function pepoApp(args) {
  //this.instal = args.instal; // not actually used here as such
  //this.language = args.language; // in case any external app is interested

  loadApp = function(app, placement) {
    $.get(app+'/'+app+'.php', function(html) {
      if ($('#'+app).size()==0) { // make sure it's not already loaded
        $('head').append('<link id="'+app+'_css" href="'+app+'/'+app+'.css" rel="stylesheet" \/>');
        $(placement).before(html);
      }
    });
  }

  // load the 'autoload' apps, build the appsel options, bind the appsel event handler
  var html = '<option value="">&mdash;<\/option>';
//  $.each(args.instal, function(app, cfg) {
  $.each(args, function(app, cfg) {
    if (cfg.autoload==1) loadApp(app, cfg.placement);
    else if (cfg.menu=='index') html += '<option value='+app+'>'+cfg.caption+'<\/option>';
  });
  $('#appsel').html(html).change(function() {
//    loadApp($(this).val(), args.instal[$(this).val()]['placement']);
    loadApp($(this).val(), args[$(this).val()]['placement']);
    $(this).val("");
  })

}