VMware Player 5.0.2 is out. “VMware Player 5.0.2 is a maintenance release that resolves some known issues.“
Software
Firefox 19.0.2
Firefox 19.0.2 released. Security update.
Download (Windows, EN-US)
Release Notes
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PCMark 7 Version 1.4.0 Released
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PCMARK 7 VERSION 1.4.0 RELEASED
PCMark 7 has been updated to version 1.4.0 and is now fully compatible with Windows 8. Please note that benchmark scores ARE affected by the changes in this update.**You should not compare scores from PCMark 7 v1.4.0 with any previous version of PCMark 7.**
To get the update, download the PCMark 7 v1.4.0 installer:
http://www.futuremark.com/support/downloadsThe major changes in PCMark 7 v1.4.0 include:
IMPROVEMENTS
– Enhanced accuracy in video playback drawn frames measurement.
– In addition to the standard result, PCMark 7 Storage tests now report additional “raw” results where the metric idle values have been excluded from the score calculation.
– Enable or disable hardware accelerated video transcoding from the Help tab for troubleshooting.
– Improved logging.COMPATIBILITY
– Now fully compatible with Windows 8.
– The Web Browsing test has been completely rewritten to avoid compatibility issues with Windows 8. The previous implementation was based on Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC); the new one is a Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) application. The heavy lifting in the test is still done by the WebBrowser2 control. Benchmark scores are affected, in most cases going up by a few percent.
– SystemInfo updated to version 4.15 for Windows 8 compatibility.BUG FIXES
– Fixed issues in video transcoding tests and added transcoding output file validation. These changes affect benchmark scores.
– Fixed a data compression bug in the storage workloads. Benchmark scores are affected in configurations that use data compression at the hardware level.
CCleaner 3.28 Slim
VirtualBox 4.2.8
VirtualBox 4.2.8 is out and “is a maintenance release”.
Changelog
Download Page
All VirtualBox 4.2.8 downloads
VirtualBox 4.2.8 for Windows hosts
VirtualBox 4.2.8 for Linux
VirtualBox 4.2.8 Extension Pack
VBoxGuestAdditions_4.2.8.iso
Firefox 19.0.1 For Windows 8
Firefox 19.0.1 released for Windows 8
“Windows 8 only: Fixed stability issue for some AMD Radeon HD graphics cards“
Update from within the program ( Help > About Firefox ).
Release Notes
Adobe Flash Player Updated
Adobe Flash Player updated.
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Security updates available for Adobe Flash Player
Adobe has released security updates for Adobe Flash Player 11.6.602.168 and earlier versions for Windows, Adobe Flash Player 11.6.602.167 and earlier versions for Macintosh, and Adobe Flash Player 11.2.202.270 and earlier versions for Linux. These updates address vulnerabilities that could cause a crash and potentially allow an attacker to take control of the affected system.
The Freeware XP Machine
(Last updated 31 August, 2014.)
This is the story of my attempt at making a 100% usable freeware Windows XP machine. It has been revised several times since I first published it thanks to feedback and suggestions from readers. I’ve done a lot of research and tried a lot of programs. There are also 2 companion articles: The Windows 7 Freeware Machine, and The Windows 8 Freeware Machine. This is not an exhaustive list of freeware programs but the result of the aforementioned research and installs blended with my own personal preference and opinion. You are free to recommend a FREE program but you must list exactly why you think it is better. i.e. – If you say it uses less resources then provide a concrete example (with stats), if you call it bloatware then show why, etc.
[Read more…] about The Freeware XP Machine
Adobe Reader 11.0.02
Adobe Reader 11.0.02 is out.
Download or update from within the program (Help > Check for updates).
Security bulletin – Security updates available for Adobe Reader and Acrobat
Adobe has released security updates for Adobe Reader and Acrobat XI (11.0.01 and earlier) for Windows and Macintosh, X (10.1.5 and earlier) for Windows and Macintosh, 9.5.3 and earlier 9.x versions for Windows and Macintosh, and Adobe Reader 9.5.3 and earlier 9.x versions for Linux. These updates address vulnerabilities that could cause a crash and potentially allow an attacker to take control of the affected system.
iTunes 11.0.2
iTunes 11.0.2 is out.
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This update adds a new Composers view for music, improves responsiveness when syncing playlists with a large number of songs, and fixes an issue where purchases may not show up in your iTunes library. This update also includes other stability and performance improvements.
Be sure to read Ed Bott – The unofficial guide to installing iTunes 10 without bloatware.