Computer News

“The Stable channel has been updated to 96.0.4664.110 for Windows, Mac and Linux…This update includes 5 security fixes.”
Download | Release Notes
To update go to Menu (the the dots in upper-right corner > Help > About Google Chrome
or
type this in the URL bar: chrome://settings/help

Intel Memory and Storage Tool (GUI) v1.12
Drive management tool for Intel SSDs and Optane devices.
Changes include:
-Resolved firmware update for Optane P5800X Series
-Added namespace overprovisioning support
-Corrected the capacity calculation displayed in drive info
Download & Info

Intel Ethernet Adapter Complete Driver Pack v26.7
“This zip file contains all of the Intel Ethernet network drivers and software for currently supported versions of Windows, Linux, and FreeBSD for most Intel Ethernet Adapters.”
Download & Info

Firefox 95
“New – RLBox — a new technology that hardens Firefox against potential security vulnerabilities in third-party libraries — is now enabled on all platforms.”
5 fixes and over a dozen security fixes.
Download | Release Notes
To update, go to Settings > Help > About.

Google Chrome Updated
“The Stable channel has been updated to 96.0.4664.93 for Windows, Mac and Linux…This update includes 22 security fixes.”
Download | Release Notes
To update go to Menu (the the dots in upper-right corner > Help > About Google Chrome
or
type this in the URL bar: chrome://settings/help
Chrome for Android updated too. “This release includes stability and performance improvements“

AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin 21.12.1 Optional Drivers
Support for Halo Infinite, Fortnite, Icarus, and a few fixes.
Download | Release Notes

The Verizon app might be collecting your browsing history and more
There is no “might be” about it. I received an email last week (screenshot below). The text read in-part (bold text added my me for clarity):
“We’d like to introduce Verizon Custom Experience, a program designed to provide you more personalized experiences with Verizon. You will be part of Custom Experience unless you opt out.
How it works
The program uses information about websites you visit and apps you use on your mobile device to help us better understand your interests. This helps us personalize our communications with you, give you more relevant product and service recommendations, and develop plans, services and offers that are more appealing to you.
To be very clear, this information is used only by Verizon; we do not sell this information to others for them to use for their own advertising.
You’re in control
You will be part of Custom Experience unless you opt out. You can opt out at any time on the My Verizon site or your My Verizon app by accessing privacy preferences.”
– – –
Can you guess how quickly I opted out? Screw you Verizon. FYI, you must opt out of BOTH “Custom Experience” and “Custom Experience Plus” for EVERY LINE. Non-Verizon users don’t get too smug, AT&T and T-Mobile started pulling this crap earlier this year. Oh, and one more thing Verizon. We aren’t friends so stop addressing me by my given name. Show some frigging manners while your trying to spy on me and at the same time bleeding me every last cent you can.

Two American Heroes Pass
Bob Dole, Old Soldier and Stalwart of the Senate, Dies at 98
“Mr. Dole, a son of the Kansas prairie who was left for dead on a World War II battlefield, became one of the longest-serving Republican leaders.”

Edward Shames, last ‘Band of Brothers’ officer, dies at 99
“Shames was involved in some of the most important battles of World War II. During the war, he was a member of the renowned Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division.
“He made his first combat jump into Normandy on D-Day as part of Operation Overlord. He volunteered for Operation Pegasus and then fought with Easy Company in Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne”
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
[Read more…] about Weekend Random Stuff…

Nvidia Geforce Game Ready Drivers 497.09 WHQL
Support for the new HALO game, new hardware, and 8 other fixes.
Download | Release Notes

IrfanView 4.59
A few new features, “Several PlugIns are changed/updated, please install the newest versions”
Download & Info | Release Notes

PowerToys 0.51.0
Several changes and improvements.
Download & Info

Clonezilla 2.8.0-27
Clonezilla is a partition and disk imaging/cloning program similar to True Image or Macrium Reflect.
A few enhancements and bugfixes. Linux kernel updated to 5.14.6-3.
I usually use the “alternative stable” download as it is based on Ubuntu.
Download | Release Info

7-Zip 21.06
Bugfix for this weeks v21.05 release.
Download | Release History

Ultimate Windows Tweaker 5 for Windows 11
UWT is a useful tool for Win10 when used judiciously. Not using Win11 so let me know how it goes.
Download & Info

TorGuard Black Friday Sale
60% Off. Plans from $4 per month or $24 a year!
During checkout I chose Anonymous VPN Pro 3 year for $90 which works out to $30 per year.

I’m still musing about my next smart phone (past comments here and here). The Pixel 6 seems to have a number of issues including slow charging and and slow fingerprint reader. Perhaps if they get this stuff sorted out?
I’m hesitant on Samsung devices because of all the bloatware installed on them.
I’m not interested in Apple devices.
See some consumer reviews:
https://www.verizon.com/smartphones/google-pixel-6/
https://www.verizon.com/smartphones/google-pixel-6-pro/

Win10 21H2
Installed on 2 devices (busy with work) and no major issues. You’ll want to check any disabled network connections and O&O ShutUp10 settings.

7-Zip 21.05
File archiver/extractor. There hasn’t been a non-beta release since v19 in February, 2019.
Download | Release History

Audacity 3.1.2
4 hotfixes.
Download | Release Info

DuckDuckGo
Introducing App Tracking Protection for Android: The easiest way to block trackers lurking in your apps
Introducing Email Protection: The easy way to block email trackers and hide your address

BleachBit 4.4.2
Over a dozen fixes.
Download | Release Info

Audacity 3.1.1
“This is a hotfix release.”
Download | Release Notes

Notepad++ 8.1.9.1
1/2 dozen fixes.
Download & Info

AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin 21.11.2 Optional Drivers
Support for Battlefield 2042.
Download | Release Notes

Intel Graphics Windows DCH Drivers
v30.0.101.1069. Support for Alder Lake. Improved game loading times for a few games.
Download & Info

Macrium Reflect 8.0.6353
They have a blog post dated yesterday exclaiming Reflect 8 Free is out now!
I find this to be rather odd since I’ve been using version 8 (free) since May and provided the links here.
Anywho… There’s a bunch of fixes and Win11 support.
Download | Release Notes

For those new here, I use Macrium Reflect to create disk images on all my computers. I use a bootable USB drive via the Create Rescue Media menu option. I only do backups offline. Old habits die hard.
https://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW80/Macrium+Reflect+User+Guide
.
.
Amazon Fire TV 50″ 4-Series 4K UHD smart TV
List Price: $469.99
With Deal: $329.99
You Save: $140.00 (30%)

AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin 21.11.1 Optional Drivers
Support for Call of Duty: Vanguard and Forza Horizon 5, 2 fixes.
Download | Release Notes

Start11 Released
“Customize the Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10/11”
I’ve been a Start10 advocate for years. I don’t use Win11 so if anyone is using this let me know what you think.
Download & Info

Intel UHD Graphics Driver for 12th Gen Intel Core Processors
Download & Info

Intel’s Alder Lake big.little CPU design, tested: It’s a barn burner
“Intel’s Alder Lake CPUs are an enormous improvement over their 11th-generation predecessors in every way—they offer both higher raw performance and higher performance-per-watt. They also handily trounce the AMD competition in both the Core i9/Ryzen 9 and Core i5/Ryzen 5 brackets—single-threaded, multithreaded, and just about any way you care to slice it.”

Intel 12th Gen Core Alder Lake Performance Review: Chipzilla Is Back
“These new chips put Intel back into the fight up and down its desktop CPU stack, regardless of workload. New 12th Gen Core CPUs are also priced competitively (at least in terms of MSRP), and the technology offered by this new Intel desktop PC platform is currently unmatched.”

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

Is Facebook Bad for You? It Is for About 360 Million Users, Company Surveys Suggest
“The app hurts sleep, work, relationships or parenting for about 12.5% of users, who reported they felt Facebook was more of a problem than other social media”

Harry Potter’ Turns 20: Director Chris Columbus on Working With Young Daniel Radcliffe and Why He Wants to Adapt ‘The Cursed Child’

The Scorpions new song Peacemaker:

Phil Lynott – Songs For While I’m Away official trailer

Available at Amazon, Google Play, an iTunes Store.
Phil Lynott at Wikipedia
Thin Lizzy at Wikipedia
Thin Lizzy official web site.