"Check for Updates..." is (still) taking liberties with the truth

[RafSchietekat]

"Check for Updates..." from VirtualBox 5.1.30 on macOS generates a response that says:

"You are already running the most recent version of Virtualbox."

However, ​https://www.virtualbox.org has a big blue "Download VirtualBox 5.2" button, and even an announcement of a 5.2.4 maintenance release, so something is not quite right there...

If you want to spread out updates, for whatever reason, please don't do that by lying to your users!

I suggest a message like the following instead:

"We do not yet generally recommend updating from your currently installed version of VirtualBox."

[Socratis]

The latest of the 5.1.x series, *is* 5.1.30, so I wouldn't be so hastily calling it a "lie". If anything else, I'd be calling it something less harsh.

It's not a matter of wanting to spread updates or not. It's a matter of selected updates. Everybody and their mother does that, it's not VirtualBox specific.

A quick visit to the forums would have also saved you the trouble of opening a ticket that's soon to be closed as "Invalid" and the developers from dealing with it. ;)

[RafSchietekat]

I still can't get my head around how much of a crime it seems to be to point out a lie, but apparently not to tell a lie... I remember "frank" throwing a major tantrum when I reported this before, but apparently nothing has changed, and VirtualBox users are still treated like children who have to be manipulated.

1. It doesn't say "in this series".
2. Sure, that's covered by "for whatever reason", but you still don't have to lie about it.
3. I would feel worse for having been cowed into silence.

I know we live in a post-truth world now, but part of the reason why I work with computers is an attempt to escape all those Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them (the title of a book about politicians).

[Socratis]

Some people still need to be treated as children, no matter if they think they are adults. Some could even call your behavior childish, but of course not me.

[RafSchietekat]

Thank you for making your position abundantly clear.

[Klaus Espenlaub]

Let's take a step back... the VirtualBox update check offers 3 "update channels" (see Preferences..., Update tab):

1. Stable Release Versions (which is default)
2. All New Releases
3. All New Releases and Pre-Releases

The update channel 1 gives only super-solid updates (currently this means 5.1.30), whereas channel 2 also gives releases which haven't been time proven (currently 5.2.4), and channel 3 would also give notifications for beta versions (but since currently there's no beta testing it also reports 5.2.4).

If we'd get too aggressive we would end up with complaints that there are too many regressions in a new release. Also, the update message needs to be simple, otherwise it will cause confusion (yes, we could show that both 5.1.30 an 5.2.4 are out, with appropriate messages, but then people who want only the rock solid versions would complain about annoying update notifications). That's why there's the option in the preferences. Set it once to whatever you expect and your issue is solved.

No need to accuse the VirtualBox development team of treating users like children (and no reason for responding to such an accusation with more insults). We treat you as adults, letting you express what you want. Your preference is not everyone's preference.

Yes, we could change the wording of the "no newer version" message, but I'm unsure if the average user would be willing to spend the brain cycles to figure out what "in the current channel" means. Complicated messages are often only suitable for power users, and we can't assume that every VirtualBox user is one.

[johnlee]

While on subject of these update channels - I use them as soon as they are available to check the upcoming release version will work. Just a suggestion to make them even better:

when an update is uploaded by devs to what you call channel 2 send message eg to the 'using virtualbox' forum saying it is available, with a short summary of the changes/fixes since last release, that are in the help file for this version, section 15. This would draw user's attention to the new update.

I know the usual reply is that the devs don't have time but imo this would save devs time overall because it would get more people using the updates & enable problems to be flagged & fixed earlier. I'm guessing the time needed would be just a few minutes when the devs commit the new version.

[RafSchietekat]

After the comment by klaus, I amend my proposal to state something like, e.g., "You are already running the most recent stable release version or later.", with a button to open the Update Preferences.

Telling the the truth makes a world of difference, and does not have to tax a VirtualBox user's brain at all!