Find Software Updates with UpdateStar (Windows)

Hey, did you know there's a new version of Skype available? And Google Earth? And your printer's software? UpdateStar, a free program for Windows, makes it a snap to find and procure updates for all your installed programs and utilities. The software boasts a database of 80,000 commercial, shareware, and freeware products, and it's extremely easy to use.

When you run the program for the first time, it automatically scans your hard drive for installed programs and then looks online for any available updates. In many cases you can access the updates directly just by clicking a Download button. As an added perk, UpdateStar doubles as an uninstaller: If you see a program in your list that you no longer use, click to highlight it and then click the Uninstall button.

This is a great little freebie, though if you want something even more automated, check out AppSnap: It not only scans for updates, but downloads and installs them for you as well. [via Download Squad]