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April 2014
Firefox 29.0
29 April 2014
Mozilla has released Version 29.0 of the Firefox browser. The most significant change is a redesigned user interface, with more prominent customization features, and the ability to create a Firefox Account to use for Firefox Sync. I am doing a major revision of the Firefox Tweak Guide due to the changes, and that will be released shortly.
Flash Player 13.0
28 April 2014
Adobe has released Version 13.0.0.206 of the Flash Player plugin for browsers. Use Windows Update to update the built-in Flash Player in IE11 under Windows 8.
AMD Catalyst 14.4 WHQL
26 April 2014
AMD has released the official Catalyst 14.4 WHQL certified graphics driver for the HD 5000 series and above under Windows Vista, 7 and 8. Just like the recent 14.4 RC, this driver adds support for the R9 295X graphics card, provides Mantle improvements in BF4, has CrossFire improvements, and provides OpenGL 4.4 support.
CPU-Z 1.69
26 April 2014
A new Version 1.69.2 of the CPU-Z information utility has been released. This version adds support for new chipsets as well as support for DDR4 memory and improved AMD FCH detection.
Chrome 34.0
25 April 2014
Google has released Version 34.0.1847.131 of the Chrome browser. This version contains a Flash Player update and bug fixes.
CCleaner 4.13
25 April 2014
A new Version 4.13.4693 of the free CCleaner system cleaning utility has been released. Changes include Windows 8.1 Update 1 compatibility, improved Chrome, Opera, Windows Defender, Winamp and Filezilla cleaning, along with a range of minor improvements and bug fixes.
Start8 1.41
25 April 2014
Stardock has released Version 1.41 of the Start8 Start Menu replacement utility for Windows 8. This version fixes a resource leak and clipping of the last item in the list.
Shockwave 12.1
23 April 2014
Adobe has released Version 12.1.1.151 of the Shockwave player plugin for browsers.
AMD Catalyst 14.4 RC
22 April 2014
AMD has released the Catalyst 14.4 Release Candidate graphics driver for the HD 5000 series and above on Windows 7 and 8. This RC adds support for the R9 295X graphics card, provides Mantle improvements in BF4, has CrossFire improvements, and provides OpenGL 4.4 support.
Windows Essentials
17 April 2014
Microsoft has updated the Windows Essentials package, which contains a range of programs including Windows Live Mail, Photo Gallery and Movie Maker. The changelog is not yet available.
Nvidia GeForce 337.61 Beta Hotfix
17 April 2014
Nvidia has released the 337.61 Beta Hotfix graphics driver. This driver is for GeForce 8 and higher graphics cards under Windows 7 and 8. It is specifically aimed at resolving display issues on Dell UltraSharp UP3214Q/UP2414Q LCD monitors, and for systems which experience a Code 43 error message after installing driver 337.50 on a PC with Hyper-V enabled. In all other respects it is the same as the recent 337.50 GeForce drivers.
Windows Updates
17 April 2014
Microsoft has released a new version of the Updates which were part of Windows 8.1 Update 1, as well as providing an Update to solve an issue on Windows 8.1 systems that use WSUS.
Media Player Classic Home Cinema 1.7.4
17 April 2014
A new Version 1.7.4 of the free Media Player Classic Home Cinema player has been released. This update adds autorefresh for the information and title bar, has subtitle improvements, and contains bug fixes.
Java Runtime Environment 8.5
16 April 2014
Oracle has released an Update 5 to the Java Runtime Environment 8.
Java Runtime Environment 7.55
16 April 2014
Oracle has released an Update 55 to the Java Runtime Environment 7.
GPU-Z 0.7.8
14 April 2014
GPU-Z, a free graphics card information utility, has reached Version 0.7.8. Changes include the ability to resize the GPU-Z window while sensor tab is active, support for new chipsets as well as bug fixes.
Microsoft Security Essentials 4.5
9 April 2014
Microsoft has released a new Version 4.5.0216.0 of its free Microsoft Security Essentials anti-malware package for Windows Vista and 7. You can update from the link above, or wait for it to become available via Windows Update.
Chrome 34.0
9 April 2014
Google has released Version 34.0.1847.116 of the Chrome browser. Changes in this version include a different look for Windows 8 Metro mode, new apps/extension APIs, updating of the Flash Player, along with security and bug fixes.
Windows 8.1 Update 1
9 April 2014
Microsoft has officially released Update 1 for Windows 8.1. It is available for free from Windows Update. You can also download the files directly: first ensure that you have installed the Prerequisite Update, then download either the 32-bit or 64-bit update files and install them in the specific order detailed under the Install Instructions section. The majority of the changes in Update 1 are aimed at improving the usability of Metro for mouse and keyboard. Details of the changes are provided here. Note: Microsoft has stated that all future security and nonsecurity updates for Windows 8.1 require this update to be installed. I will be updating the TweakGuides Tweaking Companion for Windows 8 to cover all of the changes, along with a few other updates, over the next couple of weeks - stay tuned.
Windows XP End of Support
9 April 2014
A final reminder that today marks the official End of Support for Windows XP. Microsoft will no longer provide any updates for Windows XP, including security updates. Some third party software developers are also dropping XP support in their products and drivers. This leaves Windows XP users open to security vulnerabilities. If you are running Windows XP on a system that is connected to the Internet, or on which you run any files downloaded from the Internet or copied from other systems, then it is strongly recommended that you update to a recent and fully supported OS, such as Windows 7 or 8.
Microsoft Security Updates
9 April 2014
Microsoft has released its monthly set of Windows security updates which you can download individually from here or get through Windows Update.
Flash Player 13.0
9 April 2014
Adobe has released Version 13.0.0.182 of the Flash Player plugin for browsers. Use Windows Update to update the built-in Flash Player in IE11 under Windows 8.
Nvidia GeForce 337.50 Beta
8 April 2014
Nvidia has released the 337.50 Beta graphics driver. This driver is for GeForce 8 and higher graphics cards under Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8. It introduces DirectX optimizations which increase performance across a range of games. It also contains a new 3D Compatibility Mode, and updated SLI and 3D Vision profiles, as well as bug fixes. The driver package incorporates the 9.13.1220 PhysX drivers and GeForce Experience 2.0.
Site Update
4 April 2014
There are interesting changes afoot for Windows based on recent announcements, such as those at this week's Microsoft Build Developer Conference. Little by little, there are positive signs that Microsoft is at least trying to rectify its complete loss of direction, a loss of direction that drove me to write an angry Windows 8.1 opinion piece last year. Brad Wardell, CEO of Stardock, makers of key Windows 8 utilities Start8 and ModernMix, has published a short Opinion Piece over at Neowin that summarizes the recent missteps, and now the potential return to a cohesive vision, for Microsoft. It's still early days, and we have yet to see whether all of this talk actually translates into appropriate actions. But I finally have some hope that Windows will see a return of user choice, and some respect for traditional desktop users. All I ask now is that game developers have a similar epiphany, and stop churning out the same old rubbish with a shiny new coat of paint each year.
Opera 20.0
3 April 2014
The Opera browser has been updated to Version 20.0.1387.91. This version contains bug fixes.
Start Menu to Return
3 April 2014
Microsoft has confirmed at the Build 2014 conference that the Start Menu will return to Windows. At the moment it is unclear whether it will be added in another update for Windows 8.1, or as part of Windows 9.
Windows 8.1 Update 1
3 April 2014
Microsoft has announced at the Build 2014 conference that Windows 8.1 Update 1 will be released on 8 April via Windows Update. Paul Thurrott has a good rundown of the features in this update here. I will be updating the TweakGuides Tweaking Companion for Windows 8 to include these changes shortly.
Start8 1.40
3 April 2014
Stardock has released Version 1.40 of the Start8 Start Menu replacement utility for Windows 8. This version provides support for Windows 8.1 Update 1, along with bug fixes.
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