Update Site > Package Installer

When I download a .deb file and install it using "Package Installer", I'm stuck with that package and won't get notified if they release a newer version. (at least to my experience).

Examples I've ran into personally are DropBox and VirtualBox(the current versions they have on their site).

Both of these companies have both an update site and have direct links to .deb -files on some Download -page. Which is both good and bad. Bad because you can choose the .deb -file, and the user probably do that because they want to get it quickly and not be bothered with updating update sites / sources.list. If you choose the .deb -file the clock is ticking and your version of that software will eventually become outdated, and this is probably not what normal users "really" wants.

My initial though is: Wouldn't it be nice if the people who package .deb -files are able to put an update site as metadata on the .deb -package? This way "Package Installer" could suggest putting that particular update site in sources.list instead of the current attempt of one-time install.

Or have Ubuntu respond to link such as: <a href="updatesite://update.mycompany.com/debian">Install Software and update sources.list</a>. This both installs the software and updates sources.list. This way software vendors can put these out instead of direct .deb.

... or something like that. You get the idea I'm sure.

Thanks.