Get new features and better performance by keeping your Mac up to date

When you unpack your shiny new Mac, the software on it is usually bang up to date. But over time, companies release new versions that add fresh features, bring better performance and fix problems. For this reason, it’s vital you keep the software on your Mac as up to date as possible — from the system that powers it to your individual Mac, iPhone, iPad and iPod touch apps. The tricky thing is that there’s no single place to go to make sure you’re running the latest versions, so checking can be time-consuming. So we’re going to show you the main places to look, and share some handy shortcuts that can save you huge amounts of time.

While your Mac may be running fine, updating has a range of advantages. Apple often releases updates to its software, including OS X, iWork and iLife, that include new features. These updates are also often used to fix bugs that have been discovered, meaning that your Mac and its apps should run better after updating. Updates can also be released to fix security holes in OS X or your apps, so you should install these updates as quickly as possible.

Updates to OS X and your other apps come from the internet, and can be very large files. Depending on your broadband connection speed, they can take time to download. And if you’re on a package that limits your monthly use, these updates can eat into it significantly, so keep this in mind before you update.

The updates we’re looking at in this tutorial are incremental ones and will almost always be free to download. More significant updates probably won’t be, however.
 
Note that some apps’ updates won’t appear in any of the places we show you. Instead, look for a Check for Updates… entry in the app’s menu, which is the one next to the  menu in the top-left of your screen. The app will then check if there’s a newer version available.

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Keep Your Mac Up to Date
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    Check Software Update

    Any updates to OS X or key Apple apps that haven’t come from the Mac App Store will appear under Apple Software Update…. Select it and let your Mac search for updates. Use the checkboxes to decide which updates (if any) to install – we recommend leaving all checked.

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    Download and Install

    Click Download to get things going. You may be asked to type in your administrator password. You can continue to use your Mac while the files are on their way. Once it’s done, Software Update will install the updates and ask you to restart, if necessary.

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    Update App Store Apps

    Any apps from the Mac App Store need to be updated through the App Store. Go to  App Store; if there are updates available, a number badge appears on the Updates tab at the top of the window. Click it to see what’s available, then Update to get the latest versions.

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    The Other App Store

    An app called Bodega looks like the Mac App Store but with different apps. Its advantage is that it tells you about updates to any apps on your Mac, provided they’re on Bodega’s listings (even if you didn’t buy them through it). Get the app from www.appbodega.com and open it up.

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    Updating in Bodega

    Click Applications in the left column. This will list all apps on your Mac that are also on Bodega. It won’t be all of them, but you may be surprised by how many appear. Click Get on the right-hand side of an app’s entry to download a new version, followed by Install.

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    Use MacUpdate Desktop

    A more thorough way to check for app updates is to use MacUpdate Desktop from http://macupdate.com/desktop. Download it and sign up for a free 10-day trial. Your apps that need updating appear in red under Applications on the left. Not all will be free.

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    iPhone, iPad, iPod touch

    If you have an iOS device, it will need updates too. Open iTunes, connect your device to your Mac and click it in the left column. On the right, click Check for Update to see if there’s a newer version of iOS available. If there is, you’ll be shown how to install it.

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    Your iOS Apps

    Still in iTunes, look for a number badge next to the Apps entry in the left column. Click Apps, then press command+R to see what’s available. Click Download All Free Updates. Once they’re downloaded, remember to sync your device to make sure the latest versions are installed.

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    Quick Tip

    Tell Software Update to check for updates on a periodic basis. Click the  menu and System Preferences. Click Software Update Scheduled Check, and adjust the settings in the lower section. If need be, click the padlock to make changes.

Article source: http://www.maclife.com/article/howtos/how_keep_your_mac_updated_os_x_lion