Auto-update vs Download option
 

I am tired of having to do a full install every time Winamp does an incremental update. Most video games these days will perform an update check upon startup (winamp should do it once a month, or so) and automatically update the software. Diablo 2 and Hellgate London are the best examples of this behavior, not to mention Microsoft.

For Winamp, there could be an option to auto update the app whenever there is an update. I dont want to have to download anything, run an installer, blah blah blah!
if its important enough to perform throw out an update, then just update it!

assuming you have the check box enabled (prefs >general prefs > check for new versions on startup) Winamp checks for updates each time you start it.

if you look at the change logs most of the time most of the core plugins and such are all updated, when Winamp puts out a release its just that, a release, not just a quick patch. so you end up downloading the whole package anyway.

an auto update system has been talked about many many times but it raised too many support issues and the staff dosn't have enough resources to handle it.

you can read these threads for more info
http://forums.winamp.com/showthread....hreadid=246034
http://forums.winamp.com/showthread....hreadid=248154

Yeah, an incremental update is a lot of extra work and maintenance. This also brings more confussion, more effort to identify problems etc.

But an auto download and install would be useful.

you have no idea what you are talking about do you?

He is right, an incremental update is really much more work, plus it would make the work for the translators much more difficult too.

The Winamp package is always tested internal as one thing, so we can at least make sure, that everybody has the same Version and the same plugins, when a bug is reported.

It would end up in tons of tech support request, if somebody has this version of in_mp3, another person has another version of in_mp3. From a tech support point of view, this would bring more confusion.

I see the hurdles mentioned in the threads, but SERIOUSLY, this issue needs to be bumped!

In terms of opting out of certain things, the user has clearly done so during the initial install; why is every update treated as a fresh install (requiring re-opting-out) lawyers lacking distinction between upgrades and installs?

Regardless, just firing up the browser, downloading the file, running it, realizing you have to close winamp, finishing the install, re-opening winamp. This is incredibly annoying, and as a software developer I know this is a very very solvable problem. It saves a ton of hassle that the end-user would really appreciate. Isn't that the whole purpose of Winamp, to make the end-user experience as good as possible?

Even if the auto-updater just downloaded the entire installer, and updated all the binaries automatically, without having to click through the million pages of the installer. updating would become significantly less of a pain in the you know what, and as end-users, we would GREATLY appreciate it

I'd like to bump this recommendation. If incremental updates are such a pain, is it still too difficult to integrate and automatic installer so you don't have to open the website, download, and then reinstall? Regular users would see no difference between an 'update' and a one-click installer that simply stops all winamp processes, updates then install, and then prompts the user if they want to start winamp or not? You can even have your legal agreement prompt that initiates the install by clicking 'I accept' at the beginning. Lots of programs that update core files do this as well.

I wish for an update function as well. I have ticked the box to check for updates, but it doesn't seem to work.

The Filehippo Update Checker tool reports a new version, Winamp itself doesn't tell me anything.

because there is a delay in when the update flag gets flipped after a release so any important issues with a new release can be resolved before people get the update notice. quite sensible when you think about it.

-daz