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13 Jun 2011 By ABradney-George

What Is A Download Updater?

13 Jun

A Basic Overview Of What A Download Updater Is And How They Work.

A download updater or update checker is a piece of software that will manage and update specific software on your computer. Often included as part a software bundle, download updaters make it easier to maintain software through automatic updates.

The most familiar example of a download updater is probably Microsoft's Download Center or Windows Update service, which searches for relevant Windows updates, downloads and prompts installation onto a PC. Another example of a download updater is found in many antivirus programs, which have to regularly update the software database to protect against virus threats.

While often not included with basic download managers, such as the ones that come with internet browsers, a download updater can make software and computer maintenance much easer. Programs like RadarSync will find and deliver updates for a range of programs including:

Internet browsers
Messenger services
Manually installed programs
Software that came with the PC
Downloaded software

There are also some free software updaters available, like Software.com's Download Center which allows users bundle related software and free trials into one download, while also accessing special offers. This service will make it convenient to download more than one piece of software at a time so that, for example, Irfanview fans will be able to install Irfanview Plugins from the Download Center when they download the actual program.

While the Download Center is a new product, it aims to create a more convenient software experience for users. As more and more software comes onto the market, it is becoming even more important to regularly update programs, and a download updater may be the answer for many of us.