I was just thinking..while I was updating some software...

Wouldn't it be cool if there was a global standard or website for all updates.

Similiar to Microsoft Update...

But ALL software companies can put their software up there. And you just run a local client (or web client) that would have all your software registered/set up in it.

Then, you can do a weekly, monthly, etc update, and get everything. Rather than always wondering/checking on updates...

Just a thought. Maybe this should be in chit chat...but I felt it was software related

hummm nice idea, but that would require some serious organizaion. Not to mention on which software companies would be allowed to join the program. IE spyware companies? Much more complex than you/I first thought. Still nice thought though.

CNet used to have something that did that back in the day when Windows 98 was the most popular OS (2000ish). I tried it once, it didn't tell me updates but major revisions, it even said the price
But that's gone now

The original was updates.com

then cnet catchup took it over then it disappeared.

I used to have a crappy software called Oilchange that tried to do that

Microsoft update, suppose to offer updates to all MS software, anyway FreeBSD have a similar technice to have a centeralized update servers.

yeh, that software sucked.

all this was back when broadband was real expensive, correct? so downloading these updates took foreeever.

I think this could be great!

I mean CNet pulled download.com off, and I reckon they could do another one for updates!

-eight

Well, since the projects existed and all got terminated, that means there was a catch (that is the beautiful thing about capitalism ).

And the catch here I think is that persons starting up such a project need to generate revenue (to pay for the costs they make, and hopefully some profit). And that means they make an income on the back of trademarks and intellectual rights of software makers... And those won't be too happy with that. Of course they could pay the companies for it, but then I don't see a profitable project anymore.

The other solution is that the project is organized by the software companies themselves... But then again, do you see companies like adobe, ms, sun, etc. sitting together thinking about a mutual project

I guess software updates are another way for software companies to create competition (i.e. buy our product, and we promise you we will keep it up-to-date)