For finding updates to all your installed applications, you can go with an annual subscription to VersionTracker Pro or MacUpdate Desktop, or try the free alternative: metaquark's in-development AppFresh (first reviewed here in March). With tight integration to the iusethis application info repository, AppFresh does a spot-on job finding updates to mainstream and indie apps alike, and it's getting better with each release.Earlier in November, the first preview release with full Leopard compatibility popped up on metaquark's site. I've been using it for a couple of weeks and it works like a charm -- downloading and optionally installing updates found via iusethis' appcasts or Sparkle updates without fuss or complication. If you're a serious update maven, you probably already have one of the pro apps, but if not you ought to check out AppFresh.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-25-2007 @ 2:24PM
lowfi said...
This program stopped me from renewing my VT pro account. Highly recommended :)
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11-25-2007 @ 2:40PM
labria said...
Kinda funny to read the post, click the link and find the iusethis site down =)
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11-25-2007 @ 2:52PM
dfg34 said...
iusethis site down =(
checked out appfresh and it crashed on me (10.5)
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11-25-2007 @ 3:17PM
serenity said...
The "App Update" dashboard widget is free as well, I've been using it for a long time :)
http://www.dashboardwidgets.com/showcase/details.php?wid=1510
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11-25-2007 @ 3:24PM
DG said...
Doesn't quite work today s iusethis is down, so the program doesn't work. Everything is pretty much down today.
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11-25-2007 @ 3:40PM
Christina Warren said...
I use this and the Application Update widget -- I love how AppFresh integrates with iusethis - but Application Update does a good job too. I never considered paying for an update service. Call me cheap, but $60 a year is just too much for what is essentially searching Version Tracker or Mac Update or running the auto update tool in a program.
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11-25-2007 @ 3:40PM
Christina Warren said...
I use this and the Application Update widget -- I love how AppFresh integrates with iusethis - but Application Update does a good job too. I never considered paying for an update service. Call me cheap, but $60 a year is just too much for what is essentially searching Version Tracker or Mac Update or running the auto update tool in a program.
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11-25-2007 @ 3:48PM
Tom said...
It doesn't work with AppTrap:
http://www.tuaw.com/2007/07/10/apptrap/
AppTrap isn't turned off by AppFresh and so when it deletes the old version of the program AppTrap catches it and decides to delete the RELATED FILES. So, update, and lose your settings/serials.
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11-25-2007 @ 4:39PM
niknak said...
Just tried it (on Leopard) and it turned my macbook into a juddery mess. Took me 5 minutes to get activity monitor open and when i did it was gobbling cpu and memory like nothing i've ever seen. Then it crashed.
A restart later and I'm going to try it again, but if it doesn't behave itself it's getting AppZapped. The AppUpdate and WidgetUpdate widgets seem perfectly sufficient to me.
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11-25-2007 @ 5:15PM
Big John said...
Put in another vote for Application Update here.
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11-25-2007 @ 7:32PM
Ralph said...
Nice interface but apparently almost nothing I use is listed on iusethis.com, eh?
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11-25-2007 @ 11:07PM
Jon said...
I use this program and the main problem with it is that it relies too much on iusethis.com. It relies on people notifying iusethis.com of updates, which they don't always do.
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11-26-2007 @ 8:54AM
Jay Friedman said...
Bye Bye VersionTracker! As soon as my subscription is over I'll say hello AppFresh. Finally some competition to VersionTracker. Thanks guys.
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11-26-2007 @ 9:40AM
Ralph said...
I stopped visiting VersionTracker when they got all corporate and started using MacUpdate instead. VT has had some competition for a while now.
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