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 When the program is out of date you should also see a change to the avast tray icon as the Program Version is one option monitored by the Status Bar settings.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.