Engine Updates

Arasan 15.2 (WB/UCI)
C++ source; own GUI, mp; Win32/64, Linux, Mac, Android; can use Gaviota ebtbs
- "version is measurably stronger than 15.1 but nothing dramatic: I think around 20 Elo"
- some speed improvements especially when multithreaded
- code cleanup and bug fixes related to draw handling (could lose on time in server games, in rare cases, due to problems in this area)
- some more code conversion to C++ style intead of C. Use STL pair template
- minimum search time changed to 10ms to better support very fast test games
- bug fix in code for checks in qsearch: ensure checking moves do not place own king in check
- some weights changed in scoring module based on CLOP
- simplified razoring code
- qsearch forward pruning changes using only pre-selection of captures now, not traditional forward pruning; margins for this adjusted
- Linux-specific bug fix for occasional crashes when >2 threads in use
- fix in aspiration window code for rare overflow condition when failing low with a mate score
- fix bug setting hash sizes > 2GB through Winboard/UCI
- somewhat more general Rook pawn vs wrong color Bishop draw detection
http://www.arasanchess.org/

Glass 2.0 (UCI)
Win32/64; limit strength
http://www.pkoziol.cal24.pl/glass/

SlowChess 2.960c (WB/UCI)
modification of original SlowChess 2.96 by Jonathan Kreuzer
this modification is by Alexander Schmidt to play Chess960 (FRC)
Win32; limit strength; FRC
- "SlowChess should now play Chess960 within every Chess960 GUI"
- bugfix for Elo levels, SlowChess played too strong at low Elo levels and fast timecontrol
- 15% faster compile
- beware of the annoying pop-under ad when downloading
http://chessengines.wordpress.com/category/download/

Chess News

Nothing new today

Down/Problem Chess Websites

Akkad homepage down for 69 days (not found)
Bestia homepage down for 7 days (a 110mb.com site)
Deep Saros homepage down for 69 days (not found)
Lyapko Utilities page down for 7 days (a 110mb.com site)

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

CCleaner 3.28
free Windows/Mac registry and file optimization/privacy/cleaning tool; thorough and effective
uninstalls programs, system restore, drive wiper, controls startup programs, context menus, etc
http://www.piriform.com/blog/2013/2/25/ccleaner-v328 (3.28 for Windows)
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner (CCleaner homepage)

CDBurnerXP 4.5.1.3868
open source CD / DVD / Blu-ray burning software for Win32/64
this program requires .NET framework; Media Format 9.0 update required if using WMA format
- be careful, you will want the version *without* the 'Open Candy' advertising
http://cdburnerxp.se/en/download (homepage)
http://cdburnerxp.se/download?more-options (download)

Manjaro Linux 0.8.4
Arch-based distro; desktops: Openbox, Cinnamon, KDE, MATE, Xfce; #15 in popularity
http://manjaro.org/

Tails 0.17
Debian-based Linux32 distro; GNOME desktop; #49 in popularity
distro has the goal of providing complete Internet anonymity for the user
https://tails.boum.org/

Transmission-Qt Win 2.77
open source BitTorrent client for Windows
- silent update, version number unchanged
- fix of a major bug
http://trqtw.sourceforge.net/blog/

Meaning of Colors

Red = New or Warning
Green = Updated
Gray = Info Only

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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