ARCHIVED NEWS
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June 2007
iTunes 7.3
30 June 2007
To coincide with the public release of the iPhone, Apple has put out iTunes 7.3. The main change of course is support for the new iPhone.
Vista Ultimate Add-Ons Lacking
30 June 2007
Despite committing to provide a range of add-ons for the very expensive Vista Ultimate Edition, Microsoft has not honored these promises so far. To date only three main 'Ultimate Extras' have been released: Bitlocker, Hold 'Em Poker and a beta of DreamScene, and all of them released several months ago with no update since. If you're considering purchasing Windows Vista, and you don't have any need for Ultimate's networking features, then I recommend Vista Home Premium as the best choice.
Game Patches
30 June 2007
Realtek HD Audio Driver 1.70
29 June 2007
Realtek has released Version 1.70 of their HD Audio driver for Windows XP/2K and Vista.
Battlefield 2 Highway Tampa Map
29 June 2007
The final version of the free Highway Tampa map for BF2 has been released. It's undergone some minor gameplay tweaks compared to the original beta version.
Game Patches
29 June 2007
Site Update
28 June 2007
After much thought, discussion, and some private experimentation, I've re-opened the TweakGuides Forums. However while everyone can read its contents as before, to become an Invited Member with full posting rights, you must now go through the Invitation System. The rationale behind this system, and the forums in general, is detailed in the Forum Philosophy. The aim of the 'new' forums is to foster a community of intelligent, mature, productive people who wish to genuinely discuss a range of topics rather than simply argue with, belittle, outsmart, beg for help from, or annoy other members.
Game Patches
28 June 2007
Nvidia Beta Forceware 162.15
27 June 2007
Nvidia has released a Beta 162.15 Forceware driver set for all GeForce FX,6,7,8 series cards in Windows XP. The changes include a wide range of fixes, as well as improved compatibility in Lost Planet.
Update: There is now also a Beta 162.15 Forceware for Windows Vista, which includes more fixes, Lost Planet compatibility improvements, and adds the Digital Vibrance option for the GeForce 8 series.
Update 2: Nvidia has removed the Vista version as there are apparently some issues with it.
SoundBlaster Audigy LS, SE, Value and Live! 24-Bit 1.04.0076 Drivers
27 June 2007
Creative has released new 1.04.0076 Drivers for both Windows XP and Vista for the SoundBlaster Audigy LS, Audigy SE, Audigy Value and SoundBlaster Live! 24-Bit sound cards. In particular the drivers enable new features for these cards in Vista, so they are highly recommended.
Microsoft Windows Patches
27 June 2007
Microsoft has released a Hotfix which improves the reliability of systems that use Intel processors on Windows XP, Vista, and 2003. You may have already installed this hotfix through Windows Update, but if not it is recommended that you install it now. There are also several other new reliability and bug fix patches available for Windows XP, Vista and 2003 which you can view and download from here.
RealPlayer 11
27 June 2007
A new RealPlayer 11 media player has been released. The player supports all formats, and the Basic Player version can be downloaded for free.
Creative X-Fi Software Suite 2007
27 June 2007
Creative has released a downloadable ISO of the Software Suite 2007 disk for use with X-Fi sound cards under Windows Vista.
Game Patches
27 June 2007
ATI Catalyst 7.6
26 June 2007
ATI has released the 7.6 Catalysts. The changes include general fixes, as well as performance improvements for the HD2900XT in Half Life 2: Episode 1 and Dark Messiah of Might & Magic. The ATI Catalyst Tweak Guide has been updated but there are no significant changes.
BF2142 Beta 1.40 Patch
26 June 2007
EA/Dice has released a Beta 1.40 Patch for Battlefield 2142. While the patch doesn't appear to contain any bug fixes, it does contain some gameplay changes, and includes the new Highway Tampa map which was also recently released for BF2. Since this is a beta, it is only recommended for those who want to beta test these new changes.
Game Patches
26 June 2007
Enemy Territory: Quake Wars Public Beta
24 June 2007
For the past three days the public beta of Enemy Territory: Quake Wars has only been available to Fileplanet subscribers. Today the ET:QW beta is available to non-subscribers, so get in quick if you want to be involved. I've got my beta key, so I can start preparing the ET:QW Tweak Guide early - stay tuned for more on that later.
Update: If you missed out today, there is still one last batch of keys available tomorrow.
Update 2: The beta is now closed. I've put up a couple of sample Gameplay Videos to show how ET:QW plays.
Game Patches
24 June 2007
Safari 3.02 Beta
23 June 2007
Apple has released another update for the new Safari beta browser for Windows, bringing it up to Version 3.02. The changes include security and stability fixes.
Windows XP Service Pack 3
22 June 2007
Microsoft has confirmed that Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) is planned for release in 2008, not earlier as previously thought. The precise contents and actual release date of SP3 are not yet clear.
Realtek HD Audio Driver 1.69
21 June 2007
Realtek has released Version 1.69 of their HD Audio driver for Windows XP/2K and Vista.
Call of Juarez US Version 1.1.1.0 Patch
21 June 2007
A 1.1.1.0 Patch is now available for the recently released US Version of Call of Juarez. The patch is only for the Windows Vista (DX10) version of the game, and includes the addition of the DX10 benchmark, as well as stability and performance optimizations.
MS to Change Desktop Search in Vista SP1
21 June 2007
Microsoft has agreed to change the Desktop Search feature in Windows Vista to address concerns raised by Google. The change will be incorporated into Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1), a beta of which Microsoft says will be out late this year. The change will effectively give users a choice as to the engine they use to conduct searches within Windows, either the built in Vista engine or a third party alternative.
Game Patches
21 June 2007
MS Office Compatibility Pack
20 June 2007
Microsoft has released the Office Compatibility Pack which allows users of previous versions of Office to open, edit and save in the new Office 2007 formats for Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Game Patches
20 June 2007
Windows SteadyState
19 June 2007
Microsoft has released Windows SteadyState, a free tool for Windows XP which makes it easier to manage public/shared PCs. There is also a SteadyState Handbook for those who want to learn more.
Quake 4 1.4.2 Patch
19 June 2007
A major 1.4.2 Patch has been released for Quake 4, containing a range of changes. I will update the Quake 4 Tweak Guide for these changes shortly.
Enemy Territory: Quake Wars Public Beta
19 June 2007
More details have emerged about the ET:QW Public Beta release, which is being coordinated through Fileplanet. Whether you are a Fileplanet subscriber or not, you are eligible to be involved, however it is on a first come, first served basis.
Game Patches
19 June 2007
Battlefield 2 Stats Outage
18 June 2007
It appears that players of Battlefield 2 have not been receiving all the points they've earned whilst playing on ranked servers since around 14 June. It is understood that EA is aware of this issue, and it may be resolved shortly.
Enemy Territory: Quake Wars Public Beta
17 June 2007
It appears that a Public Beta of Enemy Territory: Quake Wars has been released, but is only available to Fileplanet subscribers at the moment. Apparently it will officially be available soon.
Update: More details about the public beta have been released here.
Game Patches
16 June 2007
ZoneAlarm Firewall for Vista
15 June 2007
Check Point Software has released the Vista-compatible version of its free ZoneAlarm Firewall - click the 'Get ZoneAlarm for Vista' link under Quick Links. I generally believe that the built-in Windows Firewall in Vista is more than adequate for all users, however ZoneAlarm is useful for those looking for something even more customizable.
Diskeeper Build 709 for Vista
15 June 2007
A new Diskeeper Build 709 has been released for the Vista version of this defragmentation utility. Diskeeper users can obtain the new build by using the built-in updater.
Mozilla Thunderbird 2.0.0.4
15 June 2007
Mozilla has released a new Version 2.0.0.4 of its free Thunderbird email client. The updated version includes a range of security fixes.
Game Patches
15 June 2007
Safari 3.01 Beta
15 June 2007
Apple has released Version 3.01 of the Safari browser public beta, addressing security flaws found in the initial release.
Office 2007 Hotfix
14 June 2007
Microsoft has released a Hotfix Rollup for all Office 2007 products, fixing the English language spell checker.
Game Patches
14 June 2007
Neverwinter Nights 2 1.06 Patch
13 June 2007
The final 1.06.973 Patch has been released for Neverwinter Nights 2, and includes bug fixes and new toolset features. I've updated the NWN 2 Tweak Guide but there are no major changes.
GRAW 2 Tweak Guide
13 June 2007
Having enjoyed the recently released GRAW 2 Multiplayer Demo, I've put together a GRAW 2 Tweak Guide which covers all of the game's settings in detail, as well as providing advanced tweaks and gameplay tips. The guide will be updated when the full version of the game arrives later this month, but for now I encourage all GRAW 2 players to give it a read through as it likely has something you'll find useful.
Creative ALChemy for X-Fi 1.00.04
13 June 2007
Creative has released a new Version 1.00.04 of its ALchemy software for SoundBlaster X-Fi owners under Windows Vista. This latest version has several fixes and changes over the original release, and is the only way X-Fi owners will get full audio acceleration in games which use DirectSound in Vista.
Microsoft Security Updates
13 June 2007
Microsoft has released its monthly set of Windows security updates which you can get through Windows Update, or if not there by viewing and downloading them from here.
Game Patches
13 June 2007
Safari 3 Public Beta
12 June 2007
Apple has released a Public Beta of their free Safari 3 browser for Windows. Apple claims that Safari is more than 1.5 times faster than Firefox or Internet Explorer, and is much easier to use. It's definitely worth a try, and it does seem quite fast, though the speed difference between IE7, Firefox and Safari are minimal on my system. Whether you like it is as much a question of personal taste as anything else.
Update: Safari 3 already has Security Flaws, so it is best to use it mainly for testing purposes.
Game Patches
11 June 2007
Site Update
10 June 2007
I've been quite impressed with the GRAW 2 Demo which came out recently. It's confusing at first, but once you get the hang of it, it's a good balance between realism and fun. I'm preparing a short GRAW 2 Tweak Guide for the demo which should be out in the next few days. The guide will also include some basic gameplay tips for those who are utterly confused about how all the features of the game work.
Logitech SetPoint 4.00
9 June 2007
Logitech has released Version 4.00 of the SetPoint software for mice under Windows XP and Vista.
Game Patches
9 June 2007
Call of Juarez DirectX10 Benchmark
8 June 2007
The Call of Juarez DX10 Benchmark has been publicly released. There are more details at the bottom of Page 4 of my Call of Juarez Tweak Guide, along with my performance results and screenshots. I've also created a YouTube Video of the benchmark, or you can download the 99MB High Quality Video. Note that the full Call of Juarez game was released last year in many parts of the world, but has only just been released in the US. There will be a DirectX10 patch available for the full CoJ game shortly.
Game Patches
8 June 2007
Ad-Aware 2007
8 June 2007
Lavasoft has released the Ad-Aware 2007 adware/spyware scanner. The free version is recommended for all users. Note that if you have a previous version of Ad-Aware installed, uninstall it first.
Update: Note that Vista is not yet supported, only Windows XP/2K/03.
ATI Catalyst 7.5 Hotfix
8 June 2007
ATI has released a Hotfix driver update for the 7.5 Catalysts. The hotfix addresses an issue with Armed Assault, however ATI recommends that even XP users who do not play ArmA install this newer version.
Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 Demo
8 June 2007
Ubisoft has released the GRAW 2 Multiplayer Demo. I'll be looking at how tweakable the game is and hopefully preparing a short tweak guide for the demo, then a full version when the game is officially released.
Update: A 1.01 Patch has already been released for the demo. It is likely for the original Beta MP Demo, but it appears to work on the new public demo also.
Update 2: I've uploaded a sample of gameplay in this YouTube Video.
SpaceTime 3D Browser
7 June 2007
SpaceTime 3D is a free browser/add-on that allows you to search and browse the web in 3D, similar to Vista's Flip 3D feature. For usage details, see the SpaceTime User Guide. While still in beta form, it's worth trying out to see if you find it useful.
Game Patches
7 June 2007
DirectX June Update
6 June 2007
Microsoft has released the June Update for DirectX. Currently there is only the full redistributable, however the web installer will be available shortly. It's not critical, but it is recommended that all Windows gamers - including Vista users - upgrade to the latest version.
Update: The Web Installer is now available, though I still recommend the full redistributable for successfully updating Vista.
Battlefield 2 Beta Highway Tampa Map
6 June 2007
EA has released a new free add-on Highway Tampa map for BF2. The map is currently in beta form, and it also has ad billboards placed throughout it just like the BF2142 maps.
Adobe Reader 8.1
6 June 2007
Adobe has released Version 8.1 of their free PDF Reader software. The changes include compatibility fixes for Vista.
Internet Explorer & Firefox Security Vulnerabilities
6 June 2007
There are several new Security Vulnerabilities currently affecting Internet Explorer 6, 7 and Firefox. As yet these are not patched.
Game Patches
6 June 2007
Windows Messenger 5.1
6 June 2007
Microsoft has released Windows Messenger 5.1.
Nvidia Forceware 158.24 for GeForce 6/7/8
5 June 2007
To further add to the plethora of confusing Forceware driver releases, Nvidia has put out the Official Forceware 158.24 for Vista. This driver appears to be the final WHQL certified version of the Beta 158.24 drivers which were released on 3 May. It supports GeForce 6, 7 and 8 series cards in the one package, however GeForce 8 users are better off using the more recent Beta 158.45 Forceware for DirectX 10 gaming in particular.
Game Patches
5 June 2007
Site Update
4 June 2007
Given the relative lack of enthusiasm for the game and its somewhat dated graphics, I've decided not to do a guide for Halo 2. To make matters worse, Enemy Territory: Quake Wars has been delayed and is now set for release any time between July and the end of September of this year. The period around September 2007 in particular will be a very busy month as Unreal Tournament 3, World in Conflict, Half Life 2: Episode 2 and Crysis are all slated for release around that time, and I'm planning on doing guides for all of them! I'm currently considering a few other things for the site during this quieter period, so stay tuned.
Nvidia Forceware 94.24 (Re-Release)
3 June 2007
Nvidia has re-released the Forceware 94.24 drivers for non-GeForce 8 series cards in Windows 2K/XP. These drivers are now WHQL certified and appear to have resolved the earlier issue of not having the proper control panel.
Update: Several people have emailed me to say that the drivers aren't actually WHQL certified when installing them. This shouldn't be a cause for concern.
Game Patches
3 June 2007
ATI Catalyst 7.5
1 June 2007
ATI has released the Catalyst 7.5 graphics drivers. Aside from game and bug fixes, these add DirectX10 support for the newly released HD2900XT, and provide improved OpenGL performance on X1950 XTX/Pro and X1650 XT cards.
Nvidia Beta Forceware 158.45 for GeForce 8 Series
1 June 2007
Nvidia has released a new Beta Forceware 158.45 for GeForce 8 series cards under Windows Vista. The main change in this driver is improved DX10 performance when using the new Version 1.7.0 of Company of Heroes.
Game Patches
1 June 2007
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