Update Manager Indicator is an Ubuntu appindicator that shows up on the panel when there are updates available and comes with some extra features like showing a list of updates in a submenu, refresh the repositories or display NotifyOSD notifications when you have new updates.

There hasn't been a new Update Manager Indicator release in a while and the previous one was kind of buggy in Ubuntu Precise, so I've packaged the latest version from GIT and uploaded it to the main WebUpd8 PPA. The new version brings GTK3 support, an option to display the number of updates in the indicator icon and a new optional feature to upgrade in the background (until now, you could only use the Update Manager).

2ClickUpdate is a front-end for system updates that checks for and installs updates, removes unnecessary files and cleans up after installing the updates. It works on any Debian/Ubuntu based Linux distribution.

2ClickUpdate is a shell script with a GUI provided by Zenity that uses axel (similar to apt-fast) for handling the downloads (so the downloads are a lot faster then regular updates) and NotifyOSD notifications.

With the release of Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat, Ksplice Uptrack - the rebootless update capability - will yet again be offered free of charge for Ubuntu Desktop 10.10.

In case you don't know, Ksplice Uptrack lets you apply Kernel updates without having to reboot. While you have to pay a monthly fee to use it for Debian, Red Hat, CentOS or Ubuntu Server, Ksplice Uptrack is free to use for Ubuntu Desktop (from 9.04 to 10.10) and Fedora 13.

Bruce Ingalls sent us a new and much improved version of his Java Update script for Ubuntu. The script uses Zenity for a GUI so it's very easy to use.

Initially the script only updated JDK (which included JRE), but now can also update Java Runtime Environment separately.

Microsoft Security Essentials is a relatively new anti-virus and anti-malware program from Microsoft that is lightweight and absolutely free as long as you are running a genuine copy of Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 on your computers.

Microsoft Security Essentials downloads the new virus definition updates through Windows Update but many people turn that off. Doing so, you will be needing to update your Microsoft Security Essentials virus definitions in another way. Here is how: use MSE Update Utility, an application which automatically updates Microsoft Security Essentials even if you have Windows Update turned off.

You can choose to either always run MSE Update Utility in the baground so it automatically downloads new virus definitions when updates are available, or manually run it whenever you want.

Download MSE Update Utility [via instant fundas]

Device Doctor is a freeware Windows application that scans your computer hardware and checks to see if there are new driver updates available for your devices. It also locates drivers for "unidentified devices" in the Windows Device Manager.

Device Doctor mixes update notifications of devices like video cards, sound cards or network cards with internal device driver updates like those for standard dual channel PCI controllers or a plug and play monitor.

To use it, just click on 'Begin Scan' to detect your hardware; Device Doctor queries our manufacturer driver database and immediately fetches the correct driver files for your computer. A really useful feature is that you can use it offline: scan results can be saved and then moved to a computer with an internet connection and download the drivers there.

Device Doctor features:

I did an upgrade on my Ubuntu Karmic Koala installation and Pidgin came up in the updates. Something must have happened with Empathy which should have been the defaul. Please note that I never installed pidgin-notify or Pidgin, and this is a fresh install so there would be no reason for Pidgin to be in the updates except if they decided to put it back as default.

Update:

It seems it could be a packaging bug, an Ubuntu developer says:

Pretty sure this is actually a packaging bug. libpurple0 (used in empathy) gained a Recommends for pidgin-libnotify which depends on pidgin. Since we install Recommends by default now...

And the second news: A new name for "Software Store" has been the most discussed 'idea' in Ubuntu Brainstorm, basically because "store" would mean to buy software, while using the "Software Store", you don't buy anything (at least for now, I've heard a few things about a real "Software Store" in the future). Well, Mark Shuttleworth finally accepted to rename the "Software Store" to "Software Center" ("Software Centre" in UK English). You can track the progress, HERE.

We can add another great application for updating most of you installed application (in Windows) to our automatic software updater list.

To install the new CNET TechTracker, you must go to it's webpage, create an account and then you'll be able to download the application.

After successfully setting it up, CNET TechTracker will scan your computer for installed software. Once the scan is complete, a web page will open displaying your results: