Is there a ‘FileHippo.com Update Checker’ equivalent for the Mac?

Solution 1:

Coincidentally, FileHippo isn't necessary for the vast majority of those apps you listed. Tons of Mac OS X apps use a framework called Sparkle for self updating.

Don't download Sparkle, it won't do you any good. It's a developer tool intended to be added as part of the application's code. The point is that Sparkle (or some other self-updater) is already part of the application.

• VLC self-updates via Sparkle
• I'm fairly certain uTorrent does (I'm a Transmission guy, personally, which also self-updates via Sparkle)
• Firefox/Thunderbird each have their own self-updaters possibly written by Mozilla
• Adobe has their own software updater framework
• Skype self updates though I don't remember the process
• and Safari updates come from Software Update/Mac App Store.

I don't personally know about CCleaner, DivX.

These apps "phone home" when you open them in order to determine if there is an update or not. If there is, you get a nice little dialog prompting you whether you want to update or not, and there is usually also a changelog to inform you of what's changed.

If you let it take it's course, the process begins:

And then you're done.

Yes, this is only one app at a time, but it only happens when you use it, which really is preferable IMO. Things that update versions automatically out from under you can really throw you off. At least with this process you know when it's happened.