Computer News

Software
BleachBit 1.6
VirtualBox 4.3.20

Detekt
Several privacy outfits have banded together to release Detekt.
“Detekt is a free tool that scans your Windows computer for traces of FinFisher and Hacking Team RCS, commercial surveillance spyware that has been identified to be also used to target and monitor human rights defenders and journalists around the world.”
It does not work on Windows 8.1 64-bit.

Reader Emails
Q – Does the 8.1 workaround work for systems that came with 8.1 preinstalled? I used ProduKey to find my product key, but when I enter it into the Windows 8 Setup it does not work. Any thoughts? Thanks.

A – Why would you need a workaround for a 8.1 key?
If you don’t have an 8.1 ISO you can make one: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media
Generic keys are here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj612867.aspx
You may also want to check out: http://forums.mydigitallife.info/forums/42-Windows-8 😉

– – – – –

Q – I loved your article and I enjoy Open Suse 13.2,, but one thing really irks me and that is the software patterns.
I remove all the patterns, yet the system still re-installs unwanted packages everytime i install software ( I even select packages selected by user), yet still I am unable to slim my installation. For me this is the biggest problem that Open Suse has and theefore stops newbies from using it.
Any ideas?

A – That ticked me off too. This behavior did not happen in previous versions of openSUSE. When I mentioned it in the forums they acted like I’ve got a screw loose.
To fix it: YaST > Software Management > Options > check Ignore Recommended Packages for Already Installed Packages.

The site has been moved to a new server. Hopefully everything is OK.

Firefox 33.0.3 Released
Fixes “black screen” and “startup crashes” 😯
Update from within the program: Help > About Firefox > Check for updates
Download (Windows, EN-US)
Release Notes
Download other languages and operating systems

openSUSE 13.2 Is Out
Lots of new stuff in it.
Announcement & Details
Download
There are no working proprietary AMD Radeon drivers.
This is a show stopper on one of my systems. See FGLRX – Warning openSUSE 13.2 / Tumbleweed
Also, I am mot using the new default BTRFS.

Nvidia Drivers
Nvida Geforce Game Ready WHQL 344.48 Drivers are out.
“Best gaming experience for Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare”
Download
Release Notes
Linux 340.58 dated 11/5 are also out. Download

Just a few updates. Installing Windows 7 on my new/used computer.

Samsung SSD 840 EVO Performance Restoration Software v1.1

CCleaner v4.19

Chrome
The stable channel has been updated to 38.0.2125.111 for Windows, Mac and Linux.
Download or update from within the program.

Firefox 33.0.1
Update from within the program: Help > About Firefox > Check for updates
Download (Windows, EN-US)
Release Notes
Download other languages and operating systems

Now That’s A Mouthful
Nvida Geforce Game Ready WHQL 344.48 Drivers are out.
Download
Release Notes
Newest Linux drivers are 340.46 dated 30SEPT2014.

Anyone Remember LightScribe?
I went searching for LightScribe software and found HP had ended their support for LightScribe last year. I found LightScribe drivers here: http://www.pawtec.com/lightscribe/

Software Updates
Acronis True Image 2015 build 6055. Log in to your account to download. (Release Notes)
MP3Tag 2.65

*Sigh*
Below is a text conversation I had with a friend last night.
This followed a conversation we had earlier. He and his wife bought a Windows 8 laptop. They hate it. I told him I could fix it (make it look/run like win7), or I could find them a Windows 7 laptop. Then I get this:

Wow, updates wherever you look!

Time To Run Windows Update
Microsoft has whole slew of updates this month:
Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for October 2014

Firefox 33
Update from within the program: Help > About Firefox > Check for updates
Download (Windows, EN-US)
Release Notes
Download other languages and operating systems
Firefox 33 for Android is available in the Play Store.
openSUSE users, FF 33 is available in the Mozilla Repo.

Google Chrome
“The stable channel has been updated to 38.0.2125.104 for Windows, Mac and Linux.
This release contains an update for Adobe Flash as well as a number of other fixes.”
Download or update from within the program.

Adobe Flash
Flash has been updated to version 15.0.0.189.
Download:
Flash for IE
Flash for other browsers
Main download page
Windows 8 users check Windows Update.

The Week Ahead
Tuesday will see lots of Windows Updates. Adobe possibly too.
Microsoft Security Bulletin Advance Notification for October 2014

Software
openSUSE 13.2 RC1
VirtualBox 4.3.18

Interesting Reads
ARStechnica – Windows 10’s very different way of updating
Console Improvements in the Windows 10 Technical Preview
Systemd Adding Its Own Console To Linux Systems

Chrome 38.0.2125.101
Download or update from within the program.
Source: Google Chrome Blog

The Chrome team is delighted to announce the promotion of Chrome 38 to the stable channel for Windows, Mac and Linux. Chrome 38.0.2125.101 contains a number of fixes and improvements, including:
– A number of new apps/extension APIs
– Lots of under the hood changes for stability and performance

Oh, Good Grief
Dunno what has gotten in to Neowin lately. Is this really a front page news story?
Especially since it was posted last January at WinAero :rolleyes:

On my Saturday morning perusal of the major tech journals I came across, The Verge – Here’s how well Google’s search engine knows you. [Read more…] about Dear Vergies, You’re Doing It Wrong

Fall officially starts September 22 at 22:29 EDT. I love this time of year, football, MLB pennant races heating up, pumpkin and Oktoberfest style beers, and Oktoberfest celebrations. For those non-U.S. folks, yes, we do have lots of smaller Oktoberfest celebrations here. There are several in my town including one this weekend. They are not as magnificent as the original but the spirit is still there! I do want to attend the Munich Oktoberfest again someday. Anyway, on with the news…

Computer Hardware
Nvidia 344.11 WHQL Drivers (Linux 343.22 drivers too)
[H]ardOCP – NVIDIA Maxwell GPU GeForce GTX 980 Video Card Review

openSUSE 13.2
openSUSE 13.2 is scheduled to be released on November, 4th. The Beta was supposed to be released yesterday but has been pushed back until Monday.
Oh, and for you guys in the aforementioned thread complaining, “We need serious help marketing/spreading the word about openSUSE 13.2“. Get off your high-horse and engage people. I asked for access to the 13.1 GM as soon as it was ready so I could have a review up on release day. My request went ignored. How about getting folks to write articles on actual websites and not in those horrid forum articles section. Sorry, but openSUSE Lizards isn’t much better (horrible format). You need something that looks a little better. Maybe try offering some swag or something to potential writers too.

Software
Firefox 32.0.2. Yes. this is the 3rd update this month :rolleyes:
Ultimate Boot CD 5.3.2

Etc.
Lots of folks aren’t happy with Acronis TI 2015.
U2 Claims It’s Working With Apple On A New Music Format That ‘Can’t Be Pirated’ :rotfl:

Hope you all have a great weekend!