The problem with software is that it's all too easy to install an old version on your system and not realise that an update is available and, best of all, the update, contains new features. How many of us have time to trawl versions website to check whether our installed software has been updated? The solution would be a tool that checks your installed software, figures the version installed then checks and online database to see if an update is available.

UpdateStar 1.2 is one of the better software update tools. It's free, too. It will scan through your drive and then keep checking against possible software updates. You can then install from within UpdateStar and, if there is a major update, make the purchase through the software.

18 Jan 2008