Engine Updates

Alfil 13.1 (UCI)
Win32/64, Android; mp; FRC
- now plays FRC (aka Chess 960)
http://esacosta.wordpress.com/

BlackMamba 1.2c (UCI)
Win32/64/64SSE2, Mac32/64; multiPV; limit strength
- fixed the bug that cause random crashes during endgame (thanks Ingo)
- fixed time manager bug that occurs on long time control
- fixed an annoying bug that "freeze" the engine at 7ply on certain positions
- tuned evaluation
- tuned the limit strength feature (too weak compared to the elo settings)
- fixed misevaluation due to pawn blockages on some positions
https://sites.google.com/site/mdannib/home

Chenard 2013.01.20 (WB)
C++ source is pubic domain; uses custom egtbs; Win32/64, Linux; own GUI
- it looks like only the own-GUI code was updated
http://cosinekitty.com/chenard/

RedQueen 1.1.3 (UCI)
C++ source; mp; Win32/64; uses pthreads library; requires extra dlls (included)
http://sourceforge.net/projects/redqueenchess/

Chess News

ChessGUI 0.240g (WB/UCI)
Chess GUI/tournament manager by Matthias Gemuh; there is a separate download for a portable build
- portable build is not available for this version
- change colors of themes
--- menu Miscellaneous ... / Define ChessGUI Colours ...
- change colors of board, pieces
--- menu Miscellaneous ... / Chessboard Colours ...
http://w2410tmq9.homepage.t-online.de/ (secondary link)
http://biglion.bplaced.net/ (homepage and download)

DroidFish for Android
Peter Österlund port of Stockfish to Android paltform + chess GUI
http://web.comhem.se/petero2home/droidfish/index.html (homepage)
http://web.comhem.se/petero2home/upload/DroidFish.apk (direct link to development version)

Norm Pollock site
PGN, EPD & TXT Utility Suites and Opening Book PGN Databases
- reinstated and updated PGN program: tagRemove
http://www.hoflink.com/~npollock/chess.html

PgnScanner 0.83
scan and extract information from pgn files
- new suspOpening function to filter more precisely suspect openings (see xlsx spreadsheet)
- fixed a bug that was crashing pgnscanner after a syn or ftrn without any pgn in memory
- fixed a string buffer in CDetect (detection module)
- fixed a bitboard buffer
http://www.zeitnot.fr/index.php/pgnscanner/5-pgnscanner-eng

Down/Problem Chess Websites

Akkad homepage down for 33 days (not found)
Deep Saros homepage down for 33 days (not found)
GreKo homepage down today (a 110mb.com site)
Merlin homepage down for 4 days (503 error: service unavailable)

Warning: Hopeless site may have been hacked again
Google: 'Site is listed as suspicious - visiting this web site may harm your computer'

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

CrystalDiskInfo 5.3.0
open source hard drive monitoring/warning/alarm system using SMART technology
http://crystalmark.info/?lang=en

KeePass Password Safe Classic Edition 1.25
open source password manager; manage your passwords securely
Professional Edition requires .NET or Mono framework
Classic Edition has fewer features but is adequate; does not require .NET framework
http://keepass.info/
http://keepass.info/compare.html (compare Classic vs Professional)

qBittorrent 3.0.8
open source cross-platform Bittorrent client
http://www.qbittorrent.org/

SeaMonkey 2.15.1
open source, all-in-one Internet suite: browser, email, news feed, newsgroups, IRC chat, & html editor
http://www.seamonkey-project.org/

UltraDefrag 6.0.0 RC 1
open source defrag program for Windows
- this is a *rlease candidate*
http://ultradefrag.sourceforge.net/en/index.html

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.
ron _at_ computer-chess _dot_ org