Most programs now include an online version check. This is a mixed blessing – there has definitely been a loosening of QA standards since the days when software shipped on shiny discs and distributing updates was very expensive.

Another, more subtle issue is that most of these programs check or updates on startup. Guess what? That’s precisely when I least want to be interrupted by housekeeping administrivia. Just let me get on with my work already.

Others, like Java, arrogate to themselves the right to keep an application running just to periodically check for updates, even if you never use the application in question. This slows down system startup time for a task that will be useful for a few minutes per year at best, and only shows how arrogant and narcissistic these companies are with their assumption that the universe revolves around them and they have the right to steal other people’s time and computer resources.

The best solution would be for Apple and Microsoft to open up their respective software update systems to cover third-party software under a unified interface. Failing that, programs should be rewritten to check on exit or after an extended period of inactivity, to be less disruptive to the user’s flow.

Update (2009-02-02):

I tried to update Google Earth on my laptop and discovered that it installs the incredibly obnoxious Google updater. Well, at least Google Earth 5.0 has the decency to disclose this fact, unlike previous versions of the updater.

I refused to accept installation of the updater, and uninstalled Google Earth altogether. I generally distrus Google (my browser is set to reject their cookies, for instance) and this doesn’t help.