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RadarSync 2009 - do your drivers need updated?
Posted by ClifNotes, Oct 2008, permalink System Maintenance
Susan at RadarSync recently wrote me to let me know that they have a new version out. I haven't used it since 2006 and I probably won't use it anytime soon. My philosophy is that I won't go looking for updates to drivers that are already working just fine.
If you are reinstalling Windows on a PC, that's a different story. You may have to go out and find many missing drivers. I mentioned JohnnysFreewareMission a while back and the author of that site has RadarSync listed as one of his 51 essential freeware programs.
Letter from Susan at RadarSync:
Hi Clif,
I saw your discussion of our driver/software updater, RadarSync posted http://freewarewiki.com/RadarSync. I think it was a pretty fair evaluation, although you were wrong that our old 2006 version 'directed you to paid download sites for driver updates' (it asked you to pay to get the direct links to the downloads, but we did give all the info that anyone could have used to google the files themselves).
I wanted to tell you that we've released a new version -- RadarSync 2009. It fixes one problem that I saw some of the people who commented on your site had -- an installation problem. That problem happened when people had an older version of .Net installed on their computer. The new RadarSync only requires .Net 2 and up, so that shouldn't be a problem anymore.
We've also made a LOT of other improvements -- since moving to free mode w/ RadarSync 2008, we obviously have had a lot more users and their feedback has let us make a lot of improvements in our detection engine. We're now matching updates by 4 different parameters to the installed versions, so accuracy has improved a lot.
We also added what we think is going to be a very cool new feature. Basically, using RS you can create software packs of downloads that you like (or that you want to remember to try one day) and have RS save them for you as a package that you can download at any time (using the 'Download All' feature of our downloader). The items in your pack will be maintained with the latest versions, and the direct download links will always be available for you whenever you need them. This feature (you access it through the MyPacks menu in RS2009 and through our website http://www.radarsync.com/mypack ) can first and foremost be used as a backup, so all your favorite downloads are stored for you in case you need to do a full reinstall of windows. It can also just be used to keep track of different kinds of software you find, and to discover new software (on the website page -- which is still very beta and the new design isn't up yet -- you can search for software to add to your packs or look at the packs other users have made to get ideas).
Anyway, have a look if you can, and I'd be interested in getting some feedback from you and your readers, especially on the MyPacks (we call it 'Packzoola') section.
Thanks,
Susan
RadarSync
Website:
http://www.radarsync.com/
See my previous reviews of RadarSync
RadarSync 2008 - scan for programs and drivers that need updated
Posted by ClifNotes, Jun 2008, permalink System Maintenance
RadarSync is an application that checks your PC and offers advice on what programs and drivers need to be updated. Back in 2006, I tried this program and I didn't like it very much. Firstly, it's LiteWare, which means the free version is limited or crippled in some fashion so that you might be tempted to upgrade to a payware version. Secondly, I seem to recall that it directed you to paid download sites for driver updates.
I guess they discovered that this was a very bad idea. I found a review of the newest version of RadarSync at confessions of a freeware junkie. The author, Max, seems to like RadarSync. Below is a portion of the review.
Quote from Max, the freeware junkie
As always, I've scoured the 'Net for another great find, and I present to you (queue horns here) RadarSync, which is an application that can update your system apps AND your drivers. All for free, of course!
Likes
• The intuitive and easy-on-the-eyes interface - (major)
• Driver updates - (major)
• The initial application/driver scan is fast - (medium)
• The 'Competitors' tab in the 'Details' section - (medium)
• Ability to modify download location of updates - (medium)
read the rest of Max's review here
Home page of RadarSync
http://www.radarsync.com/
quick look by ClifNotes, Sept 2006, permalink
Under review (the scan is free, the downloads are payware)
Click on the "Trial" button to start the scan. Make sure that this program does not start on Windows start-up when you are offered the chance to save the settings.
Quote from the website
RadarSync to the rescue ? scan your machine in seconds and find out exactly what you need without spending hours digging around hardware and software vendor web sites! Start scanning now
click image to expand
Here is one of the results I received. I didn't click the download button which makes me pay for the download. I just copied the manufacturer's name and revision number into Google.
Google: Realtek Semiconductor Corp. 5.10.0.5200
I found a great place to download it almost immediately.
http://www.radarsync.com/
