Is there a service available anywhere that sends out emails when various major programs are upgraded? Many applications I'm running have that notification built in (e.g. gaim), and Slackware has a security mailing list, but it would be nice to know when, say, Firefox and Thunderbird release new versions.

No.

Good greif, do you have any idea what that would entail?

However: many distros have their own web sites and specialist forums which will showcase major upgrades important to that distribution. Similarily, developer sites will often tell you about latest releases.

For eg. When Mozilla releases new versions of Firefox and Thunderbird, this is announced on mozilla.org ... and is quickly picked up elsewhere. If nothing else, you'll know when Firefox 1.6 comes out from all the posts saying "I can't get fx 1.6 to connect to the internet".

Anyway - I understand Mozilla has a mailing list too.

I don't know, probably a similar process as whatever goes on with those general security sites that have mailing lists and releases when various security issues come up for major applications.

I know it's available there, but it would be handy to get an email when a new version is released and not have to remember to keep checking the web page every so often.

Those security sites are only e-mailing you about updates and so on to a single app. Most software maintainers will do that. Visit the web site and ask - they'll usually want you to register or something.

What you asked about was some way of getting e-mail info whever there was anupgrade to any major package. Quit a lot more work involved. Don't believe me? Set one up.

Mozillazine is how you keep up to date about firefox and thunderbird.
http://forums.mozillazine.org/index....381bd4e6b6fa7a

If you register, you'll get notifications like LQ.

Hmm, I was thinking something like this that has general security advisories for many major components of major distros.

I'm already a member of Mozillazine and have never got a notification like that. Is there a preference somewhere I'm missing?