Someone reviewed v on Jul 5, 2022

Pros: 555

Cons: 555

Bottom Line: 555

mnadi reviewed v4.0.834 on Apr 20, 2009

I've been using UpdateStar for around a year now. It works smoothsly and informs you of new versions of installed software every few days. It also allow you to recommend links to download new software versions. Give it a try.

JWvanLohuizen reviewed v2.0.464 Beta on Apr 13, 2008

I used to really like UpdateStar and at first I was very patient even when getting slow responses from technical support. I even have tried hard to help them to get things right and even offered to help them more directly without charge. While they did use a couple of very small suggestions most were ignored. I even sent in correction submissions for 2 months on 2 programs that were merged into one and when they finally separated the two, all of the updated information that I had submitted including corrected links and a complete description for the one I use was deleted and so all that was available was that the program existed and what version I had on my computer. Thanks Guys.

However, I was told that they were only in beta and to give it time. Well they have had lots of time and it has become nearly useless. I have lost all hope.

I have tried in vain to get them to stop listing Vista OS only driver and software updates when I and most others are using XP. Why can't they just look at the OS installed and list the update accordingly. That's not how it works. They can't even list the latest update for the version that I have installed. They can only list the latest version that you can buy as an upgrade. I am sure they get a kick back if you buy it. So if I need to upgrade an older version I have to manually find it.

However, the worst flagrant uselessness is listing beta versions!!!

I have tried until I am blue in the face to get them to never list beta versions as upgrades since most people should never use betas because they don't understand enough to know when a beta might not be working and could be causing them to loose data or creating system problems. Also betas are sometimes not even available to the public so telling someone that the only update available is a beta is just a time and space waster. These have no link listed to update, so what's the point here?

They are now even listing updates that don't exist except in a blog or something. Take Seamonkey browser (formerly Mozilla), for example. Despite the fact that the latest version of Seamonkey is v1.1.9 they have listed Seamonkey 2.0 alpha 1 preview for sometime now as the latest and now list Seamonkey 2.0.1 as the latest version. This despite the fact that Seamonkey 2.0 hasn't even gone to the beta stage yet let alone have a stable public release and so 2.0.1 isn't even on the horizon. And as a further side note to emphasize my point. Seamonkey 2 alpha preview, despite my objections, installs on top of Seamonkey in the registry so it becomes the default turning off Seamonkey 1 and crates new bookmark locations and profile locations that are not compatible with the other. This means that if a use uses the alpha for some time then they have to reinstall the first version to get it working again and all the new information is only stored in the new locations and wont be available to the original Seamonkey. So any novice would have shot themselves in the foot and probably had to pay someone to fix the unfixable.

Now back to my original points:

Finally a really big problem that wont go away is the listing of programs as being outdated that are not. They should be working with the software companies if the information isn't plainly available but this isn't always the case. In some cases they just aren't looking in the right place.

The final result is that now all of the programs that I need the latest version on have to be turned off because I have a really long list of stuff that is of no use and rarely do I find one that is really an update.

I would rate it a zero but that isn't an option here. I guess it looks nice but the menus are cluttered and confusing at times and a major change that I suggested to fix this was outright blown off.

So despite their hopes and claims I suggest you pass on this one since they are either too dumb or too arrogant to get it right and they refuse any real help.

jafo818 reviewed v2.0.464 Beta on Mar 28, 2008

I uninstalled UpdateStar in favor of SUMo. However, I might go back if they fix some of the bugs that annoyed me.

The MAZZTer reviewed v1.2.312 Beta on Mar 19, 2008

This program does what it claims to do and it does it well, but I can't help but want MORE.

First of all, the interface is too much. The Office 2k7 interface was invented to help users more easily find options that were previously buried in Office 2k3.

UpdateStar does not have a problem with too many options... in fact I think it would benefit from a simpler interface.

Also while being able to track new versions of some programs and offer download and website links to some is nice, you still have to download and install each program by hand. A more automated approach would have been appreciated. There are plenty of obvious problems with this... some installers can be run silently to automatically install into a specific folder, others cannot and harder, hackish methods would have to be used. Perhaps a community-driven system where users could submit definition files they make for automatically downloading and installing specific programs would work for this.

Regardless, this tool is useful and does its job. I just wish a tool called "UpdateStar" would actually UPDATE something.

Linux4 reviewed v1.2.312 Beta on Jan 15, 2008

Very Helpful Program and i Think it will Become Better.

Ragle Gumm reviewed v1.1.206 Beta on Nov 23, 2007

For me this is the best application so far for keeping my programs updated. Some weeks ago I bought Version Tracker which was a big mistake because it doesn´t correctly recognize program and/or version. Today I uninstalled VT ...

UpdateStar is different. The database is regularly updated and accurate. Maybe it is adware (I wouldn´t rate it like this) because there are buttons for directly buying software via a link ... but I don´t care as long as the software does what it´s supposed to do. And it does!

Second Shadow reviewed v1.1.206 Beta on Nov 20, 2007

This is ADWARE, not freeware
Therefore, as usual with misleadingly classified adware, a ONE STAR rating

Next ...!

poppyq reviewed v1.0.34 Beta on Oct 15, 2007

Interface looks great, however, I can't get it to work through my proxy. I tried it set with detect connection settings (should use what's set in IE) and that didn't work. Tried manually setting the info and it looks like it isn't saving the password. I'm unable to use the product at all with a proxy that requires authentication (Safari for Windows anyone?)

Philidor reviewed v1.0.34 Beta on Oct 13, 2007

From the website:

Optimal pricing for your software licenses

UpdateStar delivers important update information regarding your software setup, including product information, download and information links. Additionally it offers favorable licensing options for shareware and commercial products. UpdateStar has partnered with hundreds of software vendors and associated e-commerce partners to provide world-class services, competitive prices and special offers.

As a further service, UpdateStar brings you news and offers which focus specifically on software we are convinced you might be interested in. You not only receive competitive licensing options through UpdateStar, but the purchases made through UpdateStar allow us to keep UpdateStar a free service for the millions of users worldwide.

Expect to receive advertising. It pays for producing the program.

I don't have it installed, so made the rating 3.

Ian C. reviewed v1.0.34 Beta on Oct 12, 2007

Doesn't work any better than any of the other similar utilities out there. It does however have a far better interface.

Nilpohc reviewed v1.0.30 Beta on Oct 11, 2007

Installed it a few days ago : all my software (mostly freeware tools) was detected and the update notifications were correct. Besides, the uninstall button is a good idea and i don't see the point about being a marketing tool as long as it doesn't host spyware or adware...do you ?
I give it 4 because it was a good surprise, it did not eat my system resources and did its job silently sitting in the system tray. Maybe the updates could be optionally downloaded and launched automatically....

ninjeratu reviewed v1.0.30 Beta on Oct 11, 2007

This is, in fact, a product from the O&O Group.
O&O Software is one part of that group and they make the excellent O&O Defrag.
This software, however, is not created by O&O Software but by another division of the O&O Group called 'exono gmbH'.
According to the O&O Group:
"exono offers software manufacturers priceless marketing opportunities for your products."

So this UpdateStar thing doesn't work as it should and is created by a firm that is into marketing third party software .. ?

Stay away from this, it's a marketing tool and will probably never update anything but what exono has gotten paid to promote or "market".

methuselah reviewed v1.0.14 Beta on Oct 7, 2007

These "official" comments from UpdateStar make me slightly suspicious:

From the BetaNews article:
"...and includes special offers..."

From their website:
"...As an UpdateStar partner we will pay you commission for every user buying software products through..."

jafo818 reviewed v1.0.14 Beta on Oct 6, 2007

This has a lot of potential people. Yes it has bugs. It's just now available to the public. Eventually it will be better, if enough people install it and provide updates to the user driven database.

This appears to actually be from O&O Software, as I submitted bug reports and received an email from someone with an "@oo-software.com" email address. I was not surprised, as the GUI is idential to O&O Defrag v10. Not sure why they are "hiding" this by having it listed on it's own website, though the name "exono" suggests "O&O".

Definitely has bugs now... Email them about them, and they do respond quickly.

ninjeratu reviewed v1.0.14 Beta on Oct 6, 2007

Did not find a single recognizable application from my 139 installed ones, including nVIdia drivers and Office. This must be considered unbelievable for this kind of application and will raise a flag of warning.

It will need an internet connection to transmit to the UpdateStar server, for some reason, since the program itself does not contain one byte of code for this. This raises an incredible amount of privacy issues. The "parsed" list it works with is everything in your Add/Remove Programs registry key which does not make any sense. Even a modest programmer would know which Add/Remove entry is which. Yes, silly, the "Microsoft Office Standard 2007" is, in fact, Office 2007.
Considering the eyecandy of this application I cannot but wonder if this is some elaborate scam since its bevaiour is suspicious and the key feature is not working. At all.

yellowbird2k reviewed v1.0.14 Beta on Oct 6, 2007

Will not connect to the internet even with other applications connected before and after trying the software. I am using a 3 meg ADSL.

outofspace reviewed v1.0.14 Beta on Oct 6, 2007

70% of software is not recognized, lots of work to do

HGeneAnthony reviewed v1.0.14 Beta on Oct 6, 2007

As far as the comment that the software can't work I believe the software can work however it needs to be done as a standard. Implement it like a system like apt-get for Linux. apt-get uses repositories that host software. Each repository has a list of header file that contains a list of all the software they use, its version, dependencies, etc. When you connect it downloads the list off of all the repositories and compares it against the list of software on the host machine (which the client software would generate). Any software it can update (without breaking the system it will) and it allows you to install new software clean. The repositories could be official channels (ie the software maker) or 3rd party servers who maintain their repos. If they used checksums for validating legit software they could implement a torrent like system to spread the load among all the clients. All around it be a better deal. People would get newer software easier, the server load could be broken up, and updates would be available much cleaner.

Pkshadow reviewed v1.0.14 Beta on Oct 6, 2007

Again it will not allow me to Install where I want it to.
As well as the installer is slooooow.

2nd reason it finds programs that are out of date but I already know that and am not buying updates/upgrade for them.

All the rest it found that told me to download where already up to date.
So for a whack of false/positives I would rate it lower if I could.

If anyone remembers Update.com that worked very well with a small d/load package and all the updates where there on the web site. Was great until Download.com bought it out and wanted all the software companies to pay to list the updates.

Anyways....not good enough yet to be a beta!

c4p0ne reviewed v1.0.14 Beta on Oct 5, 2007

This is a "holy-grail" like piece of software that is doomed to failure because the database will NEVER, EVER , EVER be able to keep up with the skyrocketing rate at which applications (95% of which are total GARBAGE nowadays btw) are being excreted onto the Internet.

This guy(s) should focus their programming abilities ELSEWHERE as this software is attempting to handle an impossible feat. Unless it becomes commercial and somehow develops some kind of signature mechanism (almost like AV) to keep the database constantly updated (hourly at minimum) then it is going in the toilet.

rafaelcage reviewed v1.0.13 Beta on Oct 4, 2007

It's a great idea... keep up the good work!! ;)

outofspace reviewed v1.0.13 Beta on Oct 4, 2007

Very good idea, but still need lots of work

Pkshadow reviewed v1.0.13 Beta on Oct 4, 2007

Considering it does not allow me to install it where I want it to be nor would it connect to the internet in any shape or form after modifying firewall to allow it to it still would not connect so for no connection and not allowing me to install where I want to go it gets a 1 for poor.

war593122 reviewed v1.0.13 Beta on Oct 3, 2007

Sadly at the moment it only knows about 1% of the applications installed on my PC. When it starts to know more information then I will give a higher rating. But for now it is pretty much useless.

Budgie29 reviewed v1.0.13 Beta on Oct 3, 2007

this program really surprises for 1 beta 1

if this program is as good for beta 1 then this writer will really go places ... however their are a few serious bugs with this version ... but who do you expect for beta .... nice idea and very nice clean layout .