Update Information: December 28, 2010 (Updates)
Engine Updates
Deep Saros 2.3e1 (UCI)
C++ source; mp; Win32, Linux32/64; C++ source; mp; Win32, Linux32/64; Ippolit/Toga/Glaurung derivative; latest version is for Win32 & Linux64 only
- improvement evaluation functions
http://deepsaros.jimdo.com/
Jim Ablett Win/Linux builds
Protector rev. 402 JA (UCI)
C source; Win32/64, Linux32/64; latest official version number is 1.3.5
- build of latest development version
http://homepages.tesco.net/henry.ablett/jims.html
Chess News
Nothing new today
Down/Problem Chess Websites
Akiba homepage down for 18 days (404 error)
Aldebaran homepage down for 9 days (no response in 60 seconds)
Frenzee homepage down for 131 days (webpage taken down until new engine release)
NSVChess homepage down for 87 days (403 error: forbidden)
Holger Schluckebier Mac builds homepage down for 67 days (internal server error)
Gringo homepage back up
Wiki Changes
Nothing new today
Bonus Notifications (recent releases of free stuff)
Warnings:
- do not install unwanted toolbars, etc.
- alpha releases have new features; crashes and bugs are to be expected
- beta releases have new features; they may contain bugs or crash
- release candidate software may contain minor bugs; crashes are rare
Parted Magic 5.8
open source partition editor, virus/rootkit scanner, hard drive cloner, and hard drive & RAM tester. Recommended!
http://partedmagic.com/
Puppy Linux 'Wary 5.0'
Open source, boots from a CD (your Windows installation is unchanged) w/ simple instruction manual
old, slow computers run very well using Puppy's all-in-memory Linux kernel
Wary is a 'retro' version supporting old hardware
There are many versions of Puppy available, each with a specific purpose
You will need to know how to burn a disk from an ISO image
Puppy is an easy-to-learn, easy-to-use Linux distribution for Windows users. Recommended.
The default download is single-user, but a multiuser version is available
You don't necessarily use the latest version, you use the version with the software you want
http://bkhome.org/wary/ (Wary rationale and info)
http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/quirky/wary-5.0/release-Wary-500.htm (Wary announcement)
http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/quirky/wary-5.0/wary-500.iso (direct download)
http://puppylinux.org/ (homepage)
http://puppylinux.org/news/puplets/puppy421multiuseriso/ (multiuser)
SoftMaker Office 2008
commercial office product for Windows or Linux
this is a special offer of an older product: free until December 31, 2010
word processor, spreadsheet, presentation software with macro editor/programming
you will need to reveal your email address to receive an activation serial number
compatible with Microsoft Office formats and OpenDocument Format
Ashampoo Office uses this software in its rebranded offering, but the macro programming ability is missing
http://www.loadandhelp.de/home-en.html (free offer)
http://www.loadandhelp.de/faq-en.html (more info)
http://www.softmaker.com/english/of_en.htm (commercial homepage)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SoftMaker_Office (Wikipedia)
http://www.infoworld.com/d/applications/better-office-alternative-softmaker-office-bests-openofficeorg-445
(InfoWorld review) "successful loading, rendering, and saving of our Microsoft Word 2003 torture test document"
Vala/Genie 0.10.2
the Vala language resembles C# and the Genie language resembles Python
the common language compiler outputs OO C code using the GObject library
not yet at version 1.0, but some large apps are written in Vala/Genie
no Windows build yet, this is the stable branch
- bug fixes and binding updates
http://www.mail-archive.com/vala-list@gnome.org/msg06303.html (announcement)
http://live.gnome.org/Vala (Vala info + download)
http://live.gnome.org/Genie (Genie info)
Meaning of Colors
Red = New or Warning
Green = Updated
Gray = Info Only
Engine List: http://computer-chess.org/doku.php?id=computer_chess:wiki:lists:chess_engine_list
Chess News: http://computer-chess.org/doku.php?id=computer_chess:wiki:lists:chess_news_list
NOTE: If you want me to track a website for you, please email me and I will add it.