Engine Updates

Michel Van den Bergh builds
GNUchess 5.07.153.2b (WB)
C source; Win32/64, Linux32/64, Mac & Android
- bugfix: fixed search depth did not work anymore
- bugfix: the granularity of movetime was one second
- usability fix: GnuChess does more checking of its available time; before it
ran out of time at very low nps and fixed time per move time control
http://alpha.uhasselt.be/Research/Algebra/Toga/gnuchess-release/

Jim Ablett Win/Linux builds
Komodo 1.3 JA (UCI)
Win32/64, Linux32/64
- improved evaluation
- improved search
- 30 ELO stronger (conservative estimate)
http://homepages.tesco.net/henry.ablett/jims.html

Chess News

Gaviota tablebases, probing code 0.3.2
Miguel Ballicora's open source probing code for engine programmers (in C language)
- many small clean up changes to silence all compiler (GCC and Intel) warnings in a very strict mode
- tb_indexmemory() function implemented. It returns how much memory has been allocated to be used in indexes. The
engine may like to know this in order to allocate resources more efficiently. If all the 5-piece TBs are loaded,
the memory is slightly below 10 MB
http://sites.google.com/site/gaviotachessengine/Home/releases/gaviotatablebasesprobingcodev032update

Norm Pollock site
PGN & EPD Utility Suites and Opening Book PGN Databases
- updated EPD program: epdMaterial - extracts records based on the difference in material evaluation
- updated R-Mates epd database of mate positions in 1 to 9 moves
http://www.hoflink.com/~npollock/chess.html

Down/Problem Chess Websites

Akiba homepage down for 17 days (404 error)
Aldebaran homepage down for 8 days (no response in 60 seconds)
Frenzee homepage down for 130 days (webpage taken down until new engine release)
Gringo homepage down today (no response in 60 seconds)
NSVChess homepage down for 86 days (403 error: forbidden)
Holger Schluckebier Mac builds homepage down for 66 days (internal server error)
Note- Chess Alex has not been down, it has moved to a new web address:
http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=ru&tl=en&...

Wiki Changes

Chess Engine List
- changed ChessAlex homepage link
http://computer-chess.org/doku.php?id=computer_chess:wiki:lists:chess_engine_list

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

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 2011 (build 1191)
Free anti-virus, anti-spyware program with excellent protection for Win32/64
http://free.avg.com/us-en/download-avg-anti-virus-free (homepage)
http://free.avg.com/us-en/download.prd-afh (download)

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"

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.