Computer News

WACUP Preview v1.0.21.7236
Some new features, some improvements, some fixes.
Download | Release Notes
See also: WACUP, Winamp Lives On

Firefox 86.0.1
5 fixes.
Download | All New Downloads | Release Notes

Lou Ottens, Inventor Of The Cassette Tape, Has Died
““Cassettes taught us how to use our voice, even when the message came from someone else’s songs, compiled painstakingly on a mixtape,” Taylor said. Describing how little things have changed, he added, “So next time you make that perfect playlist on Spotify or send a link to share a song, you can thank Lou Ottens.””
Transferring that new LP to tape, mixtapes, songs for the road, songs for dark nights in the back seat… Thank you sir.

Stuff I bookmarked recently. Some off topic, some not:

Latest Win10 Update Causing BSODs On Some Computers
Trying to run this info down has been difficult because nobody in the tech press sources their info. They all seem to want to act like they got the scoop first. Fracking children.
Near as I can tell the first posts about this started at a German site called Born’s IT and Windows Blog (English translation HERE). The dude often seems to have good stuff.
“There are first reports here in the blog that the cumulative updates (e.g. KB5000802) from March 9, 2021 for Windows 10 are causing problems. Some printers throw a blue screen in win32kfull.sys when printing. However, there is a workaround in some cases – versions 1809 to 20H2 are affected and there are indications that the rollout has been halted.”
The second oldest article is at Windows Latest and says, “Reports of printer failures include Kyocera, Ricoh, Zebra, and others.”
I have no issues with my HP printer.

At least 10 hacking groups using Microsoft software flaw -researchers
“The breadth of the exploitation adds to the urgency of the warnings being issued by authorities in the United States and Europe about the weaknesses found in Microsoft’s Exchange software…ESET’s blog post said there were already signs of cybercriminal exploitation, with one group that specializes in stealing computer resources to mine cryptocurrency breaking in to previously vulnerable Exchange servers to spread its malicious software.
ESET named nine other espionage-focused groups it said were taking advantage of the flaws to break in to targeted networks – several of which other researchers have tied to China. Intriguingly, several of the groups appeared to know about the vulnerability before it was announced by Microsoft on March 2.”

What’s bit depth? And how does it impact music?
“What impact does bit depth have on music?
Well, if a bit depth is too low, the quality will suffer. Specifically, you’ll find a fair chunk of the quiet sounds will be lost. On records or files with a high bit depth, you’ll have a far more accurate playback — up to a point. But we’ll get to that shortly.”

Language Study Reveals The Happiest Music Fans
“Our study revealed that Jazz fans are the most positive…Metal fans were found to use the second most positive language online…Fans of Opera placed as the third most positive online…Folk fans ranked as the fourth most positive online”
The music fans that use the least positive language online: Drill, Grime, Drum and Bass, Rap, Punk, Dubstep, Hip Hop
I’ve never heard of most of the negatives. As for the metal crowd being positive, check out the comment sections at Blabbermouth.

Win10 Updated
Security updates
2004 & 20H2 – March 9, 2021—KB5000802 (OS Builds 19041.867 and 19042.867)

Wise Disk Cleaner 10.4.3
A few fixes and improvements.
Download (I use portable) | Release Info

O&O ShutUp10 1.8.1419
NEW: Disable the possibility of suggesting to finish the setup of the device
FIX: Determining registry key permissions has resulted in fewer displayed settings on some Windows systems.
Download | Changelog

Microcenter – Intel Core i9-9900K LGA 1151 Boxed Processor $249.99
PICKUP ONLY – This is $375.99 at Amazon right now.

PowerToys v0.33.1
Fixes and improvements.
“We’ll be doing a 0.34 experimental release week of March 8th. We feel we are near ready to add in Video Conference mute into the stable release pending feedback from the pending 0.34 experimental release.”
Download & Info

Intel Graphics Windows 10 DCH Drivers
Version: 27.20.100.9316. Fixes for a few games.
Download & Info

Stuff I bookmarked recently. Some off topic, some not:

Microsoft: Chinese Cyberspies Used 4 Exchange Server Flaws to Plunder Emails
“The company says all four flaws are being actively exploited as part of a complex attack chain deployed by a previously unidentified Chinese cyber espionage group.”

Harvard study says 2 fruits, 3 vegetables ‘right’ number of daily servings for a longer life
“The American Heart Association recommends filling at least half your plate with fruits and vegetables at each meal”
Does pickle, onion, and jalapeno on my burger count?

U.S. Navy is Liable for Mass Software Piracy, Appeals Court Rules
Sorry, I couldn’t resist:

Win10 Optional Updates
“This non-security update includes quality improvements.” Couple dozens fixes.
20H2 & 2004 – February 24, 2021—KB4601382 (OS Builds 19041.844 and 19042.844) Preview

New Intel Drivers (v22.30.0)
Windows 10 Wi-Fi Drivers for Intel Wireless Adapters
Intel Wireless Bluetooth for Windows 10

Off Topic

I ordered 2 key fob batteries for my wife’s SUV from Amazon. Good news, it was early!
And just look at the packing efficiency!

Google Chrome Updated
“The Stable channel has been updated to 88.0.4324.190 for Windows, and 88.0.4324.192 for Mac”
Download | Release Info

Tiger Woods In Car Accident
https://www.google.com/search?&q=tiger+woods
As of this writing there isn’t much in the way of details and those we’ve been given (like the jaws of life statement) are being proven wrong. Always loved watching Tiger. In a sport that was full of pretentious pri, uh, people, he made the sport worth watching for me. I hope he gets through this.
[Read more…] about Tuesday Random Stuff…

Firefox 86 Is Out
Several improvements including:
“Today, Firefox introduces Total Cookie Protection to Strict Mode. In Total Cookie Protection, every website gets its own “cookie jar,” preventing cookies from being used to track you from site to site…Notable performance and stability improvements are achieved by moving canvas drawing and WebGL drawing to the GPU process.”
Security fixes too.
Download | All New Downloads | Release Notes | Security Vulnerabilities fixed in Firefox 86
Related: Mozilla laid off 250 people, and the company overhaul is just beginning

Tails 4.16
“This release fixes known security vulnerabilities. You should upgrade as soon as possible.”
Download | Release Info

WACUP Build #7170
Download & Info | Changelog

GPU-Z v2.37.0
“GPU-Z is a lightweight utility designed to give you all information about your video card and GPU.”
Download & Info

AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin 2020 Edition 21.2.3 Optional
Support for DIRT 5 Energy Content Pack, HDMI fixes
Download | Release Notes

Stuff I bookmarked recently. Some off topic, some not:

Privacy faces risks in tech-infused post-Covid workplace
“But what I would worry about is employers using the pandemic to pluck and store information in a systematic way beyond what is necessary to protect health.”

A Case Against the Peeping Tom Theory of Privacy
“It is our purpose to consider whether the existing law affords a principle which can properly be invoked to protect the privacy of the individual” Louis D. Brandeis
The topic of privacy has always been important to me. I remember spending hours in the library combing through books and doing a paper for college entitled “The Right To Be Let Alone” based in large measure on Louis Brandeis’s arguments. I think I still have that paper in a box somewhere.
“The Right to Privacy”, Warren and Brandeis, Harvard Law Review. Vol. IV December 15, 1890 No. 5
“Recent inventions and business methods call attention to the next step which must be taken for the protection of the person, and for securing to the individual what Judge Cooley calls the right “to be let alone” Instantaneous photographs and newspaper enterprise have invaded the sacred precincts of private and domestic life; and numerous mechanical devices threaten to make good the prediction that “what is whispered in the closet shall be proclaimed from the house-tops.” For years there has been a feeling that the law must afford some remedy for the unauthorized circulation of portraits of private persons; and the evil of invasion of privacy by the newspapers, long keenly felt, has been but recently discussed by an able writer. The alleged facts of a somewhat notorious case brought before an inferior tribunal in New York a few months ago, directly involved the consideration of the right of circulating portraits; and the question whether our law will recognize and protect the right to privacy in this and in other respects must soon come before our courts for consideration.”
This absolutely brilliant piece of work was written in 1890. EIGHTEEN NINETY folks. Remember that when some talking head says all these issues are new and the law can’t keep up.

To be let alone: Brandeis foresaw privacy problems
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Right_to_Privacy_(article)

Win10 Updated
KB4023057: Update for Windows 10 Update Service components
“This update includes files and resources that address issues that affect the update processes in Windows 10 that may prevent important Windows updates from being installed.”
Flash got force removed a few days back.

Stuff I bookmarked recently. Some off topic, some not:

New version of Microsoft Office won’t require you to pay for a subscription
This article refers to a Microsoft blog post that they didn’t bother linking to. I don’t know if this was incompetence or obfuscation but I had to go hunting for it:
Upcoming commercial preview of Microsoft Office LTSC, By Jared Spataro, Corporate Vice President for Microsoft 365
“We also plan to release Office 2021 for personal and small business use later this year. Office 2021 will also be supported for five years with the traditional “one-time purchase” model. We do not plan to change the price for these products at the time of the release. We will announce more details about new features included in Office 2021 closer to general availability.”

New browser-tracking hack works even when you flush caches or go incognito
“The technique leverages the use of favicons..The attack works against Chrome, Safari, Edge, and until recently Brave, which developed an effective countermeasure after receiving a private report from the researchers. Firefox would also be susceptible to the technique, but a bug prevents the attack from working at the moment.”
I can’t find anything saying this exploit is being used ATM.

CEO Breaks Down How Remote Work Is Going To Change This Decade
“HQ’s are finished: companies will cut their commercial office space by 50-70%…Fully distributed: ~30% of the companies we talk to are getting rid of the office entirely and going remote-first…Companies doing this have seen their workers decentralize rapidly, leaving expensive cities to be closer to family”

About the password managers. Leaning toward Bitwarden. The feature I was interested in in 1Password isn’t there:
“The WLAN server can’t sync two or more computers.
The WLAN server isn’t available in 1Password 6 or later on Windows.”

Stuff I bookmarked recently. Some off topic, some not:

Why did I leave Google or, why did I stay so long?
“It’s been two weeks since I left Google and I keep getting asked “why did I leave now”? I think the better question is “why did I stay for so long”? When Waze was acquired by Google, most of the people who know me did not believe I would last 7 weeks, let alone 7 years…”
Very interesting article.

‘A Disaster Within A Disaster’: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Cases Are Surging In Texas
“Texas is seeing a surge in carbon monoxide poisonings this week, as plunging temperatures and persistent power outages send residents searching for warmth increasingly from dangerous sources…State and local officials attribute most of the cases to the use of improper home heating sources, from devices like barbecue pits, charcoal grills and campfire stoves to practices like running portable generators and car engines indoors.”

Bill Gates: Rich nations should shift entirely to synthetic beef
“I do think all rich countries should move to 100% synthetic beef.”
Kiss my…

Radio Garden
Tune in to live radio around the world. This has been around for quite a while and I just found out about it! There are Android and iOS apps too.

About 3/4 of an inch of ice today.
[Read more…] about Thursday Random Stuff…

Google Chrome Updated
“The Stable channel has been updated to 88.0.4324.182 for Windows, Mac and Linux…This update includes 10 security fixes.”
Download | Release Info
Chrome for Android updated too.

EMDB 3.72
Movie database freeware. My movies here: TweakHound’s Movie Database
Download | What’s New

Facebook blocks all news in and from Australia
“The change comes as Australia prepares to pass a law that would require companies like Facebook and Google to pay news publishers to carry their stories.”
#DeleteFacebook

New reports indicate AMD’s Ryzen 5000 processors may be failing at a high rate
“It’s unclear how many incidents of Ryzen 5000 failures have been reported in real-world usage, but the controversy sparked when PC builder PowerGPU reported seeing very high failure rates with AMD’s CPU and motherboard, according to a report on Wccftech, with a number of units that were reported as DOA, or dead on arrival.”
The article links to an article that links to a tweet that has been deleted…
At any rate, it gives me a chance to use one of my old favorite, self-made, paraphrased quotes, “Friends don’t let friends drive AMD.”

Great Covers & The Originals
Fats Domino – Ain’t That A Shame (1955)

“Cheap Trick’s version charted at #35 after being released on their 1978 live album Cheap Trick at Budokan. Reportedly, this was Fats Domino’s favorite cover. Domino also gave Cheap Trick his gold record for his 1955 single, which is held by guitarist Rick Nielsen.”
The video below is listed as “Cheap Trick’s official live video for ‘Ain’t That A Shame’.” It may be “official” but it isn’t the version that is on the Cheap Trick at Budokan LP. Now, they played 2 nights at Tokyo’s Nippon Budokan arena, April 28th & 30th. I’m guessing the video is from one night and the song on the LP is from the other.
Here is the song as I have it from the album and then the “official video” below. Anyway, this is from one of my favorite albums.
see also:
https://www.cheaptrick.com/
Cheap Trick’s Rise: The Inside Story

 
My pics of Cheap Trick at Virginia Beach in 2008
[Read more…] about Wednesday Random Stuff…