They are different because the two are different.
We aren't talking about the Virus Definitions as they are AUTOMATICALLY installed by default, Program Updates are set to ASK and that should generate the pop-up notification of an update being available not that one has just been done.
The problem is that the program update cycle can be up to 7 days to spread server load all 130 million plus active users can't get the program update at the same time. So when it is your turn in the barrel you get the pop-up notification of an update being available.
If you happen to look in the GUI and see one is available then grab it as you may have missed seeing the notification pop-up of an update being available or that change in the UI pre-dates the actual pop-up (which I guess happens after the avast.setup checking for updates). When the program is out of date you should also see a change to the avast tray icon as the Program Version is one option monitored by the Status Bar settings.
Of course there is nothing to stop the user changing the Update settings to auto update for the program also.
David, Do I have to repeat once more what I have already explained several times in several topics related to this issue? I myself have opened a topic for this program update tray notification issue.
I understand EXACTLY the points you just mentioned, and I have no way to probe to you that I did NOT miss the tray notification about a program update being available for download. Moreover, if *that* were the case, Avast should have the possibility to show it again (unless the user sets it otherwise).
I have no way to probe to you that the program update tray notification has not being displayed for several stable releases since last year.
To be clear, for any other user that haven't read (yet) my several posts and explanations about this issue, I'm not talking about antivirus database tray notifications.
The OP in this specific topic said he uses automatic updates. I am using "ask" (which is the default for millions of Avast users for program updates). Neither of us see the program update tray notification. I won't speak on behalf / instead other settings / other users, specially when I'm not so sure which is the expected behaviour in their systems.
In MY case ("ask"), NO tray notification about PROGRAM updates being available for download is being displayed. Not for 1 week, not for months, and I haven't missed it. It is not being displayed, when it should.
Can I update the program manually? OF COURSE. Is this such a big problem FOR ME? No, it is not. Is this a POTENTIAL problem for millions of users not checking/opening the GUI? YES.
Only 1 week? Acceptable? If there are no special security issues, I would wait for 2 weeks too. Only 3 or 4 program updates during one year, as it used to be? Let's say we accept that too.
But, no program update tray notification at all, for months and after several stable releases being out there, with the official public changelog history being updated? I don't think that is "normal", and that is more an Avast problem, rather than a problem of a specific user/system.
Most frequent users coming to the forum are updating their programs manually, without waiting for a tray notification, so most of the frequent users here won't have any problem, and won't notice any problem.
But, What about those millions of users not coming to the forum and not opening the GUI?
As I already explained in the topic I opened, once more I'll resist the temptation of updating the program manually using the GUI, until I see the tray notification, just to probe my point. If enough users can do the same and report it, then "maybe" Avast Team will finally notice it. Sadly, it seems not so many frequent users are willing to do the same.