Best Free Software Update Monitor
|
In a Hurry?
|
|
Introduction
|
|
Developers usually release new versions of software after improving its features, GUI, removing some bugs or security weaknesses in earlier versions or for some other reasons. If you always trust developers in their products and like to keep all the software on your computer updated to the latest versions, you might find it difficult and time-consuming if you have many programs installed. Sometimes software will have automatic updates (such as Adobe Reader, Mozilla's Firefox and Thunderbird, Skype, iTunes, etc.), but this isn't true of all software. That's where Software Update Monitors (SUMs) are useful. A (sometimes) quick scan of your computer by one of these products will reveal which software is old and needs to be updated. So, if you would like to know which tools I recommend to keep your software updated (and which I use to keep my software updated), read on. Just a word of warning though, updated software may behave in a manner that is different to the version you have installed. Very rarely updates may have a bug that makes it unsafe to upgrade. If you have any doubts, please do an internet search for any problems related to the upgrade. |
|
Discussion
|
|
Ever since CleanSofts (UDN) appears to have The advantage of SUMo is that it informs you of updates to software that is not limited to security updates (such as PSI) or availablity on CleanSofts.org (UDN) or FileHippo.com (UDC). It also lets you add or remove programs to the list it scans for updates by simply dragging the executable into SUMo's open window; a feature not available on any other software update monitor (UDN allows one folder of portable software to be added and UDC allows many such folders). Unfortunately some developers do not include version information in their binaries (for example Dia, LaTeX Editor and Sumatra PDF) which makes it impossible for SUMo to detect updates for them. This is a problem for most software update monitors and UDN handles them best. Unfortunately, when SUMo performs its first thorough scan it detects executable files that may not be the main executable files of your installed software. Experienced PC users should therefore take care to add the executable files that should not be checked for updates to the ignore list. Once this has been done, the unwanted executables will not appear in future scans. Warning: Should you decide to download SUMo, please download the lite version (find it on the download page, it is the link with the letters "RK" crossed out). The full version comes with a program call Relevant Knowledge, which is detected by some security software as spyware. You may read the developer's explanation for this here. The lite version is identical to the full version, only without the spyware.
|
Please help us by rating this review
|
Related Products and Links
|
|
Other Softwate Update Monitors: Many users have posted other SUMs since this article was first published, but of those I have only added CSPA's Update Notifier. I will briefly cover some of them and tell you why I did not like them. Update Notifier used to be my top pick, but the database no longer appears to be regularly updated. UpdateStar is a SUM that I did not like at all when I tried it in July. It was very bad at detecting software's version numbers and its database was out-of-date, much of the software I had installed was newer than the software in its database. However, since they have added a premium service and, perhaps, more people have started using it (and updating its database), it seems to be up-to-date for most software I have installed. Annoyingly some of the updates it informs me of are not available. The interface must be the most impressive of all the SUMs I have tested, but some of the download links do not work (UDC and UDN have the edge on it there) and it does not detect portable software. I will have to keep a close eye on the free version over the next few months and see how it performs. Software Informer was annoying to use. It informed me of updates that are not available, or it would inform me of an update for version I have installed because it interpreted the version incorrectly. Software-UpToDate does not support some very common programs (e.g. CCleaner, FeedDemon, Notepad++, Foxit Reader) and often does not have links to any page that could yield a file you can download. RadarSync used to be unpleasant, but they claim to have made major changes for their 2009 version. Fortunately it no longer wants to install a bunch of other software during the installation process. Now it only asks to install the Ask! Toolbar; simply deselect it if you do not want it installed. It still needs further work before I will recommend it. The interface is annoyingly small and you cannot embiggen it. It did detect that my graphics card driver was out-of-date, but it also told me that software like Inkscape was out-of-date (it was not) and it told me that my version of Notepad++ was both current and out-of-date at the same time! I often found that the version of software I had installed was newer than the version that RadarSync noted was the most recent. Be very careful if you decide to use it as a driver updater. Great care should be taken when updating drivers in general as a mistake could make some hardware work erratically, or not at all. Ensure you install the correct driver from the hardware manufacturer or OEM's website. Ketarin takes another approach at software updating. It keeps your install files up-to-date. Once installed, you have to point it to the download link of the software you wish to keep updated (or give it its FileHippo ID). This is quite nifty if you have to keep a database of install files updated for software you may not have installed on your own machine. There is a similar group of software that acts like a software manager, similar to the Synaptic Package Manager used by Ubuntu. They give you access to a selected group of programs, install them and keep them up-to-date. There are examples such as Appsnap, Appupdater and FreewareUpdater. I could not get Appupdater to work and Appsnap and FreewareUpdater only supported a limited amount of software (and could not detect software that was already installed). I feel these three programs belong in a different category and will not review them here. RSS Feeds: There are three website RSS feeds I like to check for updates. Kaldata has a great feed that lists updates very quickly after they have been released, while Freeware-Guide gathers a list of software updated in a day and displays the list in an RSS feed the following day. FileHippo and Softpedia also have RSS feeds for the latest additions to their databases. Here are the four feeds:
If you would prefer the RSS feed of individual programs without using that program's homepage, FileHippo offers individual RSS feeds. Related Topics: |
|
Have Your Say
|
|
Please visit our freeware forum to share and discuss your views and get advice on software update monitors. To post in the forum you need to register first but that's quick and immediate. Related Forums: |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
This software category is is maintained by volunteer editor Frank Ortmann. Registered site visitors can contact Frank by clicking here. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Tags
|
|
Software updater, software update monitor, software update notifier, software monitor, software update checker, software update searcher, Personal Software Inspector, Update Notifier, Update Checker, PSI, UDC, SUMo |
Delicious
Digg
StumbleUpon
Please rate this article


Subscribe to our 



Excellent info
Suggest you include a word or two about other software, even if they are not worth reviewing in detail, so that those who happen to use them know that they are no good.
I would like your opinion of CNet's TechTracker which I recently installed.
Thanks.
- Harry.
I have not used it a lot, but I am not that impressed by it yet. It is very slow in scanning my PC, and some of the software I have installed is newer that the versions it claims are most recent (not betas). I still prefer SUMo.
hey something missing, i been looking for freeware driver updating software but can't find any, you guy know of any?
There are a few around that claim they can do this, but many you have to pay for. You could try RadarSync, I think they claim to do this. I would not use driver updaters though, I would rather fix a driver when its associated hardware is not functioning well. If a driver updater incorrectly informs you of an update, you may install the wrong driver and end up with hardware that does not work at all. Be careful!
Have tried most of these update notifiers. The most reliable one I have used recently was Update Checker from file hippo, but it doesn't find many programs. Tried SUMO on the strength of this recommendation, and I am very happy with it.
Thanks!
Update Notifier is still displaying the Gizmo TechSupportAlert logo and it says "Top Pick" fwiw...
also, what about Belarc advisor? it scans to see if you have all the MS hotfixes that you should and builds a profile of your installed software...might be worth mentioning as an additional program to consider even though it won't tell you which minor apps are out of date...
Update notifier is updated regularly!! Go on the website and look!
It is sad to see that this formerly valuable application is no longer up to date.
As of 11 January 2010 the current version of Flash is 10,0,42,34.
Updatenotifier not only incorrectly shows that 10.0.32.18 is the current version, it also displays my installed version as 10.0.32.18 - seriously misleading.
They have not responded to email I sent about two weeks ago.
Do check for yourself.
I'm no authority - you must be your own authority!
I just sent an email to the website (Update notifier) indicating that the version of softwares in Update Notifier haven't been updated since last fall. For this reason, I have switched back to Sumo for giving an updated list of softwares. As an example, Mozilla Firefox have been updated twice since November 2009 to version 3.5.7 (last update for Update Notifier) is still indicating 3.5.5. I have sent updates on a regular basis but they haven't been updated.
This is why I removed UDN from the list. I have been trying CNET's offering, but it is not that good. For now I am sticking with SUMo and UDC.
SUMo is spyware, please read their terms of use. This is the part you will be most interested in, “This software allows millions of participants in an online market research community to voice their opinions by allowing their online browsing and purchasing behavior to be monitored, collected, aggregated, and once anonymized, used to generate market reports which our clients use to understand Internet trends and patterns and other market research purposes.
Okwhen, I cover this in the article and make it clear that you should download the "lite" version which does not contain the spyware.
FrankO, I downloaded the light version of SUMo from the page where you wrote the warring. To use the software you must accept the term that gives them the right to monitor your browser uses as stated in my first post. Please read the statement while loading the software under "Accept" or "Decline". One of us is missing something.
Hi Okwhen
I downloaded both the normal (sumo.exe) and lite (sumo_lite.exe) versions and only the normal version included the statement you wrote when it asks if you agree to install Relevant Knowledge software. I found no such wording in the license agreement for the lite version of SUMo. Perhaps if you could quote the section number if I am once again mistaken and missed it.
Hi FrankO,
I have discovered my error. I was unaware that each icon beside the "Click Here" carried a link. I thought they represented the information under About "More" links. This is the first time I have encountered this with an icon definition index is provided. Thanks for being gentle.
No worries, I'm glad we could sort out the misunderstanding.
I think Cnet's Techtracker is a candidate for this page. I have only just started using it as a replacement for downlaod notifier as Sumo does not have any direct download links
In their Terms of Use they write:
I don't like that at all. But I did sign up and will test the software. It may take some time though.
I've recently started using it myself i.e. TechTracker from CNET and I certainly find it impressive. Sure there might be some marketing messages but when you consider it works well and even gives the d/l links from CNET it works better than other alternatives I've tried out.
If you can find a product that will not have adverts or emails, will not give me d/l links, but update from within the main s/w interface itself then that's something I would love to check out. Hopefully you can find something like that for me!!!
I have removed Update Notifier from the article. I did not get any reply from CleanSofts. SUMo is back as my favourite.
When opening SUMo setup (v2.6.3.79), Avira AntiVir (v9.0.0.415) reacts to it and opens up a popup warning:
"AntiVir Guard: Attention, Detection!
A virus or unwanted program was found!
C:\Documents and Settings\Local Settings\Temp\...\rkverify.exe
Contains recognition pattern of the ADSPY/AdSpy.Gen adware or spyware."
I chose to deny access. Does anyone know anything about this?
It's all detailed in the text above.
I did read the text and clicked the download link. On the download page, I thought the little "No RK" icon meant that the download link to the left of it was the proper link.
This time, I clicked the "No RK" icon and, surprise surprise, the icon is the link.
Update Notifier seems to NO LONGER WORK! I HAVE SENT THEM at LEAST six(6) updates over the last week or so,... & they HAVEN'T UPDATED ANYTHING!!!
I THOUGHT THAT AN UPDATE-NOTIFIER WAAS SUPPOSED TO NOTIFY >>>> YOU,... NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND ! ! !
(SIGH... & they [For many months...] USED ... to do such a good job....)
signed,.... very DISAPPOINTED!
:((
I was really hopeful for this app as well, but it hasn't found any updates in about a month. Another issue is that even when it was working, it wasn't able to detect any x64 applications that were installed. Looks like in only looks in 'Program Files' on 32-bit systems and 'Program Files (x86)' on 64-bit systems.
I have contacted the CleanSofts team regarding the updating of software. I will wait for their response before I remove Update Notifier from the article.
Thanks, I really liked it at first because it worked well,... not updating any of my present software at all recently..... :((
I've being trying "Update Notifier", in the past I used SUMO, but I noticed that "Update Notifier" is VERY limited, SUMO detects MORE software than "Update Notifier", even SUMO can check updates of software that was not installed, that is, software that you just extract from a zip file without an installation wizard.
So Now I'll go back to the good SUMO, Will uninstall "Update Notifier"!
In Update Notifier you can add a folder of portable software (those with no installer) when you click on Settings and enter the folder with all this software in the text box under Other Options. Ensure that the check box labelled Check for updates the portable/stand-alone software located in this folder is ticked.
I tend to extract my portable software to my Program Files folder, so this is the one I have added to the search space.
Has anyone ever tried CNET's TechTracker http://download.cnet.com/CNET-TechTracker-app/3000-18513_4-10912909.html... ?
See MidnightCowboy's response below. CNET writes:
And:
I'm not going to register to try their software. Besides, it is not well rated.
I use both UDC and UDN. Between the 2 of them, they cover everything.
I think even only UDN cover everything. The problem is their site is not made well (they don't change program size with new update, there are errors,...) The popularity of this site seems to fall down: http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/http%3A%2F%2Fcleansofts.org. Filehippo.com seems to be perfect site, they don't have any error, etc.
I have found Clean Softs Professional Association's Update Notifier (UDN) to be very reliable and quick... when their site it up and running. It seems that every few weeks their site will be down for what seems days on end. There's never any explanation. The first indication is when UDN is unable to establish a connection. You can then try going to http://www.cleansofts.org from any browser and that will time out as well.
The product would be greater if they had some server admins on staff that monitored the health of their servers and acted when problems were keeping their web servers from working.
Other than that, I'm very pleased with the product.
You mean like right now? I'm thinking of switching to SUMo or Ketarin. Anyone ever heard of problems with these?
See the warning for Sumo in the text above
I think it could be more comfortable to use forum for each updater. I don't know why nobody use them. Maybe it has bad location in this article.
I think people are too lazy to register, or just simply do not want to.
The Opera Browser blocks Update Checker. Is there a way to configure Opera so it won't block UDC?
How did you find this out? I have Opera installed and my UDC works no problem. Are your connection settings in UDC right?
Usually it's incorrectly configured firewall permission which block this type of software
Nevermind. I removed it, installed Update Notifier. UDN is better and works with Opera, no problem.
The infected file came from cleansofts
Thanks for the info. I downloaded the file and installed it onto my system without a problem (I use McAfee). I submitted it to VirusTotal as MidnightCowboy suggested and 3/41 of the virus scanners came back with a positive result. See this link for the details.
I then downloaded the file from the developer's website and got the same results.
Therefore, the problem is likely to be one of false positives considering how few of the virus scanners detected a problem. The NOD32 detection (a variant of Win32/Adware.ADON) is probably most accurate because the software does ask you if you would like to install a link to eBay. Many freeware developers have to add some sort of sponsorship to their software in order to make it financially viable. Personally I have no problem with this if it is done in a transparent and "opt-in" manner as is the case for Unlocker because the software is so good. Between it and LockHunter you will struggle to find payware that is better.
Bottom line: This is not CleanSofts fault and I would continue to recommend using their services. However, to be on the safe side it is a good idea to always scan files you download for infection.
I downloaded UDN. Installed it. No viruses. Then it recommended Unlocker (which is a clean and very useful tool which I know from earlier.) I downloaded it from the site UDN redirected me and when I tried to install it my antivirus found a Trojan in it! So beware of the usage of UDN!
It's quite possible that this was a false positive. All of todays anti-malware solutions have a rate of false positives, it's just that some are worse than others. You can upload such files to Virus Total for a multiple second opinion.
http://www.virustotal.com/
Sorry, should have tried it first. although download.com has a huge list of apps it's scanning sucks. I think i'll stick with softpedia's RSS feature.
Instead of softpedia try kaldata.net. The fastest page with updates.
Found the best one! it's called CNET TechTracker - http://www.cnet.com/techtracker/ and they have a huge list of apps from download.com
Registration is required for CNET. This is from their "privacy" policy.
We will make your personally identifiable information available to other companies or people...."
I can well live without this kind of intrusion when either;
a) I'm capable of checking the current status of my software myself, or
b) There are other software choices which don't sell my life history to someone else.
Post new comment