Computer News

BleachBit 4.4.0
“We are pleased to announce BleachBit 4.4.0 with a cleaner for Brave, faster startup, Google Chrome enhancements, a new command line option, many fixes, and more..”
Download & Info

Microsoft PowerToys v0.41.3
A small stability fix v0.41.3 came 6 hours after v0.41.2 which contain fixes and improvements along with a new feature called Awake:
“Power-Users can now keep their computer awake on-demand without having to manage its power settings.”
Download & Info

How our daily lives are tracked by phones, laptops & even DOORBELLS – do you know how your data is being collected?
“Professor Carissa Veliz has warned that our cars, TV’s, computers and phones are all tracking our data with our permission. She has explained that the data collection starts from the moment that you wake up, letting smartphone manufacturers, app developers and your mobile phone company know where you are and who you’re with.“

Nvidia Geforce Game Ready Drivers 471.11 WHQL
Added support for Windows 10 May 2021. Support for the latest DOOM Eternal patch, LEGO Builder’s Journey, and the latest Rust update. 9 other fixes.
Download | Release Notes

Firefox 89.0.2
“Fix occasional hangs with Software WebRender on Linux”
Then why update the Windows version?
Download | Release Notes

Microsoft Sysinternals Updates
Process Monitor v3.83 | Sysmon v13.22 | TCPView v4.13

Metallica (The Black Album) Remastered

Win10 Optional Update
I don’t usually recommend optional updates but you might want to give this one a look if you been having issues:
June 21, 2021—KB5003690 (OS Builds 19041.1081, 19042.1081, and 19043.1081) Preview
a href=”https://amzn.to/2SOg9ya” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”>Up to 30% off Samsung Data Storage and PC Devices

Start10 v1.97
The only start menu replacement I use.
“Fix to work around a problem with start buttons having buttons go under them and potentially being made much less wide with that MS patch to add in the News and Weather link on the taskbar when that setting is set to be hidden.”
Forum post: https://forums.stardock.com/505189/page/1/#3808445
Home Page | Download | Changelog

Macrium Reflect 8.0.5994
A bunch of smaller fixes.
Download | Release Info

AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin 21.6.1 OPTIONAL Drivers
1/2 a dozen fixed issues and support for:
AMD Radeon RX 6800M Graphics
Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance
AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) support for select titles.
Download | Release Notes

Windows 11
Leaked builds of Win11 have appeared (allegedly) and Microsoft has filed DMCA complaints. I don’t normally get involved in pre-alpha or even alpha grade software. My only comment is it looks like S*%#.

Google Chrome Updated
“The Stable channel has been updated to 91.0.4472.114 for Windows, Mac and Linux…This update includes 4 security fixes.”
Download | Release Info
Chrome for Android updated too. “stability and performance improvements.”

Notepad++ 8.1
A handful of fixes and improvements.
Download & Info

Stuff I bookmarked recently. Some off topic, some not:
[Read more…] about Friday Random Stuff…

Google Chrome Updated
“The Stable channel has been updated to 91.0.4472.106 for Windows, Mac and Linux“. Looks to be a handful of fixes.
Download | Release Info

O&O ShutUp10 1.8.1422
Privacy tool. A small update for Win10 20H2 users.
Download | Changelog

O&O Lanytix 1.0.1340
LAN scanner. NEW: Deletion of scan history integrated. FIX: Minor bug fixes.
Download | Changelog

EMDB 4.06
Freeware movie database organizer. Bunch of fixes and a new “TV Mode.”
Download | What’s New

Stuff I bookmarked recently. Some off topic, some not:
[Read more…] about Tuesday Random Stuff…

Google Chrome Updated
“The Stable channel has been updated to 91.0.4472.101 for Windows, Mac and Linux…This update includes 14 security fixes.”
Download | Release Info

VLC 3.0.15
Several fixes.
Download (all options) | Download Windows 64-bit | Release Info

Macrium Reflect 8.0.5963
“fixes and changes”
Download | Release Notes

Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 Computer Speakers $70 expired
Killer deal on good speakers. Final cost will show up in cart.
I have the very old 505 watt Logitech Z-5500 5.1 system. Still rocking hard. It is connected to 3 computers. The new version is the Logitech Z906 currently at $300.

AC/DC – Witch’s Spell (Official Video)

Nvidia Geforce Game Ready Drivers 466.63 WHQL
“including the latest patch for No Man’s Sky which introduces NVIDIA DLSS technology. Additionally, this release also provides optimal support for Chivalry 2, Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2, and the new NVIDIA Reflex integrations in War Thunder and Escape from Tarkov.”
Download | Release Notes

Intel Wireless Driver Updates
Windows 10 Wi-Fi Drivers for Intel Wireless Adapters
Intel Wireless Bluetooth for Windows 10

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

Amazon devices will soon automatically share your Internet with neighbors
“If you use Alexa, Echo, or many other Amazon devices, you have only 10 days until you’re opted in to an experiment that leaves your personal privacy and security hanging in the balance.”
I’ve no desire for a smart home and I won’t allow devices like these in my house. The only run-in I’ve had with these things was an Airbnb rental. We took our luggage in the bedroom and there sat an Amazon Echo Dot. Not the kitchen, not the living area, in the BEDROOM. I unplugged it. Now I don’t trust the place. Looking around for the Wi-Fi I discovered it was in a locked closet. I used a credit card to open the lock and unplugged it too. Then I used the Wi-Fi Analyzer Android app to make sure I got everything.

Video: I Took 5 DNA Tests and Compared Them | Which One Is Best?
I’ve always wanted to do one but the privacy issues hold me back.
Have any of you done this? Are you concerned about the privacy issues?
Consumer Reports – Your Genetic Data Isn’t Safe

i added a How To Disable The News and Interests Widget: section to my Microsoft Microsoft News And Interests Widget article.

Sysinternals Freeware Updated
Process Explorer, Process Monitor, Sysmon, and TCPView all updated.
Download & Info

IrfanView 4.58
Be sure to download and install the plugins too.
Download | History of changes | Home Page

EMDB 4.05
Freeware movie database organizer.
Beware the change: “Changed the base database location to User\AppData\Roaming following Microsoft guidelines.”
Kinda pissed me off. I moved it back to the My Documents folder (Options > Database). There is a reason you shouldn’t have data on your OS partition.
Download | What’s New

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

The 15 Most-Scenic Bike Trails in America
I’m looking for some trails to do this summer. NORTH of where I live in Central, Virginia. I’m not looking to battle the heat.
I may do a section of #12 of 15 from the article, The Great Allegheny Passage trail. Anyone got some good ones where they live?

Cardinals’ J.J. Watt, Reebok Unveil ‘JJ IV Valor’ Sneaker Honoring Pat Tillman
“The latest of J.J. Watt’s signature shoe releases recognizes the late Pat Tillman, the former Arizona Cardinals safety who left the NFL to enlist in the United States Army and was killed in action in 2004…Watt is donating all of his proceeds from the sale of the shoe—named the JJ IV Valor—to the Pat Tillman Foundation, and Reebok is donating $10 for every pair sold (up to $10,000).”

It was a true privilege to work with Marie Tillman and @pattillmanfnd over the last year to design these and make sure we honored Pat Tillman properly.

All of my proceeds will be donated directly to @pattillmanfnd

Available tonight at midnight:https://t.co/FfXs88Apfq#PT40 pic.twitter.com/e4bY0mScof

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) May 26, 2021

Mp3tag 3.07
2 fixes, support for for formats.
Download | Release Info

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

Google Chrome 90 is crashing for some Windows users; temporary fix available
“Some Windows users are seeing Chrome 90 crash on their machines, though, now that it’s rolling out widely. It appears the issue has mainly been noticed by users in the past 24 hours. When Chrome 90 crashes, the browser as a whole doesn’t close. Instead, individual tabs stop working, and extensions can also crash at random. In some cases, the browser just refuses to launch.”

NirSoft – New “Manage Wireless Networks” tool
“alternative tool to the standard ‘Manage Wireless Networks’ of Windows”
NirSoft creates some of the best Windows utilities on the web. Password recovery, network and system info, and more. I’ve been using Nir Sofer’s programs for years.
Download & Info

Tim Cook plays innocent in Epic v Apple’s culminating testimony
“Apple CEO Tim Cook took his first turn in the witness chair this morning in what is probably the most anticipated testimony of the Epic v. Apple antitrust case. But rather than a fiery condemnation of Epic’s shenanigans and allegations, Cook offered a mild, carefully tended ignorance that left many of the lawsuit’s key questions unanswered, or unanswerable.”
I expect corporate CEOs to lie, but why can’t the press call that out instead of saying “carefully tended ignorance”?

How to install Multimedia Codecs in Linux
“In this brief tutorial, we’ll show you how to install Media Codes on Ubuntu, Fedora and openSUSE systems.”
Or, you can just use Linux Mint and be done with it.

$649 Dyson Fan vs. $15 Walmart Fan: The Hard Truth

600 Lumens 90 Degree Waterproof Led Tactical Flashlight
Was: $16.99
With Deal: $9.99
You Save: $7.00 (41%)
Coupon shows for some people: Save an extra 5% when you apply coupon.
Deal expired.

Macrium Reflect 8
“We’re excited to announce the official release of Macrium Reflect v8.0.
Macrium Reflect v8.0 has been comprehensively overhauled to provide a better user experience, and we’ve added some great new functionality as well…
Resilient File System (ReFS) and exFAT support
Dark Theme
Intra-Daily scheduled backups
Removable media Imaging and Cloning support
Automatic partiton resizing when restoring or cloning to different sized disks
New ‘Existing Backups’ view
Improved File and Folder backup wizard
Improved backup file name functionality
New tbFAT driver for mounting File and Folder backups
Redesigned and Improved ‘Log’ view
OAuth 2.0 email authentication for Gmail and Outlook 365
viBoot now includes Oracle VirtualBox support
Please visit our knowledgebase for more information: New in Macrium Reflect 8.0”
Download | Release Notes

AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin 21.5.2 OPTIONAL Drivers
1/2 dozen fixes. Support for Days Gone, Microsoft DirectX 12 Agility SDK & Microsoft Shader Model 6.6.
Download | Release Notes

VMware Workstation 16.1.2
“This release contains security updates and updates VMware Tools to version 11.2.6.”
Download & Info

HWiNFO 7.04
“HWiNFO is an all-in-one solution for hardware analysis and monitoring”
Fixes, improvements, new hardware support.
Download (I use portable) | Release Info

O&O Lanytix 1.0.1339
“portable application that enables quick and easy analysis of the local network”
Minor update.
Download | Changelog