installed counterparts. Sooner or later, every user must face the dark side of incomplete installations, with orphaned files and lost registry strings that hurt the operating system’s performance over time. Of course, using portable apps isn’t mandatory, but more than once we’d like to carry certain programs on a USB drive that would otherwise be anchored to a computer. An option to cut that chain is Cameyo.
Cameyo is a platform that helps you virtualize individual applications. The standard procedure recommends downloading a copy of Cameyo to add to a virtual environment, and inside it, install the application you want to turn into a portable one. Cameyo captures all relevant files, as well as any registry strings, and then processes that content into a single .exe file without external dependencies. Cameyo also offers an online capture tool, but if compatibility is your priority, its own user guide suggests using virtual mode (ideally on 32-bit Windows XP SP3).
Cameyo and the Cloud
Cameyo finally has a significant cloud presence. Developers, educators, and companies can use its infrastructure to distribute applications easily, or expand their reach with HTML5 execution (browsers like Chrome and Firefox). This also allows other operating systems to access Windows programs (for example, Chrome OS). However, downloading the official software is more than enough to virtualize local applications and take them anywhere.
