dBpoweramp Music Converter R2023-12-22
“dBpoweramp contains a multitude of audio tools in one: CD Ripper, Music Converter, Batch Converter, ID Tag Editor and Windows audio shell enhancements. Preloaded with essential codecs (mp3, wave, FLAC, m4a, Apple Lossless, AIFF), additional codecs can be installed from [Codec Central], as well as Utility Codecs which perform actions on audio files.”
New features, codec updates, bugfixes.
Homepage | Download (update from within program) | Release Info
Friday News
IrfanView 4.66
Freeware graphic viewer and editor. Great for batch processing images, like resizing.
A few fixes.
Download & Info | History of changes
HWiNFO 7.68
“Comprehensive Hardware Analysis, Monitoring and Reporting for Windows and DOS.”
Fixes, enhancements, new hardware support.
Download (I use portable) | Version History
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Patch Tuesday
Sorry I’m late with this, work…
Windows Updates
15-18 vulnerabilities patched.
Win10 – December 12, 2023—KB5033372 (OS Builds 19044.3803 and 19045.3803)
Win11 – December 12, 2023—KB5033369 (OS Build 22000.2652)
Plan for Windows 10 EOS with Windows 11, Windows 365, and ESU
“While we strongly recommend moving to Windows 11, we understand there are circumstances that could prevent you from replacing Windows 10 devices before the EOS date. Therefore, Microsoft will offer Extended Security Updates.
Like the Windows 7 ESU program, your organization will be able to purchase a yearly subscription to security updates. The yearly commitment is renewable for three years. Devices enrolled in ESUs will receive monthly security updates to keep these Windows 10 PCs secure.
The ESU program for Windows 10 will include critical and/or important security updates…
Stay tuned for more ESU program updates as we approach availability, including an ESU program for individual consumers.”
Interesting…
Nvidia Geforce Game Ready Drivers 546.33 WHQL
Support for new games.
Download & Info
AMD Software Adrenalin 23.12.1 WHQL Drivers
Support for new games, AMD Software UI Redesign, new power saving option, half a dozen fixes.
Download & Info
Intel Arc & Iris Xe Graphics Drivers 31.0.101.5074
Gaming improvements.
Download & Info
Intel Network Drivers
Windows 10 and Windows 11 Wi-Fi Drivers for Intel Wireless Adapters v23.10.0
Intel Wireless Bluetooth for Windows 10 and Windows 11 v23.10.0
Intel PROSet/Wireless Software and Drivers for IT Admins v23.10.0
Intel Killer Performance Suite v35.23.842
IrfanView 4.65
Freeware graphic viewer and editor. Great for batch processing images, like resizing.
New dark mode, several new features.
Download & Info | History of changes
OBS Studio 30.0.2
Free and open source software for video recording and live streaming (Windows, Linux, Mac).
30.0.1 & 2 released on the same day. .1 had a dozen fixes, .2 had one.
Download & Info
PowerToys .76
“a set of utilities for power users to tune and streamline their Windows experience for greater productivity.”
Couple of fixes.
Download, Info & Changes
Tuesday News
Nvidia Geforce Game Ready Drivers 546.29 WHQL
Support for several new games.
Download & Info
See also: GeForce Hotfix Driver Version 546.31
Hotfix drivers are are only meant to address certain issues. In this case it relates to:
– [Discord] When streaming gameplay, colors may appear muted
– Intermittent stutter may be observed when V-SYNC is enabled
PowerToys .76
“a set of utilities for power users to tune and streamline their Windows experience for greater productivity.”
Many fixes, “In this release, we focused on new features, stability and improvements.”
Download, Info & Changes
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Audio Tricks – dBpoweramp CD Ripper, Rip As One
dBpoweramp is my favorite audio conversion and CD ripping software. This article will show you the very useful “rip as one” function.
[Read more…] about Audio Tricks – dBpoweramp CD Ripper, Rip As One
Audio Tricks – Using Audacity To Trim Music
I’ve been using Audacity for many years. From creating audio, to mixing, to editing it has been an essential tool for me.
I’d like to show you how this tool can be of use to the average user. I’m going to give a very quick example of using Audacity to trim music.
[Read more…] about Audio Tricks – Using Audacity To Trim Music
Weekend News
Audacity 3.4.2
“the world’s most popular audio editing and recording app”
Bugfixes
Download | Changelog
HandBrake 1.7.0
Free, multi-OS, video converter.
Codec updates, fixes, some new features.
Download | Release Notes
Patch Tuesday
Windows Updates
Addresses over 2 dozen vulnerabilities.
Win10 – November 14, 2023—KB5032189 (OS Builds 19044.3693 and 19045.3693)
Win11 – November 14, 2023—KB5032190 (OS Builds 22621.2715 and 22631.2715)
Wise Disk Cleaner 11.0.6
Support cleaning additional items and a few fixes.
Download (I use portable) | Release Info
Nvidia Geforce Game Ready Drivers 546.17 WHQL
Support for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III…
Download & Info
Intel Arc & Iris Xe Graphics 31.0.101.4953 (WHQL Certified)
A few game related fixes.
Download & Info
HWiNFO 7.66
“Comprehensive Hardware Analysis, Monitoring and Reporting for Windows and DOS.”
Fixes and new hardware support’
Download (I use portable) | Version History
Veterans Day 2023
To my brothers and sisters who served:
I talk to vets all the time. I know some of us struggle. Reach out. We fellow vets are here for you.
You can seek help from the Veterans Crisis Line.
This is a retread/reposting/update of past Veterans Day postings.
Articles here tagged Veterans.
[Read more…] about Veterans Day 2023
Clonezilla
I’ve been asked several times about an alternative to Macrium Reflect Free since it is no longer free. I’ll be using it until it no longer works on my hardware.
The alternative I’ve always kept it my toolkit is Clonezilla, in fact I made a short video of Clonezilla in action over 6 years ago: Clonezilla Ain’t Hard.
Clonezilla runs off a “Live” cd or usb drive. There are 2 versions of that, alternative (dased on Debian) or alternative stable (based on Ubuntu). I recommend the alternative stable version, it probably has better hardware support.
There is also a GUI and enhanced version of Clonezilla called Rescuezilla.
Clonezilla was just updated (version 3.1.1-27/20231102).
Download
Clonezilla Live on USB flash drive or USB hard drive
How to Install Clonezilla on USB with YUMI