Peculiar habits: Software update checking

Since as far back as I’ve had access to the Internet, I’ve been an obsessive checker, that is someone who will check for website updates every hour (sometimes less) to see what was new. This started with video gaming websites and AOL message boards, but since RSS made this a trivial issue, I’ve moved on to software updates.

Software updates were different because they affected the computer and how it could be used. Anything from graphics drivers to Firefox extensions would be checked at least every two days (but Firefox was my go to when I needed a fix). It’s like free remedies or features for your computer to make it easier and faster and better, and it’s amazing. “What, you mean I can play my games in ASCII with the new video card driver? I must have it!”

And nowadays it’s transitioned to checking for app updates on my phone; at least twice a day I will go to the Play Store and click My Apps to see that beautiful “Update All” button and read the release notes in detail. Some even offer the greatest release notes whenever they update.

Oh and if I hear there’s an update on the Play Store but it’s not yet available for my phone because of Google’s rolling deployments, I will seek out the APK to update the app manually. This is how bad it is… or maybe it’s good?

Could one of these updates hold the answer to life, the universe, and everything? Or am I hoping that, by proxy, the update will improve me?