[david7]

What do you people think of CNET's Tech Tracker?

It lists all your programs and tells you which ones have updates available. You can click on the page and update but it doesn't tell you whether you have to uninstall the old version first. With some, like Prirform products, you don't have to uninstall, but with others you do. What do you do about this?

Right now, I have an annoying problem. I have Microsoft's 2007 Office suite. Tech Tracker is telling me that its out of date and that I should install 60-day trials of Word, Power Point and Excel in the 2010 version. But I don't want to do this. How do I get it to stop telling me to "update" from 2007 to 2010?

Thanks for your consideration.

[smax013]

david7, on 27 July 2011 - 08:57 AM, said:

What do you people think of CNET's Tech Tracker?

It lists all your programs and tells you which ones have updates available. You can click on the page and update but it doesn't tell you whether you have to uninstall the old version first. With some, like Prirform products, you don't have to uninstall, but with others you do. What do you do about this?

Never used it.

Considering that most programs these days have built-in "phone home to check for updates" mechanisms, I have never found such services needed (there have been "update tracking" sites for a while...not all will "scan" your computer...some are just lists of current version that you have to check).

Quote

Right now, I have an annoying problem. I have Microsoft's 2007 Office suite. Tech Tracker is telling me that its out of date and that I should install 60-day trials of Word, Power Point and Excel in the 2010 version. But I don't want to do this. How do I get it to stop telling me to "update" from 2007 to 2010?

Thanks for your consideration.

Since I have used it, I cannot answer that. But, I will note that it is possible that CNET allows for software companies to "nag" you about such stuff since they likely fund the whole thing off advertising or some other fee structure since I am guessing that it is a "free" service. So, part of this might be that a software company can pay to have the "system" suggest to you to upgrade to a new version, even if you don't need it. And if so, then CNET might not offer a way to "snooze" or "turn off" the "nagging".

[david7]

Thanks for your response.
That makes sense.

[SpiritWind]

Hi David :

When it comes to programs of the "type" you describe, most
security-oriented Users recommend one of the 2 put out by
Secunia, one ("Software Inspector") of which is available at
http://secunia.com/v...scanning/online

[smax013]

SpiritWind, on 29 July 2011 - 09:18 AM, said:

Hi David :

When it comes to programs of the "type" you describe, most
security-oriented Users recommend one of the 2 put out by
Secunia, one ("Software Inspector") of which is available at
http://secunia.com/v...scanning/online

That is not really the type of that the original poster is describing. While what you suggest does have limited ability to keep track of updates for programs, it is for a limited number of programs such as browsers, iTunes, Acrobat Reader. What you suggested is more of a security "inspector" program that check for updates of dozen or so of the biggest sources of security threats.

What the original poster is talking about is a program that scans ALL your programs (including Word, Excel, Photoshop, and every other little program) to help you keep track of when updates are available for them. It not just about checking for security patches but also for new version that bring new features and functions.

Here is info on TechTracker:

http://cnet.custhelp...asked-questions

[SpiritWind]

Hi Max ( and David ) :

The link I provided was to the online version of Software
Inspector, to get a "feel" of the program . On that page,
it says " Use the Secunia OSI to get a feel for the Secunia Software Inspector technology, then upgrade to the Secunia PSI or CSI, which covers practically all programs on your PC, whereas the OSI checks less than 100 programs. " .

The Secunia PSI ( Personal Software Inspector ) is a program
that gets installed, and as my quote says, covers
practically ALL programs on a computer . The link to this
program is http://secunia.com/v...ng/personal/api .
To get complete details on this specific program, click the
"Product Sheet" on the right-hand side of the page .

[Szczecinianin]

Well, I don't use such apps either. I think the best way is to follow changelogs on the app's page and update if there ARE some major/useful changes that make things easier or give new possibilities. Still, you may want to see this mini list (freeware) And possibly there's no way to turn off that CNET nagging you write about, since that's what such apps are for. Only that not all of them display irritating messages.

This post has been edited by Szczecinianin: 06 August 2011 - 01:38 AM

[david7]

Szczecinianin, on 06 August 2011 - 01:36 AM, said:

Well, I don't use such apps either. I think the best way is to follow changelogs on the app's page and update if there ARE some major/useful changes that make things easier or give new possibilities. Still, you may want to see this mini list (freeware) And possibly there's no way to turn off that CNET nagging you write about, since that's what such apps are for. Only that not all of them display irritating messages.

Thanks to all for your responses.