Update your apps AND your drivers: RadarSync 2008

RadarSync 2008
http://www.radarsync.com/

Awhile back, I posted about a great system updater tool called Secunia Personal Software Inspector, which helps to keep your system applications (duh) current, leaving little guesswork on your part as to what applications you need to go hunt down updates for.

What, no drivers?

One thing that was noticeably missing was the ability to update drivers, which for some is a huge pain in the neck...especially for those of us who need the latest video drivers for our games!

As always, I've scoured the 'Net for another great find, and I present to you (queue horns here) RadarSync, which is an application that can update your system apps AND your drivers. All for free, of course!

Detailed info

Akin to Secunia, when RadarSync finds application updates, you have the option of clicking on the detail link for each app/driver, allowing you to find out more information about it. There's an interesting tab hidden (well, not really hidden) in there called 'Competitors' - this gives you a listing of applications that compete or perform the same function as the application you are updating! So, if you are curious (like I always am), then you are given the ability to try some new apps out...

Scanning for the very first time...

When you first open RadarSync, you must scan your system for out-of-date applications. Once the scan is complete, you can either selectively or download the updates en masse - as each program update is downloaded, a pop-up balloon will notify you that it has completed a download (which can be disabled), and ask if you would like to begin the update now.

Unlike Secunia Personal Software Inspector, there is no way to actively scan your system (memory resident) in the free version. The paid version does supply this functionality.

Wait, is there a catch?

Well, yes, sorta. According to RadarSync's website the following was found in their FAQ when talking about the differences between the paid and free versions:

"The only differences between this version and the paid version are that the auto-update scheduler feature has been disabled and that we'll ask you from time to time to select a sponsor or view an ad to help support our development and tech support efforts.

I have yet to see an ad link/orwhatever, but if it's not too intrusive, I don't think I would mind, considering the time I'm saving by having this little gem installed on my PC.

Likes

• The intuitive and easy-on-the-eyes interface - (major)
  
• Driver updates - (major)
  
• The initial application/driver scan is fast - (medium)
  
• The 'Competitors' tab in the 'Details' section - (medium)
  
• Ability to modify download location of updates - (medium)
  

Dislikes/oddities

• RadarSync likes to offer to create a Restore Point (tested on XP) for you before installing any update, which is nice, except I have System Restore turned off...therefore, I really shouldn't be seeing any messages about Restore Points. You can turn this feature off, but it should detect whether it is enabled or not - (medium)
  
• The download button says 'Downlods all items' - obviously a typo, but even the smallest misspelling can turn some people off from a new application... - (medium)
  
• I'd like to see the ability to 'hide' or 'ignore' an application if I don't plan on updating it in the future...akin to Secunia. This is a handy feature for those of us who have applications that are licensed only for a particular version, and not necessarily the newest one. - (medium)
  
• It would be nice to have an 'update all' button (replacing 'Downlods all items'), which chains the installs back-to-back. - (low)
  
• If I click RadarSync to install an application through it's interface, there should be some sort of notifier (italicized text, small icon, etc.) showing that I've run the setup. If I have a huge list of programs and drivers to update, I might not know which ones I've run yet. - (low)
  
• Watch out for the toolbar installation during setup - - - do I really need another browser toolbar? - (trivial)