Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Commercial, Freeware
RadarSync keeps your Windows software and drivers up to date
by Brad Linder May 27th 2008 at 5:00PM
While some of our favorite desktop applications automatically alert us when a newer version is available, many do not. Fortunately, there are several utilities that will scan your PC, compare the version numbers of your installed applications with an online database, and let you know if new versions are available for download.
RadarSync does that, and more. Unlike other update checkers, RadarSync will scan not just for software updates, but also for driver updates. Once you scan your computer, you can either click the "Downlods all items" button (seriously, that's what it says), or click Details next to the items you're interested in. The details window will show you a brief description of each application, and even a list of alternate programs that do basically the same thing. For example, if you check the details window for Pidgin, you'll find Google Talk, AIM, and Meebo.
The utility will also let you download and install updates directly from the manufacturer's website. RadarSync's basic version is available as a free download. For $29.95 per year, you can get access to the full version, which gives you access to tech support and also lets you schedule automatic system scans.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kevin said 8:46PM on 5-27-2008
I'm pretty sure Vista automatically checks for updated drivers during Windows Update.
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greg said 10:23PM on 5-27-2008
Yeah, it does but it misses half of them. Actually radarsync has a page on its website that lists vista drivers and download links and it has more of them there than microsoft does. that's how i first found out about this site. part of the reason is that microsoft apparently only posts and updates the drivers that have passed its approval process, and a lot of the vendors don't want to be bothered with that.
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asurroca said 10:40PM on 5-27-2008
I stopped reading at "$29.95 per year".
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bugmenot said 7:18AM on 5-28-2008
Looks more like you started reading at "$29.95 per year."
There's a free version.
Rkmase said 7:17AM on 5-28-2008
Awesome. Botched up my chipset drivers and my audio drivers. Will have to do a full Windows reinstall tomorrow - thanks for the recommendation Download Squad!
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Fluffy Llama said 8:06AM on 5-28-2008
The software update that comes with BitComet is the best I have seen. The only other popular one I could find was Hippo, but was pretty much useless in comparison.
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mrtvy.kenny said 12:59PM on 5-29-2008
vista ultimate 64: 9 of 10 starts ended by crashing, once it even opened internet explorer and opened one tab every half a second, so i ate almost all my cpu unless i killed the process..
crap.
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jonc said 4:29PM on 5-30-2008
Why would you possibly have to do a windows reinstall?? Radarsync asks you to set a system restore point before you install. if you did that, you just do a rollback. If you didn't, it's your fault (you can do a rollback in any case, but it might take you farther back than you want to go). Anyone whose ever updated drivers should have a clue that manufacturers often put out crappy drivers.
Updating drivers is hard. I've tried to do it on my own a few times and run into problems figuring out which ones i need. I'm glad a program like this exists to help me figure it out. If it gets it wrong once or twice (didn't for me but even so), I'm still better off than i was before (since I DID remember to set a system restore point before I installed the updates).
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