ARCHIVED NEWS
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September 2009
Microsoft Security Essentials
30 September 2009
Microsoft has released its free Security Essentials anti-malware package for Windows XP, Vista and 7. Microsoft Security Essentials is designed to provide real-time protection for home PCs against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.
Realtek HD Audio 2.34
30 September 2009
Realtek has released Version 2.34 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
30 September 2009
Game Patches
29 September 2009
CCleaner 2.24.1010
29 September 2009
A new Version 2.24.1010 of the free CCleaner system cleaning utility has been released. This version improves Opera 10 support, adds support for Firefox 3.6, adds Windows 7 file search history cleaning, and has a range of other fixes and improvements.
Game Patches
26 September 2009
Nvidia Beta Forceware 191.03
26 September 2009
Nvidia has released the Beta Forceware 191.03 driver for Windows XP, Vista and 7. These drivers are for GeForce 6, 7, 8, 9, 100, 200 and ION series cards. This version adds OpenGL 3.2 support, improves performance in several games including ArmA 2, CoJ: Bound in Blood, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Fallout 3, Far Cry 2 and Prototype, adds SLI support for various games, and resolves a range of bugs, including 3D to 2D downclocking issues. The package also contains the 9.09.0814 PhysX drivers.
GPU-Z 0.3.5
26 September 2009
GPU-Z, a free graphics card information utility, has reached Version 0.3.5. The changes include a range of fixes, and support for new drivers and chipsets.
Game Patches
25 September 2009
ATI Beta Catalyst 9.10
24 September 2009
ATI has released what appears to be a Beta Catalyst 9.10 graphics driver specifically for the recently released HD 5800 series under Windows Vista and 7.
Game Patches
24 September 2009
iTunes 9.0.1
23 September 2009
Apple has released a new Version 9.0.1 of the iTunes software. This version resolves several issues and improves application syncing for iPod touch and iPhone.
VLC Media Player 1.0.2
23 September 2009
The free VLC Media Player has been updated to Version 1.0.2. This version has some bug fixes and addresses security vulnerabilities found in previous versions.
Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility 9.1.1.1020
23 September 2009
Intel has released Version 9.1.1.1020 of the Chipset Software Installation Utility, the main motherboard driver for Intel chipset-based motherboards.
Windows Updates
23 September 2009
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 September 2009
XPS Essentials Pack 1.1
22 September 2009
Microsoft has released Version 1.1 of the XPS Essentials Pack, allowing Windows XP and Vista users to view and generate documents in the .XPS format, Microsoft's alternative to the .PDF format. Windows 7 already incorporates this functionality.
Game Patches
22 September 2009
Site Update
21 September 2009
An update for those of you interested in the upcoming TweakGuides Tweaking Companion for Windows 7. A few weeks ago Microsoft generously provided me with an MSDN subscription, allowing me to install and rigorously use Windows 7 RTM 64-bit as my daily OS. As such, work on the TGTC for Windows 7 is progressing quite well. In terms of my impressions, I can confirm that so far Windows 7 has been very reliable and performs at least as well as Vista 64-bit, which was my previous OS. It has a range of improvements, however some users may find some of the changes undesirable. As such I'm making sure that the TGTC not only explains all of Windows 7's features in plain English, it also contains full details on customization to suit a range of tastes. There is no firm release date, but I am aiming to complete it around the time of Windows 7's retail release.
Need for Speed: Shift
19 September 2009
A Demo for Need for Speed: Shift has been released. This game is a major departure from recent NFS games, in that it is focused on track racing with much more realistic graphics and physics. I've prepared an HD Video on YouTube showing the PC demo's gameplay at maximum possible settings.
Game Patches
19 September 2009
AutoRuns 9.54
18 September 2009
Microsoft has released AutoRuns 9.54, updating this free startup software identification utility. This version includes several bug fixes and interface improvements, additional 32-bit autostart locations for 64-bit Windows, and reintroduces compatibility with .ARN files created by older versions.
Process Monitor 2.7
18 September 2009
Microsoft has updated the free Process Monitor system monitoring utility to Version 2.7. This version adds a new option to the process tree dialog that direct it to show just the timeline for displayed events, has performance improvements in Windows Vista and 7, and has a range of fixes and enhancements.
Game Patches
18 September 2009
Game Patches
17 September 2009
Chrome 3.0.195.21
16 September 2009
Google has released Version 3.0.195.21 of the Chrome browser. This is a major release which includes support for themes, a new New Tab page, an updated omnibox, support for audio and video tags, and a higher performing V8 engine.
Game Patches
16 September 2009
Realtek HD Audio 2.33
15 September 2009
Realtek has released Version 2.33 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
15 September 2009
ATI Catalyst 9.9
12 September 2009
ATI has released the Catalyst 9.9 graphics drivers for the HD2000 series and newer. This version has a range of bug fixes.
Game Patches
12 September 2009
Platform Update for Windows Vista Public Beta
11 September 2009
Microsoft has released a Platform Update for Windows Vista as a Public Beta. This update installs a range of features in Vista which are available in Windows 7, including Ribbon and DirectX 11. The final version of this update will be available to all Vista owners via Windows Update late this year.
Game Patches
11 September 2009
Battlefield 2 1.50 Hotfix
10 September 2009
DICE has released a 1.50 Hotfix which fixes problems when using ALT+TAB in BF2. The hotfix will also be incorporated into the full 1.50 Patch shortly.
DirectX Update
10 September 2009
Microsoft has released the DirectX August Update for all versions of Windows.
QuickTime 7.6.4
10 September 2009
Apple has released a new Version 7.6.4 of the QuickTime media player. This version improves reliability, security, and compatibliity with iTunes 9.
Firefox 3.5.3
10 September 2009
Mozilla has released Version 3.5.3 of the Firefox browser. This version fixes several security and stability issues.
iTunes 9.0
10 September 2009
Apple has released a new Version 9.0 of the iTunes software. This version comes with several new features including Genius Mixes and Genius DJ, and improved syncing and sorting functionality.
Realtek AC97 Audio 6.305
10 September 2009
Realtek has released Version 6.305 of its AC97 audio drivers for Windows Vista and 7. Note if you have problems with the link, click the 'AC'97 Audio Codecs' link at the top of the page and select 'Software'.
Microsoft Security Updates
9 September 2009
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.
SoundBlaster USB Beta 1.01.0097
8 September 2009
Creative has released a Beta 1.01.0097 driver specifically designed for USB-based SoundBlaster audio cards under Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7.
Game Patches
8 September 2009
Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility 9.1.1.1019
4 September 2009
Intel has released Version 9.1.1.1019 of the Chipset Software Installation Utility, the main motherboard driver for Intel chipset-based motherboards.
Nvidia SLI Profile Update 2
4 September 2009
Nvidia has released an SLI Profile Update 2. This update provides multi-GPU users with support for Biohazard 5, Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood, Majesty 2 and Need for Speed: Shift, and improves performance in Batman: Arkham Asylum.
PerfectDisk 10
4 September 2009
Raxco has released a new Build 119 of the PerfectDisk 10 defragmentation utility.
Game Patches
4 September 2009
Realtek HD Audio 2.32
3 September 2009
Realtek has released Version 2.32 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'.
Foxit Reader 3.1
3 September 2009
The free Foxit PDF Reader has been updated to Version 3.1.1.0901. This is a bug fix release.
CCleaner 2.23.999
3 September 2009
A new Version 2.23.999 of the free CCleaner system cleaning utility has been released. This version improves Opera 10 support, and fixes a 'no disk' exception error along with a 64-bit registry scanning bug.
Windows 7 Trial
3 September 2009
Microsoft has made available a 90-day Trial of Windows 7 Enterprise. Under the terms of the trial, the download does not require entry of a product key but it does require activation, and you can run Windows 7 Enterprise for 90 days before it goes into limited usage mode.
Game Patches
3 September 2009
Windows Updates
2 September 2009
Microsoft has released two non-critical updates for Windows Vista 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.
Silverlight 3.0.40818.0
2 September 2009
Microsoft has released Version 3.0.40818.0 of the Silverlight multimedia plugin.
Battlefield 2 1.50 Patch
2 September 2009
EA Games/DICE have released a new 1.50 Patch for Battlefield 2. The patch contains a large amount of new content, gameplay tweaks and bug fixes. Most significantly, the patch includes: improved Vista support, proper widescreen support, a new map called Operation Blue Pearl, the game executable can now use more than 2GB of RAM, the addition of the Euro Force and Armored Fury booster packs as free content for all BF2 players, and removal of the disc check component. I have revamped the Battlefield 2 Tweak Guide throughout, both for the major changes in the patch as well as to fix the numerous dead links and redundant tips in the guide since it was last updated in 2007.
Game Patches
2 September 2009
Opera 10.00
1 September 2009
The free Opera browser has been updated to Version 10.00. This is a major update with a range of changes, fixes and new features, including Opera Turbo, a new design, and a faster engine.
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