VersionTracker.com officially 'absorbed' by CNET

I too used VersionTracker since the late 90s. A few months ago their RSS feed started acting flaky. I tried everything for weeks and couldn't straighten it out. I switched to MacUpdate and haven't looked back.

I'm glad to see MacUpdate is getting a slew of new users. MacUpdate should post their percent gain in traffic since VersionTracker went CNet. I imagine it matches the percent loss that CNet is seeing for VersionTracker.

By the way. If your looking for a good, free program to help you with your updates (and it can be configured to search on the Mac Update site) check out ArchDetect.

I've used this app for years along with VT and that's all I've needed.

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/24999/archdetect

Not only did CNET forego copying over VT user comments and ratings to their site (and I had about 20 ratings over the last 6 years; now they are lost forever) but they also don't list all the versions off the software. I found the version listings very helpful when identifying what O/S the software would work with, and also for tracking the software's ratings over time.

Had I not written any reviews I might not be so angry. But I am disappointed as well as angry at CNET and they can keep their ugly site.

Another one to move to Mac Update. LOL if we all move to MU, CNET has in effect "absorbed" nothing.

Wow... can't believe they killed versiontracker.
I didn't like the cnet website before (bad design). But now I really hate them.
:-(

Versiontracker search results were easy to browse. It way a joy to use.
I guess I'll have to give MacUpdate a chance too.

VT was not perfect but it did get the job done. I used the Alert List for 10+ years and now it's gone with no warning. I emailed cnet support and they said:

"I apologize for any confusion here. In place of your VersionTracker Alert List, CNET Downloads offers a Download Watch List. Unfortunately, there is no way to get a copy of the former Alert List; you will need to create a new Download Watch List. I'm sorry for the inconvenience."

Would have been nice to warn users to back up their alert list but I am sure they had some stupid business motivation to screw over their VT users.

Time to checkout macupdate

this is a sudden and totally unexpected change. VersionTracker has been my home page for years, and opening Safari to find the monstrosity that has replaced it. i've since changed it to Mac Update, and i hope that they don't sell out either......

I used to love VT but last time I downloaded something from there I got my very first OS X trojan. I am not happy with them and a little voice inside of me is glad to see it go.

As a software developer (Panorama), the first thing I did when I saw this announced on Gruber's site was to look and see what our listing looked like. They have transferred all of the descriptions and screen shots we submitted to Version Tracker, but they did not transfer any of the user ratings or reviews. That's a big bummer for us since we had a 5 star rating :(

The big advantage of VT over MUD was that it seemed to have quite a few more user reviews (not just our product, but anything I looked for). Guess CBS didn't think that was a plus.

So disappointed to find that this has happened--I always preferred VT to MacUpdate, and that was the one I used for years. RIP.

Hey folks: We're happy to be a new home for long-time VT users. In the last few years MacUpdate has actually been increasing staff and services, and we have some great things in the pipeline for you.

One thing to note we: MacUpdate Desktop ($20/yr) can take care of your auto-updating needs. We've put a ton of effort into the app and we're proud to say we're consistently better than the competition at matching apps and delivering updates seamlessly. Give it a try if you like!

http://www.macupdate.com/desktop/

-Misha
COO, MacUpdate