Found two freeware apps that seek out product version numbers and compare them to a version tracking database. This is something we should pay attention to because, as Betanews points out: "by using up-to-date software you'll reduce the risk of encountering bugs and will benefit from more features."

This has been discussed before (http://www.portablefreeware.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=9633) in late January with the program "AppUpdater" http://www.nabber.org/projects/appupdater/.

1. File Hippo Checker (beta) - http://www.filehippo.com/updatechecker/

2. Sumo - http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/01/18/sumo-keep-your-pc-programs-up-to-date/

Notes about use:

* Sumo users will have to drag-and-drop their portable directory into the folder as Sumo doesn't automatically look through the entire drive.

At install make sure to select "deep scan" or equavalent option to make sure it scans all files. You can't set this later without reinstall.

* FileHippo right click on File Hippo icon in task bar and select "Settings". In the window that appears click "Custom Locations" and add your portable programs folder.

If you like, in the Results tab, select "hide beta versions" and "show the installation path".

Both appear to be great alternatives to the hated non-free VersionTracker software: http://www.download.com/VersionTracker-Pro/3000-2094_4-10223175.html

Hippo uses .NET.

If sb. cares, here's a long list of such programs.

I didn't check their portability.

FreewareUpdater
http://www.freewareupdater.com/

Update Checker
http://filehippo.com/updatechecker/

SUMo
http://www.kcsoftwares.com/index.php?sumo

Automatic Programs Update
http://antiufo.altervista.org/apu/

Saleen Updater
http://www.saleensoftware.com/Updater.aspx

UpdateStar
http://www.updatestar.com/

TGUP
http://sourceforge.net/projects/tgup/

RadarSync
http://www.radarsync.com/

InstallPad
http://www.installpad.com/

GetIt
http://puchisoft.com/GetIt/

Appupdater
http://www.nabber.org/projects/appupdater/

AppGet
http://www.appget.nl/whatisappget/

AppSnap
http://appsnap.genotrance.com/

WinPackMan
http://www.winpackman.org/

Windows Updates Downloader
http://wud.jcarle.com/

> Hippo uses .NET.

Yes -- as far as I can tell, only AppUpdater has even the potential to be portable. Either because it slipped past or because its not really portable, it never got accepted.

> If sb. cares, here's a long list of such programs.

Very cool -- even better.

WOW! so, its another freeware portal huh! thanks a lot

let me share where i got mine. http://www.freewareupdater.com
no hidden string.

This may interest a few, Gizmo actually reviews and tests the software (even checks if it's portable!) and then gives his verdict.

http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-fr ... onitor.htm


His 'Pick' was SUMo

The above review also said that the only software he reviewed that was truly portable (at least according to TPFC's definition of portable) was Update Notifier from CleanSofts.org.

However, regarding SUMo, a "Kyle Katarn" said here that (that was on Dec. 17th, 2007, however!) We'll see...

How is UpdateNotifier portable? It saves settings (and logs and lots of files) to %AppData%\cspa\

SUMo only saves a couple of settings to the registry, and only if you change them.