VersionTracker
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Keeping your Mac apps up-to-date without the Mac App Store
One of the great features of the Mac App Store is the notification system that tells you when there is an update to one of you apps. However as we've seen, unless you buy all your apps through the Mac App Store, you won't receive notice of updates to apps purchased or download outside the store. Luckily there is a very handy widget I've used for years (and that we've noted before) that automatically scours the net for updates to installed apps on your Mac. AppUpdate is the brainchild of Georg Kaindl and with the click of a button searches three software tracking sites: Apple's (soon to be defunct) Downloads page, MacUpdate, and Version Tracker (now owned by Cnet). After running the widget, you'll see links all the updates to the apps on your Mac. You'll still have to click the links to go to the app's download pages, but running this widget is a lot less time-consuming than going to all of the software tracking sites and entering your apps manually, or even running the "Check for Updates" menu command that many apps offer. (If you prefer a non-widget update manager, both Cnet's TechTracker Free and the under-development Appfresh are worth checking out.) The developer notes that he knows Version Tracker has been rolled into Cnet, and that he will be updating the widget to scan Cnet's Download pages in the future. As for the Apple Downloads pages, the scanning works for now. But even without these two sources, I've found MacUpdate always offers the most current listings of any app updates. AppUpdate is a free download -- best of all it works on any Mac that is running Mac OS X 10.4 or later.
VersionTracker.com officially 'absorbed' by CNET
Have you been to VersionTracker.com lately? If you try today, you'll be redirected to the CNET site, where you'll get a brief explanation that the venerable VersionTracker site is now a branded part of the CNET empire. VersionTracker Pro, a paid feature, will be discontinued after the current subscriptions run out. The VersionTracker newsletters will continue, but they will be rebranded as CNET products. CNET has put up a page explaining the changes. This process actually began in 2007, when CNET acquired VersionTracker, MacFixIt, and iPhone Atlas. VersionTracker goes back to 1995, when it was a Mac only site. Over time, the content expanded to include Windows software. The familiar layout of VersionTracker has been changed, and it may startle a few users. I don't think MacFixIt was improved any by the CNET takeover, and I don't have high hopes for VersionTracker, either, but I'm going to keep an open mind. CNET was acquired by CBS two years ago. Other than the irritating and frequent plugs for CBS TV, the site is still useful and continues to aggressively cover all things related to tech. If you need an alternative to VersionTracker, MacUpdate is still around, and AppFresh (based on i use this) and Logiciel are worth a look. There is also a Dashboard Widget called App Update that will check for software updates. [via Daring Fireball]
Flyz Screensaver 1.1.2
I don't know how I managed to avoid earlier versions of the Flyz Screensaver, but I just came across version 1.1.2 on VersionTracker and I am pleased to see they've "fixed a bug that was causing the flies and maggots to accumulate at the bottom-left corner of Intel Mac screens" and "increased the maximum number of flies to 40." W00t!If you like being grossed out, or like grossing out others, the Flyz Screensaver might be an appropriate download for you. Flyz is "an infestation of ewwey, gooey, flies and maggots, making a mess of your Mac's screen." And if that's not appealing enough, perhaps the price tag (free, although there's an enhanced version for $5) will lure you in.Of course some people already have a similar effect without having to download anything at all!Oh, how I long for the days when Flying Toasters was enough to keep us entertained when our screens were idle...
Widget Watch: App Update
I could've sworn we've blogged this, but a peek at our extensive archives turned up nothing: App Update, like Widget Update, is a widget that acts like Software Update for all your non-Apple apps. It allows you to specify any extra directories where you store your apps if, like me, you put them wherever you want, and it can ping Apple, MacUpdate and VersionTracker to see if any updates are available. App Update even has limited support for checking on Quicktime Components, Frameworks and Preference Panes, and it can be automated, with Growl support rounding off the list.App Update is free, really handy and available from DashboardWidgets.Thanks Alex
VersionTracker offers DivX Pro license with subscription purchase
VersionTracker has announced a new bundle offer included with purchases of VersionTracker Pro subscriptions. For the first 350 who purchase, renew or extend a VersionTracker Pro subscription, they will receive a free license to the new DivX Pro (a $19.99 value), which we blogged last month. DivX, as you might remember, is a fairly popular video codec used on the internet and compatible with other devices such as DVD players and PDAs. VersionTracker Pro, if you need a refresher, is "an automated, simple and cost-effective way to inventory and keep all your software current and secure". It is a service and software package (also a widget, of course) that allows you to view new versions of just the software you use, manage the downloading and install of new packages, and more. VersionTracker Pro costs $49.99/year for up to three Macs.If you're interested, we recommend you run (don't walk!) as they only have 350 DivX licenses to hand out on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Boot Camp Resource Center
If you're just getting started with Boot Camp, you may want to head over to VersionTracker to check out their new Boot Camp Resource Center. You'll find a collection of troubleshooting and opinion articles from MacFixIt, as well as some links to basic Windows software compiled with the Mac user in mind. Of the three software categories -- Essentials, Gaming, and Drivers -- Essentials looks to be most useful. It has links to virus protection tools, spyware, browsers, an image viewer, a screenshot app, and other basic apps for Windows. The other two categories are pretty sparse, but at least it's a place to start.
VersionTracker Threatened by Macrovision Over Mac-the-Ripper Links
Über-blog Boing Boing is reporting today that VersionTracker.com has been contacted by lawyers representing Macrovision (who makes copy protection technologies found in many commercial DVD's) threatening them with legal action unless they remove download links to Mac the Ripper, software used to rip a DVD to your Mac's HD."We have been contacted by Macrovision, who claims this violates their property and are threatening to sue us if we don't remove the links to it. We are checking with our legal advisors to find out what our options are. -VersionTracker Editors"
VersionTracker and MacFixIt launch MacIntel resource sites
VersionTracker and MacFixIt have launched new MacIntel resource sites. The sites offer similar info, but are organized slightly differently. VersionTracker's Mac Resource Center has a growing list of MacIntel compatible software, along with MacIntel troubleshooting tips and news items. MacFixit's site looks like a rearranged version of similar posts, emphasizing Macintel troubleshooting. There's already some interesting information on both that's worth checking out. VersionTracker and MacFixIt are members of the TechTracker Network.
