DriverCleaner Platinum Edition Released

Ruud "Spike" Ketelaars has launched the latest version of DriverCleaner "Platinum". Platinum edition will cost users 5 Euro to purchase but has a wider feature set. It has new updated and faster code, has a self update option to their servers and is fully skinnable. They also offer priority forum support for every registered member. Check out the new DriverCleaner website to learn more.

Quake 4 Beta Update 1.1 Available

This is the BETA of id's broad QUAKE 4 update. It fixes issues and adds gameplay elements throughout both single and multiplayer—including voice chat in multiplayer, a forecemodel option, a one-minute warning for tournament matches, fixed pure server autodownloading, Hyper-Threading Technology support, smooth stairjumping and a ton of multiplayer specific fixes which have been requested by the community and discovered during our own gameplay. In short, multiplayer is fixed. ;) For a complete list of new features, fixes, and changes, please see the ReadMe file.

New Update For Windows XP (KB913538)

Microsoft has released a new update for Windows XP Service Pack 2. Install this update to prevent Windows Management Instrumentation enumerations from being canceled before the client computer can finish using the enumerations. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.

DirectX 9.0c February 2006 End-User Runtime

Microsoft DirectX is a group of technologies designed to make Windows-based computers an ideal platform for running and displaying applications rich in multimedia elements such as full-color graphics, video, 3D animation, and rich audio. DirectX includes security and performance updates, along with many new features across all technologies, which can be accessed by applications using the DirectX APIs.

The DirectX end-user installation includes all the latest and previous released DirectX runtime. This includes the bi-monthly D3DX, XInput, and Managed DirectX components.

Monolith Scaring Up New F.E.A.R.s

WBIE-owned studio announces sequels for PCs and "next-generation consoles." Sequel to lose F.E.A.R. name but continue storyline, keep character set, stay in existing universe.

Monolith Productions likes to scare people. The sadistic studio was responsible for two of last year's most frightening experiences with Condemned: Criminal Origins on the Xbox 360 and F.E.A.R. on the PC. Both games were produced with the same technology, which used dynamic lighting and realistic sound to give gamers goose bumps.

Today, Monolith announced it is continuing the story of F.E.A.R. on PCs and multiple next-generation consoles. However, due to Vivendi Universal Games owning the name F.E.A.R., the sequels from Monolith will carry a new, as-yet-unannounced title. The sequels' publisher has not yet been announced, nor has any release date.

Half-Life 2: Episode Two Confirmed

Valve confirms HL2: Episode 2 on Computer and Video Games offers the news that Valve is indeed working on another Half-Life 2 episode to follow their upcoming release. This is actually a no-brainer after the first follow-up - Aftermath - was renamed Episode One, but the story, based on a yet unpublished interview with Valve's Robin Walker, does shed some light on what these upcoming episodes will be like:

Valve's Robin Walker, designer/engineer on Episode 1, informed us that Episode 2 "has been in development for some time" in an interview that'll be winging its way to you shortly. Although he didn't elaborate further, it sounds as though Episode 2 may appear sooner than we could have hoped. We're definitely keeping trigger fingers crossed on that one, especially as the developer has aimed to offer "between 4 to 6 hours" of gameplay time with Episode 1, according to Walker - shorter, perhaps, than fans might have expected.

Microsoft Hints at Six Windows Vista Editions

A Windows Vista help page has provided some insight into Microsoft's packaging plans for the next-generation Windows release due out later this year. While the company has yet to make any official announcement, Microsoft is ostensibly preparing six different editions of Windows Vista.

At the bottom of the list is Windows Starter 2007, which will likely replace the current Windows XP Starter Edition SKU. This slimmed down version of Windows does not carry the Vista branding because it will not feature the new Aero Glass interface, and is designed purely as a low-cost option for emerging markets.

Microsoft will offer two Home editions of Windows Vista. Home Basic will serve as the recommended SKU for single PC homes, largely replacing Windows XP Home Edition. Vista Home Premium, meanwhile, adds Windows Media Center functionality with TV tuner and CableCard support.

Story continued at BetaNews...

Winamp 5.2 Released

Nullsoft Winamp is a fast, flexible, high-fidelity media player for Windows. Winamp supports playback of many audio (MP3, OGG, AAC, WAV, MOD, XM, S3M, IT, MIDI, etc) and video types (AVI,ASF,MPEG,NSV), custom appearances called skins (supporting both classic Winamp 1.x/2.x skins and Winamp 3 freeform skins), audio visualization and audio effect plug-ins (including two industry dominating visualization plug-ins), an advanced media library, Internet radio and TV support, CD ripping, and CD burning.