Engine Updates

Rodin 6.0 (WB)
Win32
- "stronger than 5.1 ...gain will depend on time control, but maybe around 50 or more ELO points"
- more accurate and tuned eval function
- better time management
- improvements in some search parts
- moves generated in phases
- speed optimizations
- tweaked opening book
- book learning (disabled by default, not fully tested and a known bug when playing in ICS servers)
- accepts and offers draws
https://sites.google.com/site/clonfsp/rodin-chess-engine

Sting SF 3 (UCI)
C++ source; Win32/64; Stockfish derivative
based on code from Stockfish 2.1.1
- silent update, version number unchanged
- new WinXP32 dual-core build
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?o0epfey5yyi8gb2 (WinXP32 dual-core build)

Chess News

Nothing new today

Down/Problem Chess Websites

Armageddon homepage down today (403 error: forbidden)
Bearded homepage down for 3 days (not available)
Belofte homepage down for 46 days ("this site has been suspended")
ChestUCI homepage down for 41 days (a 110mb.com site)
Dolphin homepage down for 44 days (not found)
InmiChess homepage down for 41 days (no response in 60 seconds)
JavaRival homepage down for 8 days (no response in 60 seconds)
Pyotr homepage down for 41 days (not found)
Toledo Nanochess homepage down for 41 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 4.01
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/2013/4/25/ccleaner-v401 (announcement)
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner (CCleaner homepage)

CDBurnerXP 4.5.1.4003
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)

DB2 Express-C 10.5
IBM free version of DB2 relational database without any limits on database size or number of users
for Win32/64, Linux32/64, Solaris64, and Mac (Mac version is *beta*)
max limitations: will use no more than 8 cores, 2 sockets, and 8 GB RAM
general limitations: no data replication, no clustering, no backup compression, no support
http://www-01.ibm.com/software/data/db2/express/about.html (description)
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/wikis/display/DB2/FREE+Book-+Getting+Started+with+DB2+Express-C (free ebook)
http://www-01.ibm.com/software/data/db2/express/download.html (download)

Freemake Video Converter 4.0.1
convert 200+ video formats; cut/join/scale video; rip & burn DVDs; burn Blu-rays, upload to YouTube; more
http://www.freemake.com/free_video_converter/

PHP 5.4.15 RC 1
PHP 5.3.25 RC 1
PHP is a very popular and practical open source scripting language; it is primarily used for web applications
- these are *release candidates*
http://php.net/ (homepage)

Ubuntu 13.04
Debian-based Linux distro; Unity desktop; #3 in popularity
- Kubuntu 13.04 (Ubuntu with KDE desktop); #30 in popularity
- Lubuntu 13.04 (Ubuntu with LXDE desktop); #18 in popularity
- Xubuntu 13.04 (Ubuntu with XFCE desktop); #33 in popularity
- Edubuntu 13.04 ((Ubuntu targeted at schools, communities and non-profit organisations; #120 in popularity)
http://www.edubuntu.org/ (Edubuntu)
http://www.kubuntu.org/ (Kubuntu)
http://lubuntu.net/ (Lubuntu)
http://www.xubuntu.org/ (Xubuntu)
http://www.ubuntu.com/ (Ubuntu)

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