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CNET acquired this tool over a year ago, surprisingly it went from being a favorite to a dud and now has only a 1 star user rating!
Most computer users now understand the importance of keeping the operating system updated with the latest hotfixes and patches. However, did you know that it’s also important to keep your hardware and software up to date? Just as Microsoft regularly patches Windows to address flaws, so do software and hardware manufacturers. They may be fixing bugs or adding new functions. The updates may be in place to make the device or software compatible with other systems. No matter what the reason for the update, keeping your computer updated is important especially if you want it to perform at its best.
If you’re tired of manually checking for software and device driver updates, take heart. Many different applications are available to help you manage these tasks including Version Tracker Pro from CNET Networks. This application scans your system and inventories all of its hardware and software. Once inventoried, Version Tracker searches for updates based on your system’s configuration.
Version Tracker Pro is unique among device driver scanners in that it also scans and tracks software versions. Now, just one product takes care of both tasks.
The Version Tracker Pro interface is clean and easy to use. Simply click the “Check Updates” icon and find out which devices or applications have newer versions. From there, you can download updates as needed.
The Version Tracker website is useful for both subscribers and non-subscribers alike. Here, you can manually search for updates. As a subscriber, you get access to a special My Tools section where you can receive unlimited alerts about the products that you are tracking, view reports on all of your monitored computers, store updates for later downloading in a cart, create a watch list, and view details about each of your monitored computers. The My Tools area is also available for free to registered users but the free version is more limited.
Version Tracker Pro is configurable where you can choose to ignore information and alerts for devices and applications that you aren’t concerned about monitoring. Information about the hardware and software that you are monitoring easily finds its way to you including reviews, ratings, bug fixes, patches, and update links.
Other neat features include a signature matching, download histories, download manager, feedback alerts, and an uninstall feature that allows you to uninstall software directly from the Version Tracker Pro interface. You can also choose to skip an update yet still continue receiving updates about future versions.
Version Tracker works with both Macintosh and Windows platforms including Mac OS X Leopard and Windows Vista. It is also compatible with the Palm operating system which means that you can keep your Palm Pilot updated too. A basic subscription allows you to monitor up to three computers.
Version Tracker also has a “widget” that you can download to your desktop that keeps you informed with the latest version updates from Version Tracker. In addition to updates, you’ll also be able to view the latest headline feeds from the Version Tracker blog, iPhone Atlas, CNET blog, and others.
Version Tracker Pro is an easy-to-use application that packs a great deal of features into an inexpensive, subscription based service. A desktop client offers a user-friendly interface while the Version Tracker website offers loads of other features. For one small yearly fee, you can monitor hardware and software updates up to three computers.
Also see our full list of driver download tools and our featured Free Driver scan tool here.
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