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March 2016
Opera 36.0
31 March 2016
The Opera browser has been updated to Version 36.0.2130.46. This version provides a Chromium update, Windows 10 improvements, as well as bug fixes.
Skype 7.22
31 March 2016
A new Version 7.22.0.107 of the communications utility Skype has been released. A changelog is not yet available.
Nvidia GeForce 364.72 WHQL
29 March 2016
Nvidia has released the 364.72 WHQL certified graphics driver. This driver is for GeForce 400 and higher graphics cards under Windows Vista, 7, 8 and 10. It adds support for the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive virtual reality headsets, as well as optimizations for a range of VR games. It is also the recommended driver for Quantum Break, Killer Instinct, Dark Souls III, and Paragon early access. The driver package contains PhysX version 9.15.0428 and updates GeForce Experience to version 2.11.2.
AMD Radeon Software Crimson Edition 16.3.2
29 March 2016
AMD has released the Crimson Edition 16.3.2 driver for the HD 7700, HD 8500 series and above on Windows 7, 8.1 and 10. This driver adds support for the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Radeon Pro Duo, provides updated CrossFire profiles for Everybody's Gone to the Rapture and Hitman DX11, as well as a range of bug fixes.
Chrome 49.0
29 March 2016
Google has released Version 49.0.2623.110 of the Chrome browser. This version provides security and bug fixes.
Site Update
28 March 2016
Let's talk about Windows 10, my least favorite subject right now. At the end of last year I announced that for personal and professional reasons, I would not be doing a TweakGuides Tweaking Companion for Windows 10, but that I would try to compile a brief Windows 10 tweak guide. Well I've tried, and I'm just not finding it possible to write a decent but brief guide. Windows 10 is an ever-changing, non-transparent, disjointed mess of an OS. Many of its annoyances can't be successfully tweaked away, and those that can require pages and pages of explanation. Furthermore, any such guide would require constant editing over time as Microsoft alters Windows 10 on almost a monthly basis now.
But perhaps the single biggest reason I'm not motivated to write a Windows 10 guide is that I've rapidly lost all respect for Microsoft, and consequently have lost a great deal of interest in anything to do with their products. Microsoft's clumsy, desperate, visionless push to get PC users to adopt dumbed-down mobile-oriented apps purely for their own commercial benefit; the unrelentingly persistent, unethical, and highly deceptive way they're trying to trick less tech-savvy Windows 7 and 8.1 users into "upgrading" to Windows 10; and their insistence on reducing user choice and control over Windows have all left a very bad taste in my mouth. This is an inept company struggling for relevance in the mobile era by shamelessly abusing its monopoly on desktop operating systems, and I don't want to play any part in helping them do that.
Skype 7.22
26 March 2016
A new Version 7.22.0.104 of the communications utility Skype has been released. A changelog is not yet available.
Java Runtime Environment 8.77
25 March 2016
Oracle has released an Update 77 to the Java Runtime Environment 8.
Chrome 49.0
25 March 2016
Google has released Version 49.0.2623.108 of the Chrome browser. This version provides security and bug fixes.
Windows Updates
24 March 2016
Microsoft has released a non-critical update for Windows 7 and 8.1. Note: This is the main 'Get Windows 10' app, being re-released yet again.
Flash Player 21.0
23 March 2016
Adobe has released Version 21.0.0.197 of the Flash Player plugin for browsers. To download the full offline installer, use these links depending upon your browser: Internet Explorer or Firefox or Opera. Use Windows Update to update the built-in Flash Player in IE11 under Windows 8 and 10, and Edge under Windows 10. Update to the latest version of Chrome to update its built-in Flash Player.
CCleaner 5.16
23 March 2016
A new Version 5.16.5551 of the free CCleaner system cleaning utility has been released. Changes include adding Opera GPU and Application cache cleaning, improved Chrome and Edge cleaning, updated Chrome plugin management, as well as minor improvements and bug fixes.
Windows Updates
23 March 2016
Microsoft has released a non-critical update for Windows 10.
iTunes 12.3.3
22 March 2016
Apple has released a new Version 12.3.3 of the iTunes software. This update adds support for syncing with the newly announced iPhone SE and the 9.7 inch iPad Pro.
AMD Radeon Software Crimson Edition 16.3.1
19 March 2016
AMD has released the Crimson Edition 16.3.1 driver for the HD 7700, HD 8500 series and above on Windows 7, 8.1 and 10. This driver adds support for Need for Speed, provides an updated CrossFire profile for Hitman, as well as a range of bug fixes.
Firefox 45.0.1
18 March 2016
Mozilla has released Version 45.0.1 of the Firefox browser. This update disables the Graphite font shaping library and contains bug fixes.
Foxit Reader 7.3.4
17 March 2016
The free Foxit PDF Reader has been updated to Version 7.3.4.0311. This version contains security and bug fixes.
Windows Updates
16 March 2016
Microsoft has released non-critical updates for Windows 7 and 8.1. They are listed in more detail in this Microsoft Article.
Update: With the latest reports indicating that MS is now upgrading some systems to Windows 10 with little or no consent, the only way to be safe is to use the GWX Control Panel utility.
Opera 36.0
16 March 2016
The Opera browser has been updated to Version 36.0.2130.32. Changes in this major update include improved Windows 10 support, more customization on the start page, general interface improvements, a Chromium update, as well as security and bug fixes.
Nvidia GeForce 364.51 WHQL
12 March 2016
Nvidia has released the 364.51 WHQL certified graphics driver. This driver is for GeForce 400 and higher graphics cards under Windows Vista, 7, 8 and 10. This driver is identical to the 364.51 Beta, the only change is WHQL certification.
Flash Player 21.0
10 March 2016
Adobe has released Version 21.0.0.182 of the Flash Player plugin for browsers. To download the full offline installer, use these links depending upon your browser: Internet Explorer or Firefox or Opera. Use Windows Update to update the built-in Flash Player in IE11 under Windows 8 and 10, and Edge under Windows 10. Update to the latest version of Chrome to update its built-in Flash Player.
AMD Radeon Software Crimson Edition 16.3
10 March 2016
AMD has released the Crimson Edition 16.3 driver for the HD 7700, HD 8500 series and above on Windows 7, 8.1 and 10. This driver provides performance and quality improvements in Rise of the Tomb Raider and Gears of War Ultimate Edition, support for Hitman, adds Vulkan support, per-game display scaling, support for two display Eyefinity, a CrossFire status indicator, a power efficiency toggle, XConnect support for external GPUs over Thunderbolt 3, updated CrossFire profiles, as well as a range of bug fixes.
'Get Windows 10' Internet Explorer Banner
10 March 2016
There are now reports that a recent update for Internet Explorer - non-security update KB3146449, which is an inseparable part of security update KB3139929 - appears to have incorporated an ad generator of sorts into the browser. On some Windows 7 and 8.1 systems, users report that they now see a 'Get Windows 10' banner on new tabs in IE11 as a result of this update. Once installed, KB3146449 can't be uninstalled separately. If true, it would signify that Microsoft has reached a new low in its deceptive campaign to force Windows 10 onto users.
Update: Additionally, it is now confirmed that after the recent Patch Tuesday, the Get Windows 10 app is displaying a "Your system administrator has blocked upgrades on this PC" ad on corporate systems which have blocked the Windows 10 upgrade. Absolutely disgraceful.
Chrome 49.0
9 March 2016
Google has released Version 49.0.2623.87 of the Chrome browser. This version provides security and bug fixes.
Microsoft Security Updates
9 March 2016
Microsoft has released its monthly set of Windows security updates which you can view here and obtain via Windows Update. This includes a cumulative update for Windows 10, with the changes noted here.
Firefox 45.0
9 March 2016
Mozilla has released Version 45.0 of the Firefox browser. The most significant changes in this update include a new synced tabs button, viewing of synced tabs in the Address Bar, removal of the Tab Groups feature, along with security and bug fixes.
Nvidia GeForce 364.51 Beta
9 March 2016
Nvidia has released the 364.51 Beta graphics driver. This driver is for GeForce 400 and higher graphics cards under Windows Vista, 7, 8 and 10. This driver is identical to the 364.47 WHQL, but addresses the installation issues affecting some users.
Acrobat Reader DC 2015
9 March 2016
Adobe has released a new Version 2015.010.20060 of its free software for viewing PDF documents, now known as Acrobat Reader DC. This update contains security and bug fixes.
Nvidia GeForce 364.47 WHQL
8 March 2016
Nvidia has released the 364.47 WHQL certified graphics driver. This driver is for GeForce 400 and higher graphics cards under Windows Vista, 7, 8 and 10. It is the recommended driver for The Division, Hitman, Need for Speed, Ashes of the Singularity, and Rise of the Tomb Raider. It also includes support for the Vulkan API, adds new SLI and 3D Vision profiles, and provides bug fixes. The driver package contains PhysX version 9.15.0428 and updates GeForce Experience to version 2.10.2.
Update: If you have a multi-monitor configuration, you may have issues installing this driver, as explained by Nvidia here.
Chrome 49.0
3 March 2016
Google has released Version 49.0.2623.75 of the Chrome browser. This version provides improvements, as well as security and bug fixes.
Opera 35.0
3 March 2016
The Opera browser has been updated to Version 35.0.2066.92. This version provides bug fixes.
Nvidia GeForce 362.00 WHQL
2 March 2016
Nvidia has released the 362.00 WHQL certified graphics driver. This driver is for GeForce 400 and higher graphics cards under Windows Vista, 7, 8 and 10. It is the recommended driver for Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, Far Cry Primal, and the Dying Light update. The driver package contains PhysX version 9.15.0428 and GeForce Experience version 2.9.1.
AMD Radeon Software Crimson Edition 16.2.1
2 March 2016
AMD has released the Crimson Edition 16.2.1 driver for the HD 7700, HD 8500 series and above on Windows 7, 8.1 and 10. This driver provides a CrossFire profile for Far Cry Primal, as well as a range of bug fixes.
Windows Updates
2 March 2016
Microsoft has released non-critical updates for Windows 7, 8.1 and 10. They are listed in more detail in this Microsoft Article. A cumulative update for Windows 10 has also been released, with the changes noted here.
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