The Insider Updates staff scours the Internet and on line services for new updaters. In addition, they communicate with the Macintosh community’s developers to collect updaters as soon as they are available. Once collected, the updaters are cataloged with a custom program that gives Insider Updates the ‘intelligence’ to determine who should receive which updaters.
The Software Connects to Insider’s Servers
The first step in the updating process is to connect to Insider Software’s server and download the database of updaters. The database contains a list of every available updater, the applicable version numbers, and other information necessary to determine which software the updater is intended for.
If this step fails, the Insider Updates software waits for 5 minutes if the software was launched manually or 10 minutes if scheduled and tries to connect again. If you are unable to connect, make sure that your Internet connection is configured properly.
Scans Your Files
After successfully downloading the Updater List, the software scans your hard drive(s) and builds a list of the software you have installed. This list is destroyed when Insider Updates quits and is never transmitted anywhere, preserving your privacy.
Compares Version Information
The software then compares the version numbers and other information of the software you have installed against the database of available updaters.
Displays the Downloads Window
After this process is complete, a window opens listing the updaters applicable to your Mac. Some of the updates in the list are highlighted indicating that you have not yet downloaded them, and that Insider Updates will download them during this session. To de-select specific updaters, hold down the command key and click on the updater.
This window also displays updaters that you have previously downloaded or manually de-selected. If you want to download an updater again, hold down the command key and click on the updater to select it. Remember, to download updaters again, you must run through the program to display the Downloads window and command-click the updaters you want to download.
Downloads Updaters
In the last step, the software downloads the necessary updaters from Insider’s server and places your new updates in a folder named ‘New Insider Updaters’.
After completion, the Insider Updates window displays the number of updaters that were downloaded. If there is a problem downloading a particular updater, the software skips the file and attempts to download the remaining files.
