ARCHIVED NEWS
To view the latest news click Here
May 2010
Unigine Heaven 2.1
31 May 2010
Unigine has updated the free DirectX 11 benchmark Heaven to Version 2.1. The changes include support for OpenGL 4.0 including hardware tessellation, Stereo 3D support, and several minor optimizations.
ATI Catalyst 10.5a Hotfix
29 May 2010
ATI has released a Catalyst 10.5a Hotfix graphics driver. This hotfix driver resolves the problem of long loading times in Battlefield: Bad Company 2 on HD 2000, HD 3000 and HD 4000 series cards under Windows Vista and Windows 7.
Game Patches
29 May 2010
Game Patches
28 May 2010
ATI Catalyst 10.5
27 May 2010
ATI has released the official Catalyst 10.5 graphics driver for the HD 2000 series and above. This WHQL certified driver adds support for 120Hz displays and full support for multiple displays, as well as a range of bug fixes.
Games for Windows Live 3.3
27 May 2010
Microsoft has released an Update for the Games for Windows Live client. To obtain the update either log into GFW Live, check Windows Update, or download the redistributable version from the link above.
Game Patches
27 May 2010
CCleaner 2.32.1165
26 May 2010
A new Version 2.32.1165 of the free CCleaner system cleaning utility has been released. This version adds support for Office 2010, improves Opera cleaning, improves Media Player Classic cleaning, adds Realplayer SP cleaning, and adds a 'Restore default settings' button, along with other improvements and fixes.
Windows Updates
26 May 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.
Chrome 5.0.375.55
26 May 2010
Google has released Version 5.0.375.55 of the Chrome browser. The changes include new features such as bookmark and settings synchronization, extension incognito mode, and HTML5-based improvements, as well as security and bug fixes.
Game Patches
26 May 2010
3DMark 11
26 May 2010
Futuremark has announced the next version of their benchmarking series: a native DirectX 11 benchmark called 3DMark 11. It will be released sometime between July and September 2010, and unlike 3DMark Vantage, the free version of 3DMark 11 will allow unlimited runs.
Game Patches
25 May 2010
Nvidia Beta Forceware 257.15
25 May 2010
Nvidia has released the Beta Forceware 257.15 driver for Windows XP, Vista and 7. This new 'Release 256' series of drivers are for the GeForce 6, 7, 8, 9, 100, 200, 300, 400 and ION series cards, as well as notebooks. The drivers add support for Blu-ray 3D with Nvidia 3D Vision technology, add new control panel options for PhysX, CUDA, SLI and Ambient Occlusion configuration, and contain performance improvements and bug fixes. The driver package also contains the 9.10.0222 PhysX drivers.
Update: I have updated the Nvidia Forceware Tweak Guide to include all the changes from this new Release 256 Forceware series - see pages 6-7 in particular.
Google Pac-Man
22 May 2010
To celebrate Pac-Man's 30th birthday, Google's homepage has a Playable Pac-Man game. Click the 'Insert Coin' button to play using the arrow keys. Click the Insert Coin button a second time to introduce Ms. Pacman to the game, controlled using the WASD keys.
Update: It has now been removed from Google but you can continue playing it here.
Update 2: Due to popular demand, Google has now permanently retained Google Pac-Man on a special Pac-Man Search Link.
Game Patches
22 May 2010
GPU-Z 0.4.3
21 May 2010
GPU-Z, a free graphics card information utility, has reached Version 0.4.3. The changes include the addition of voltage monitoring for many ATI & Nvidia cards, as well as several other improvements and fixes.
Game Patches
21 May 2010
Foxit Reader 3.3.1
20 May 2010
The free Foxit PDF Reader has been updated to Version 3.3.1.0518. This version contains a security enhancement designed to screen misleading messages from appearing within pop-up boxes.
Process Monitor 2.91
20 May 2010
Microsoft has updated the free Process Monitor system monitoring utility to Version 2.91. This version improves the configuration of process filters.
Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility 9.1.2.1007
20 May 2010
Intel has released Version 9.1.2.1007 of the Chipset Software Installation Utility, the main motherboard driver for Intel chipset-based motherboards.
Game Patches
20 May 2010
Game Patches
19 May 2010
Game Patches
15 May 2010
Game Patches
14 May 2010
Portal for Free
13 May 2010
Valve is providing the game Portal for Free until 24 May. There's no catch - as long as you download and install Portal prior to 24 May, you can keep playing it forever for free. The only requirement is that the Steam Client be installed.
Game Patches
13 May 2010
Shockwave 11.5.7.609
12 May 2010
Adobe has released a new Version 11.5.7.609 of the Shockwave player plugin for browsers.
Game Patches
12 May 2010
Microsoft Security Updates
12 May 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.
Game Patches
11 May 2010
Nvidia Forceware 197.75
10 May 2010
Nvidia has released the official Forceware 197.75 driver for Windows XP, Vista and 7. These drivers which were initially released as betas are now WHQL certified and only for the GeForce GTX 480 and GTX 470 cards. They are the recommended driver for the game APB, and also allow 4-way SLI on the GTX 480. The driver package also contains the 9.10.0129 PhysX drivers.
Game Patches
9 May 2010
Game Patches
8 May 2010
Quick Guide: Remove the Google 'Everything Bar'
7 May 2010
As many of you have noticed, Google recently changed the layout of Google Search. One of the least welcome features has been the sidebar which now appears alongside every search result, dubbed the 'Everything Bar'. Given there are no options to disable this new feature, I've prepared this Quick Guide: Remove the Google 'Everything Bar' to provide users with instructions to do just that in Firefox, Opera and Chrome.
Update: I've revised the guide to incorporate some valuable feedback to improve the scripts, added a method to implement these changes in Internet Explorer, and also added a method to remove the 'fade in' effect on the Google Search homepage.
Game Patches
7 May 2010
Internet Explorer 9 Preview
6 May 2010
Microsoft has released a new Internet Explorer 9 Preview, which is essentially a basic alpha build of IE9 designed primarily for developer feedback purposes. Note that the IE9 Preview can be installed alongside IE8 without replacing it. More details of the features in this preview can be found on the official Internet Explorer Blog.
Realtek HD Audio 2.48
6 May 2010
Realtek has released Version 2.48 of its HD Audio drivers.
Game Patches
6 May 2010
SoundBlaster X-Fi Titanium Champion Beta 2.17.0008
5 May 2010
Creative has released a beta 2.17.0008 driver for the X-Fi Titanium Champion series under Windows XP. This driver resolves the issue of the I/O Drive Bay not working in Windows XP.
Game Patches
5 May 2010
Foxit Reader 3.3
5 May 2010
The free Foxit PDF Reader has been updated to Version 3.3.0.0430. This version adds a Secure Trust Manager, allows hiding of the Ask Search Button and has various bug fixes.
Game Patches
4 May 2010
Nvidia Beta Forceware 197.57
4 May 2010
Nvidia has released the Beta Forceware 197.57 driver for Windows XP, Vista and 7. These drivers are for the GeForce 6, 7, 8, 9, 100, 200, 300 and ION series cards. The only change in this driver is added support for the game APB, otherwise they are identical to the 197.45 WHQL drivers. The driver package also contains the 9.10.0129 PhysX drivers.
Nvidia Beta Forceware 197.75
4 May 2010
Nvidia has released the Beta Forceware 197.75 driver for Windows XP, Vista and 7. These drivers are only for the GeForce GTX 480 and GTX 470 cards. They are the recommended driver for the game APB, and also allow 4-way SLI on the GTX 480. The driver package also contains the 9.10.0129 PhysX drivers.
Game Patches
1 May 2010
AMD Overdrive 3.2.1
1 May 2010
AMD has released Version 3.2.1 of its Overdrive utility for AMD chipset motherboards. It allows users to tune various system performance, stability and cooling parameters.
To view the latest news click Here