Linux/Unix (*nix) users have probably heard all about Gnome by now. Gnome is a window manager for the X Window system. Window managers allow *nix users that would otherwise be looking at command line or the rather bland X Windows system to use something much more elegant, which may even surpass Windows or Macintosh's various window managers in functionality, efficiency, and beauty. Back to Gnome. The makers of Gnome have ensured that they would stay on a timetable for releases, and 2.18 rolled out just in time. Gnome 2.18 adds a laptop power manager for mobile users, improves window managing between two windows, and vastly improves security. If you're really interested in all the changes from the previous version of Gnome, you can read the full release notes here.

Those of you using *nix (such as the techPowerUp! FreeBSD club) who enjoy the clean Gnome environment can download the latest version here.

After a day spent in preflashing my new Sony PSP, it seems appropiate for me to inform you that an upcoming system update of the PlayStation 3 firmware to version 1.6 will give users the ability to download files from the PlayStation Network in the background. Currently, PlayStation 3 owners must halt all activity and remain focused on the download progress bar. Any attempt at another operation on the console will cancel the download, which is non-resumable. Another recently announced feature to be included in the 1.60 update is the introduction of Folding@home functionality, giving owners of a PS3 the opportunity to use their new game system to help find real-life cures to diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, cystic fibrosis and many cancers. Version 1.60 will also improve the Web browsing ability of the PS3. The update will bring zooming and new resolution settings for easier surfing, plus a full-sized keyboard on-screen for more convenient text entry. The release date of the new firmware is March 22 2007.

Microsoft quietly rolled out SP2 for Windows Server 2003 today as part of its critical updates list. Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2) is a cumulative service pack that includes the latest updates and provides enhancements to security and stability. In addition, it adds new features and updates to existing Windows Server 2003 features and utilities. The SP2 update can be applied to all Windows Server 2003/Windows XP Professional x64 Edition products.

Creative releases final Windows Vista drivers

There has been a lot of turmoil around Creative and Vista support for the company's soundcards. There have been Beta drivers available for some time and the firm has released the final 32-bit and 64-bit Vista drivers yesterday. The drivers can be downloaded from the company website here.

The latest version of SpeedFan, one of the best pieces of software for temperature monitoring and fan control, has been released taking it to version 4.32. It's only a minor update, adding improved motherboard support and other small fixes. One of the biggest improvements is full 64-bit support, including Vista, and full Core 2 Duo support. Here is the complete list of changes:

• added a digitally signed 64 bit driver (fully tested under Vista 64 bit)
• added full support for INTEL CORE DUO internal temperature readings
• added full support for Andigilog aSC7621
• added full support for Fintek F71882F
• added xAP support to publish temperatures and fan speeds
• improved support for Fintek F71782F
• improved support for IT8716F
• renamed temperatures readings for MAX6640
• improved compatibility with Intel D975XBX2
• reduced AD7416 and AD7417 false detections
• reduced MAX6650/6651 false detections
• improved Intel SMBus routines

You can download it here.

Apple has recently been doing quite well for themselves recently. In the browser department, Safari is gaining users while Firefox is losing them. However, every rose has it's thorns. Safari has been often criticized with having a memory leak problem. A system can lose up to 76% of system performance just by having Safari open in the background. There have even been articles published detailing how you should shut down Safari when running anything else. Fortunately, Apple began working on a fix to this problem as soon as they heard about it. Anyone who runs Safari should grab the update.

Anyone who connects to the PS3 network this morning will promptly discover that they need to update their PS3 firmware. Too bad it doesn't really do too much to games. The main changes are...

• An added ability to resize the video chat window.
• The ability to attach a USB camera to the PS3, for video chat

We will probably see a substantial PS3 firmware upgrade come March 23rd, when we will see the console released in PAL territories.

Mozilla has officially released an update for Firefox 2.0 taking it up to version 2.0.0.2. Although this is only a minor update, it fixes a couple of security issues (yes, IE isn't the only imperfect browser) and you can update Firefox quite easily by clicking on "Help" and then choosing "Check for Updates". Here are the changes:

• Security Update: The following list of security issues have been fixed.
• Windows Vista Support: Many enhancements and fixes for Windows Vista are included along with the following caveats.
• New Languages: Beta releases for several new languages are now available for testing.
• Permissions Bug Fixed: In the German (de) locale on Windows and Linux, resolved a problem with certain files tagged as read-only.

NVIDIA has released its first WHQL certified drivers for Windows Vista, both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. The release number is 100.65, and these drivers work with all GeForce series 6, 7 and 8 cards, offering DirectX 10 support to those with 8800 cards. DirectX 10 with SLI is still unsupported, but it's good to get beyond the beta stage of drivers. You can download them here.

NVIDIA has released the following new GeForce 8800 Series drivers for use with Windows Vista 32/64bit version. For a full list of fixed issues, please view the release notes - 100.64.

Download: ForceWare 100.64 Vista 32bit (29.4 MB), ForceWare 100.64 Vista 64bit (41.9 MB)

The latest version of CPUID's processor and motherboard information utility has been released. Version 1.39 of CPU-Z generally improves support and offers small enhancements, here are the changes:

• Windows Vista 64 support
• VIA CX700/VX700 chipset
• Added Merom XE (X7900/X7800)
• Added "PCI" and "MaxPCIBus" in the ini file to configure PCI scanning
• Added "-core" parameter to display the clock speed of the specified core

You can download it from here.

I can gladly say DNA-Drivers is back alive. This is supported by the release of DNA's ATi 5.0.7.1 Driver. This can be found here. I have information directly from the creator (KillerSneak) that NVIDIA drivers will be released in a matter of a few weeks. He also stated Vista drivers may take a bit longer due to the fact of Microsofts new "security" measures that requires all drivers to be signed. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out for Vista and modded drivers.

NVIDIA has released its chipset drivers for both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows Vista. The drivers are for all nForce 4, 5 and 6 based motherboards, with WHQL certification. There aren't any chipset drivers for nForce 1, 2 or 3 boards, and with only alpha versions of the audio and networking driver for the nForce 3 it seems unlikely that NVIDIA will be releasing any Vista drivers for these chipsets.

You can download the drivers here.

Sony has updated their PS3 firmware edition to 1.51, and requires the update the moment a user logs into the PlayStation Network. However, it doesn't really address any major issues (I'm not saying there are any), and it doesn't add functionality. When asked what 1.51 does compared to 1.5, Sony gave us a fine-worded answer.

Support for PLAYSTATION 3 format software titles has been expanded.

This probably has something to do with backwards compatibility, or allows future games to work.

Download: DirectX SDK [432 MB]
Download: DirectX SDK: Symbol Files [34.4 MB]
Download: DirectX Redist Runtimes [44.2 MB]
Download: DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer [45 KB - 31.7 MB]

People who bought the PS3 got a very nice surprise yesterday, the PSP firmware has been updated. There are no really major changes from version 3.0, but some things to take note of if you do upgrade.

• Streamlined PlayStation Store downloads.
• New Location Free player, which supports MPEG4-AVC.
• The Network part of the Cross Media Bar now features a PlayStation Spot option.
• New "low memory usage" option for the internet browser.
• Dynamic Equalizer to balance audio.

Sony should also be patching a few security issues in this version of PSP firmware, and Spring PSP games should require it.

NVIDIA today released new version of the ForceWare Vista 32/64bit drivers. This time the new BETA ForceWare version 100.59 should enable SLI support for DirectX9/OpenGL with GeForce 8800 GPUs. DX10 NVIDIA SLI support will be available in a future driver. Click here to read the full v100.59 Release Notes.

Download: ForceWare 100.59 Vista 32bit (33.4 MB), ForceWare 100.59 Vista 64bit (45.9 MB)

Finally, all GeForce 8800 users can download the latest Windows Vista 32bit/64bit BETA ForceWare drivers directly from NVIDIA. The bad news:
- DirectX 10 NVIDIA SLI support for GeForce 8800 GPUs will be available in a future driver
- DirectX 9 and OpenGL NVIDIA SLI support for GeForce 8800 GPUs will be available on January 31, 2007 in a new driver from NVIDIA

Download: ForceWare 100.54 Vista 32bit (29.4 MB), ForceWare 100.54 Vista 64bit (41.8 MB)

AMD has released its first Catalyst driver for Vista to feature WHQL certification. The driver works with both 32bit and 64bit versions of the new operating system and is based on the same driver as the 7.1 Catalyst for Windows XP, so it is currently using the same number system. CrossFire multi-GPU support has been enabled but Alternate Frame Rendering is still unavailable, and only the 32bit version can play HD-DVDs and Blu-ray disks. The driver introduces native OpenGL support for Vista and features a redesigned Catalyst Control Center. You can download these drivers here.

Nintendo has updated its firmware for the new Wii console to enable the news channel, a day ahead of schedule. The channel uses feeds from the Associated Press, with categories for National News, Regional News, International News, Sports, Arts/Entertainment, Business, Science/Health and Technology. You can't use your own RSS feeds yet, but this adds to the forecast channel to give Wii users quick and direct access to news and weather. Admittedly the free internet channel can also be used for this, but it gives users a simpler way to see news stories on their console.

One of Sony's most promoted features in the PS3 is it's backwards compatibility. Unfortunately, when the PS3 was first released, it hardly could boast this. Classic PS2 and PS1 games would be presented as garbled lines of text instead of something playable. In a firmware release that brings the console to version 1.5, Sony has fixed almost all compatibility issues, with exception to a very small amount of isolated cases. Any older game you run on the PS3 will be presented with a higher clarity than on the PS1 or PS2.

Havok announces today the official release of Havok 4.5, the latest update to its modular suite of artist tools and run-time technology. Fully optimized for Sony PLAYSTATION3, as well as Microsoft Xbox360 and Nintendo Wii, Havok 4.5 dramatically accelerates the development of cross-platform, cutting edge electronic games, meeting the needs of the world's top developers and producers. Havok 4.5 allows game developers to scale game content to thousands of dynamically-driven game objects and characters, harnessing the full power and speed of next generation architectures.

While most of us do not own or run Vista, Microsoft is already working on the first Service Pack for the new OS. It includes upgrades like the "Powershell" which is to replace the good old Windows "Shell". The Service Pack will be released in the second half of 2007. Anyone worried about Vista and stability, may take this as a good reason to wait before upgrading to the new OS.

NGOHQ has released the latest version of their NVIDIA optimized driver, based on NVIDIA ForceWare 97.92. This driver includes NVIDIA's old Control Panel and also has support for all GeForce/Quadro cards - including mobile series (Go) as well. This driver has a special compatibility mode option that provides better stability, and workaround for some known bugs.

Download: NGO NVIDIA Optimized Driver v1.9792

The first details about EA's next expansion to the Battlefield series are beginning to leak, with the booster pack expected to be named Battlefield 2142 - Northern Strike. The most notable changes are three new European maps, two new vehicles, ten new rewards, ten new unlocks, the new Epic Titan mode for two maps and improved use of pods. The new content is generally intended to focus on infantry battles instead of using vehicles for extreme force, with the new maps tweaked to create choke-points. There isn't any word on pricing yet, although rumours that the in-game advertising could lead to free add-on packs haven't been mentioned by EA.