Once installed on your system, it connects to the Cybermedia host using your own internet connection. Oil Change will poll your system for installed software applications and drivers, noting the version numbers. It then polls its host to check and see if there have been any updates, bug fixes or patches produced for the applications you have.
If so, Oil change will notify of the updates, list the features and changes in them, and at your command download them to your system. It will then provide a manual or autoinstall feature to implement the update.
All the update files are virus tested at the host site so file retrieval from Cybermedia is safer than a local BBS or some other sites.
If you've every spent a day trying to get updates or tech support from the Internet or on the phone you can imagine the time and effort this will save.
Even brand new computer systems come with outdated bundled software. New software purchased at computer stores often have updates available before you even get it installed.
In my first use of Oil Change I was able to retrieve and fix bugs in Microsoft Access, Word and Excel, Worperfect, Quicken and I just got notified and received the latest Netscape update.
Oil Change is currently in beta testing with a September 96 release
date. The retail version will run around $30-40 a year. You can get the
beta free from the Cybermedia website at http://www.cybermedia.com.