ARCHIVED NEWS
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June 2010
Game Patches
30 June 2010
Adobe Reader 9.3.3
30 June 2010
Adobe has released Version 9.3.3 of the Adobe Reader software for viewing PDF documents. This update contains performance improvements, improved browser support, and security fixes.
Winamp 5.58
30 June 2010
The free Winamp media player has been updated to Version 5.58. This version contains a range of minor improvements and fixes.
Foxit Reader 4.0
30 June 2010
The free Foxit PDF Reader has been updated to Version 4.0.0.0619. This version contains a range of new features including comments tools, text viewer and converter, form filler, spell checker and advanced editing tools, along with bug fixes.
Nvidia Beta Forceware 258.69
29 June 2010
Nvidia has released the Beta Forceware 258.69 driver for Windows Vista and 7. This driver is for the GeForce 6, 7, 8, 9, 100, 200, 300, 400 and ION series cards. It adds support for Nvidia 3D Vision Surround technology, and contains a range of bug fixes. The driver package also contains the 9.10.0223 PhysX drivers.
Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0.1963.0
29 June 2010
Microsoft has released a new Version 1.0.1963.0 of its free Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) anti-malware package for Windows XP, Vista and 7. The update is available through MSE itself or via Windows Update.
Game Patches
29 June 2010
Firefox 3.6.6
27 June 2010
Mozilla has released Version 3.6.6 of the Firefox browser. This version modifies the crash protection feature to increase the amount of time that plugins are allowed to be non-responsive before being terminated. Note that there is no Firefox 3.6.5 - Mozilla has deliberately skipped this version number.
Game Patches
27 June 2010
Game Patches
26 June 2010
Chrome 5.0.375.86
25 June 2010
Google has released Version 5.0.375.86 of the Chrome browser. This version has several security and bug fixes.
Windows Live Essentials Beta
25 June 2010
Microsoft has released a Beta of the next version of the Windows Live Essentials suite of applications.
Game Patches
25 June 2010
CCleaner 2.33.1184
25 June 2010
A new Version 2.33.1184 of the free CCleaner system cleaning utility has been released. This version adds support for Flock 3.0, improves registry cleaning in Windows 7, and has several other minor improvements and fixes.
TweakGuides Tweaking Companion
24 June 2010
All versions of the TweakGuides Tweaking Companion have been updated. The TGTC for Windows 7 receives only a relatively minor update, but the Vista and XP versions receive substantial updates given they were last updated almost 15 months ago. The change list is at the bottom of the TGTC download page.
Internet Explorer 9 Preview 3
24 June 2010
Microsoft has released a new Internet Explorer 9 Preview 3, which is the third alpha build of IE9 designed primarily for developer feedback purposes. Note that the IE9 Preview can be installed alongside IE8 without replacing it.
Game Patches
24 June 2010
Firefox 3.6.4
23 June 2010
Mozilla has released Version 3.6.4 of the Firefox browser. This version includes a new crash protection feature, as well as security and stability fixes.
Windows Updates
23 June 2010
Microsoft has released non-critical updates for Windows which you can get through Windows Update. Alternatively you can view and download them individually from here - click the 'Released' column header once to sort by date.
Game Patches
23 June 2010
VLC Media Player 1.1.0
22 June 2010
The free VLC Media Player has been updated to Version 1.1.0. This is a major update containing a range of new features, improvements and fixes.
Game Patches
22 June 2010
Opera 10.54
22 June 2010
The Opera browser has been updated to Version 10.54. This version fixes several security vulnerabilities.
Game Patches
19 June 2010
Game Patches
18 June 2010
Asus Xonar DX 5/6/7.12.8.1780
17 June 2010
Asus has released a 5/6/7.12.8.1780 driver for the Xonar DX series of sound cards under Windows XP, Vista and 7. This driver fixes popping sound issues when playing streaming media.
ATI Catalyst 10.6
17 June 2010
ATI has released the official Catalyst 10.6 graphics driver for the HD 2000 series and above. This WHQL certified driver adds GPU acceleration for H.264 videos using Flash 10.1, video deblocking and mosquito noise reduction, support for OpenGL 4.0 and 3.3, performance improvements in a range of games on certain HD 5000 series cards, as well as a range of bug fixes.
iTunes 9.2
17 June 2010
Apple has released a new Version 9.2 of the iTunes software. This version adds Sync with iPhone 4, iOS4 and iBooks 1.1 features and improvements, and various other stability, security and performance fixes.
Game Patches
17 June 2010
Windows XP Security Vulnerability
16 June 2010
A major Security Vulnerability in Windows XP is now being actively exploited. Windows XP users should use this Microsoft Fix It tool to close this vulnerability.
Office 2007 Security Update
16 June 2010
Microsoft has released an Update for Office 2007, fixing a security vulnerability.
Nvidia Forceware 257.21
16 June 2010
Nvidia has released the official Forceware 257.21 driver for Windows XP, Vista and 7. These WHQL drivers are for the GeForce 6, 7, 8, 9, 100, 200, 300, 400 and ION series graphics cards. Changes include support for Blu-ray 3D with Nvidia 3D Vision, performance increases in a range of games on the GTX 400 series, OpenGL 4.0 support for the GTX 400 series, new control panel options for PhysX, CUDA, SLI and Ambient Occlusion configuration, and bug fixes. The driver package also contains the 9.10.0223 PhysX drivers.
SoundBlaster X-Fi 2.18.0015
16 June 2010
Creative has released an official 2.18.0015 driver for the majority of the X-Fi series under Windows 7. This driver fixes several issues including long shutdown times, and passthrough of Dolby/DTS audio to an external decoder not working with Windows Media Player 12.
Office 2010
16 June 2010
Microsoft has released the retail version of Office 2010. While similar to Office 2007 in many respects, Office 2010 has a revised user interface, a range of new features, and now also comes in a native 64-bit version.
Sandra 2010 SP2
16 June 2010
SiSoftware has released a new 2010 SP2 Build 16.52 of the free system information utility Sandra.
Game Patches
16 June 2010
FRAPS 3.2.3
15 June 2010
A new Version 3.2.3 of the FPS measurement, benchmarking and video capture utility FRAPS has been released. This version adds support for full-size video capture above 2560x1600 and fixes several bugs.
Autoruns 10.01
15 June 2010
Microsoft has released Autoruns 10.01, updating this free startup software identification utility. This version fixes a bug in the registry jump-to function.
Game Patches
15 June 2010
Realtek HD Audio 2.49
12 June 2010
Realtek has released Version 2.49 of its HD Audio drivers. Note if you have problems with the link, click the 'High Definition Audio Codecs' link at the top of the page and then select 'Software'.
Game Patches
12 June 2010
Logitech SetPoint 6.10
11 June 2010
Logitech has released Version 6.10 of the SetPoint software for mice and keyboards. Changes include an updated control panel as well as various fixes and stability enhancements.
Flash Player 10.1.53.64
11 June 2010
Adobe has released Version 10.1.53.64 of the Flash Player plugin for browsers. This is a major update which contains performance and video improvements, multi-touch enhancements and adherence to browser privacy mode settings.
Game Patches
11 June 2010
Game Patches
10 June 2010
Process Explorer 12.04
9 June 2010
Microsoft has released Version 12.04 of the free Process Explorer utility which is a more detailed version of Task Manager. This update adds the ability to generate full and minidump process crash dump files, and contains a bug fix.
Autoruns 10.00
9 June 2010
Microsoft has released Autoruns 10.00, updating this free startup software identification utility. This version adds the ability to scan offline Windows installations, adds .exe and .cmd extension handlers, defaults to hiding Windows entries, and includes bug fixes.
Microsoft Security Updates
9 June 2010
Microsoft has released its monthly set of Windows security updates which you can get through Windows Update. Alternatively you can view and download them individually from here - click the 'Released' column header once to sort by date.
DirectX Update
8 June 2010
Microsoft has released the DirectX June Update for Windows XP, Vista and 7. Note that this is the full redistributable version; the web installer will be released shortly.
Update: The smaller Web Installer version is now available.
Safari 5
8 June 2010
Apple has released Version 5 of the Safari browser for Windows. This major update contains speed improvements, new HTML5 features, extensions support, and the Safari Reader scollable RSS reader.
Game Patches
8 June 2010
Windows 7 SP1
8 June 2010
Microsoft has announced that a public beta of Service Pack 1 (SP1) for Windows 7 will be available by the end of July. As announced earlier, SP1 will contain all the incremental updates released through Windows Update, with no substantial new features aside from virtualization tools, Remote FX and Dynamic Memory adjustment for Windows Server 2008.
Site Update
7 June 2010
The server move has been successfully completed and things are running smoothly. I mentioned interesting news earlier, and it relates to the release of new game guides through a special arrangement with a major company. I've already written the first one and it should be published in a few weeks' time, though again I'll provide more details as we get closer to the date. In the meanwhile, take a look at this YouTube Video I've prepared showing some Battlefield: Bad Company 2 multiplayer gameplay. Despite my initial reservations, the game is actually quite fun, though be prepared for lots of frustration and a steep learning curve. BFBC2 should tide me over until I get my hands on the game I've been anticipating the most this year: Mafia 2 - set for release on 24 August 2010.
Flash, Adobe Reader & Acrobat Critical Vulnerability
7 June 2010
Adobe has warned that a critical security vulnerability exists in all versions of Flash Player, as well as Adobe Reader and Acrobat versions 9.x. Updating to Flash Player 10.1 RC and deleting or renaming the authplay.dll file, typically found under the \Program Files\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Reader\ or \Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 9.0\Acrobat\ directories, will prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.
Game Patches
5 June 2010
Game Patches
4 June 2010
Silverlight 4.0.5
4 June 2010
Microsoft has released an update to the Silverlight multimedia plugin, bringing it up to Version 4.0.50524.0. This update contains a range of fixes.
Game Patches
3 June 2010
Site Update
2 June 2010
Long-time sponsor EuroVPS has generously upgraded the server to a more powerful solution, which may mean some periods of outage. This upgrade coincides with what I believe will be good news for many of you. I can't say too much at the moment but I'll announce more details shortly.
Update: The server move has been completed. If you can see this update, you're on the new server.
Game Patches
2 June 2010
Game Patches
1 June 2010