HWiNFO 8.52 has been released, offering users an extensive suite of system information tools that encompass detailed hardware analysis, real-time monitoring, and reporting capabilities for both Windows and DOS environments. The software is also available in a portable format for convenience.
IObit has launched Smart Defrag 12.0.0.536, an advanced tool designed to defragment files, folders, and entire drives, ensuring optimal performance for your computer. Users can choose to run defragmentation on an as-needed basis or schedule it for regular maintenance. The software also includes SSD trimming capabilities that enhance the performance and longevity of solid-state drives.
Microsoft PowerToys v0.101 has been released in stable form following a rapid eight-day preview period, introducing several significant features such as Window Hopper for app-specific window switching and on-device AI integration in Advanced Paste. This version also includes an opt-in compact mode for the Command Palette, formalizes a Stable and Insider channel update split, and enhances various modules with improvements. Notably, Quick Accent and Mouse Jump have transitioned to the WinUI 3 framework, while other utilities like ZoomIt and PowerDisplay have received functional upgrades. The release reflects Microsoft's commitment to integrating local AI capabilities and improving user experience, while also indicating a potential future development of a native OS-level per-app switcher
LibreOffice 26.8 has been released with a focus on typographic quality, support for complex writing systems such as N'Ko and Adlam, and improved document exchange fidelity, while intentionally excluding AI features. The update includes automatic bidirectional text handling, a new paragraph composer for balanced word spacing, and compatibility improvements for OOXML chart types, ensuring that document definitions remain intact during edits. It also enhances the Calc and Impress applications with new functionalities such as calculated fields in pivot tables and support for multiple page sizes in presentations. LibreOffice emphasizes digital sovereignty by advocating for open document formats and providing a robust suite available across multiple platforms without requiring network access, ensuring data confidentiality
Blender 5.2.1 has been released, continuing its reputation as a free and open-source 3D animation suite that encompasses every aspect of the 3D production pipeline. This includes modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing, motion tracking, video editing, and even game creation. The software is particularly advantageous for individuals and small studios, as it provides a unified workflow and benefits from rapid updates driven by user feedback and community contributions.
Passmark PerformanceTest 11.1 Build 1014 is a sophisticated benchmarking tool designed for evaluating personal computer performance across multiple platforms, including Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS. Since its inception in 1998, it has become an industry standard, offering a wide array of speed tests that measure the performance of CPU, GPU, memory, and disk speeds. Users can analyze their results to compare their systems against others, providing an objective understanding of how well their PC performs in comparison to similar machines and current technology standards.
Blank And Secure 8.44 has been released, enhancing its capabilities as a portable tool designed for the permanent and secure deletion of data. This software is essential for users who require assurance that deleted files cannot be recovered. It achieves this by overwriting the data with zeros before deletion, making recovery impossible.
Fotera 2.1 has been released, enhancing its reputation as a freeware photo-editing software designed for users who require quick, efficient, and non-destructive editing capabilities. This program stands out by ensuring that all modifications are saved separately from the original images, thereby preserving the integrity of source photos.
AMD has released Radeon Software for Linux 26.14, which supports Ubuntu 26.04.5 HWE and RHEL 10.2, introducing new kernel-level OLED tuning properties and improved display support. The update includes proactive security enhancements for kernel memory management and user-queue handling, although users may encounter a known issue with Blender 5.2 when using HIPRT rendering. This release helps to close the historical driver parity gap between Linux and Windows, particularly beneficial for enterprise and HPC environments. Installation packages are now available through AMD's official repository, ensuring timely updates for Linux users as new GPUs are launched
The reviews roundup highlights several noteworthy tech products, starting with Corsair's CLIPPER PRO MINI 60 keyboard, which offers impressive gaming performance in a compact design. Bit Reactor's Star Wars Zero Company is receiving acclaim for surpassing Disney's offerings, while Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy is praised for its engaging narrative and stunning visuals. The Chuwi UniBook is identified as a budget-friendly competitor to higher-end laptops like the MacBook Neo, although it compromises on some features to maintain affordability. Additionally, the FRITZ!Box 4690 is recognized for its robust WiFi 7 capabilities, and the MOAIPLAY ORA PRO G1 1000 power supply impresses with its innovative cooling design
Darktable has released version 5.6.1, focusing on stability fixes and security improvements since the previous version 5.6.0. Key updates include resuming AI model downloads after interruptions, preserving workflow metadata during AI operations, and enhanced AMD OpenCL support on Windows. The release also addresses various bugs and rendering issues, while several compression formats, including ProRAW, remain unsupported. This maintenance update adheres to the project's biannual release schedule, with hopes for the next stable version to launch in January
PCManFM-Qt 2.4.1 has been released as a stability update for LXQt users utilizing Qt 6.11.2 under Wayland, addressing a geometry regression caused by the upstream Qt build. The update locks in the desktop screen setting, restores middle-click tab closure for improved usability, and includes a workaround for unexpected window placement issues on Sway and Hyprland. Additionally, routine CMake cleanup has been performed to streamline the build process. Maintainer tsujan and contributors have focused on enhancing Wayland compatibility while responding to the rapid changes in Qt's release cycle
Godot 4.8 Dev 4 has been released, featuring 224 fixes from 86 contributors and enhancements that extend beyond just stability improvements. Key updates include multi-bounce ambient occlusion, specular lightmaps, and the introduction of a native Trail3D node, along with significant editor improvements such as a hierarchical script outline and faster object property access. The rendering system benefits from new shader capabilities, including VisualShader Node Groups and enhanced light mapping techniques, while the editor has seen a transformation with customizable dock-based screens and an automated Android SDK manager. Overall, the release showcases substantial development progress and a range of new features, indicating a more comprehensive update than previously anticipated
Seafoam Labs has released Shelly ALPM v3.1.1, a native Arch Linux package builder that improves upon its predecessor by directly parsing PKGBUILDs with enhanced security features like integrity hashing and Landlock sandboxing. The v3.1.1 patch introduces new functionalities such as makesrcinfo generation for CI workflows and standard proxy environment variable support, along with fixes for the Flatpak backend. Shelly ALPM offers a graphical interface, CLI, and compatibility with Wayland, marking a significant advancement in package management for Arch Linux users. Although still not a complete replacement for makepkg, it showcases rapid development and aims to modernize the user experience in package management
Node.js has released updates for both its Current line (26.8.0) and LTS line (24.20.0 "Krypton"), introducing features such as native Zip support, RAII-style resource management for SQLite, and new cryptographic cipher modes. An unusual follow-up patch (26.8.1) was issued the same day to correct a metadata bug in the version reporting. The updates also include a new permission.drop API, runtime package maps, and various performance improvements, particularly for the LTS version. The releases are accompanied by active security advisories, highlighting the importance of updating for users running production workloads
A synchronized wave of security updates has been released across major Linux distributions, including AlmaLinux, Fedora, and Ubuntu, targeting vulnerabilities in OpenJDK, GStreamer, and various kernel components. Significant issues addressed include authentication bypasses in Java versions, remote code execution vulnerabilities in GStreamer parsers, and command injection flaws in rsync. Noteworthy is Ubuntu’s decision to place support for older versions behind a paywall, necessitating upgrades for those still using legacy systems. Sysadmins are advised to prioritize applying these updates, particularly for kernel networking, Java, and media parsing libraries, to mitigate potential security threats
BUtil has released version 2026.08.27, enhancing its capabilities as a robust tool for creating encrypted backups of documents and data on your PC. Regular backups of important files and folders are essential to safeguard against data loss, and BUtil simplifies this process, making it more likely that users will adhere to a routine backup schedule. Unlike traditional Windows tools, which can be cumbersome and time-consuming, BUtil allows users to configure backup tasks in mere seconds.
RemotePC has recently released version 7.7.14.3, further enhancing its capabilities as a secure remote desktop access tool. This application allows users to connect to their computers from virtually any location, at any time, promoting flexible work arrangements and boosting productivity.
Bottles 66.9 has been released as a hotfix that integrates xz and dconf into its experimental cpak containerized runtime, addressing issues with custom bottle folders and game process termination. This update concludes an intense 15-day period during which ten versions were launched, building on the major features introduced in the 66.0 release, such as native UMU integration and Adaptive Launch. The focus of the 66.x cycle has been to eliminate friction points in running Windows software on Linux, enhancing user experience with reliable operation of bottle folders and better process management. Overall, Bottles 66.9 marks a significant step towards a seamless Windows-on-Linux experience, making the cpak runtime more viable for daily use
LibreOffice 26.8 has been released with a focus on typographic quality, support for complex writing systems such as N'Ko and Adlam, and improved document exchange fidelity, while intentionally excluding AI features. The update includes automatic bidirectional text handling, a new paragraph composer for balanced word spacing, and compatibility improvements for OOXML chart types, ensuring that document definitions remain intact during edits. It also enhances the Calc and Impress applications with new functionalities such as calculated fields in pivot tables and support for multiple page sizes in presentations. LibreOffice emphasizes digital sovereignty by advocating for open document formats and providing a robust suite available across multiple platforms without requiring network access, ensuring data confidentiality
BootRacer has released version 9.60.2026.826, a freeware tool designed to measure the boot speed of Windows operating systems. Users can evaluate their boot performance and receive a boot rating, which indicates whether their startup time is good, average, or excellent. The software is user-friendly, making it accessible even for those with limited technical skills. It tracks the logon duration as well as the complete boot time, providing comprehensive insights into system performance. Additionally, BootRacer can document results in the Windows event log and offers a feature to clean up logs and unnecessary files through its Uninstall function. Notably, it operates with minimal resource usage, ensuring it does not significantly impact system performance while running.
The Tree Style Tab extension for Firefox, version 4.4.1, has been released, offering users a streamlined method to manage their tabs through a side-tree view. This extension is akin to Treely: Tree Style Tab Manager, serving similar functionalities but created by a different developer.
ManicTime version 2026.2.2 has been released, enhancing its functionality as a time management tool that operates discreetly in the background to monitor daily activities. This software eliminates the need for manual time tracking, allowing users to focus on their work without the hassle of starting or stopping a timer. At the end of the workday, users can analyze the collected data for precise time tracking.
Visual Studio Code 1.135 introduces the Agent Host Protocol, which allows coding sessions to transition seamlessly between applications while utilizing AI agents. An experimental feature called "Rubber Duck" enables AI models to review each other's work, significantly improving performance on coding benchmarks. The update also includes the ability to resume work from other tools through External Agent Sessions, although this requires a Copilot subscription. Microsoft has reverted the sandboxing feature to focus on developing the new host infrastructure and a streamlined user interface, emphasizing a commitment to making VS Code a universal runtime for AI coding agents
Wappalyzer has released version 6.12.6 of its browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. This tool is designed to identify and reveal the various technologies employed by websites, including content management systems, eCommerce platforms, web servers, JavaScript frameworks, and analytic tools, among others. By utilizing Wappalyzer, users can gain insights into the underlying technologies that power the websites they visit, enhancing their understanding of web development and technology trends.
The OCR - Image Reader extension, now at version 0.5.3, is available for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge browsers, and it simplifies the process of converting images to text through advanced optical character recognition (OCR) technology. This extension features a user-friendly toolbar button that allows users to select any portion of the active window for text extraction. Utilizing the robust Tesseract OCR engine and the "tesseract.js" library, the extension can automatically detect text orientation and scripts, supporting over 100 languages.
AnyTXT Searcher is a robust search utility designed to streamline targeted searches within documents. This powerful, straightforward local data full-text search engine functions effectively as a desktop search application, ensuring rapid file retrieval, especially when searches by name prove ineffective.
The latest release of DLSS Swapper, version 1.2.6.1, brings an innovative solution for gamers looking to optimize their gaming experience. This versatile tool allows users to easily download, manage, and swap DLL files for various upscaling technologies, including NVIDIA's Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS), AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), and Intel's Xe Super Sampling (XeSS).
The Bat! Home Edition 12.3.1 has been released, designed to efficiently manage the increasing influx of emails and save users valuable time. This robust email client features a user-friendly interface that caters to both advanced users and beginners, making it accessible for everyone. Notably, it emphasizes security, boasting a virus-proof email system that ensures safe communication without compromising ease of use.
MiTeC Task Manager Deluxe 5.1.0 has been released, providing users with a robust and portable alternative to the standard Windows Task Manager. This tool enhances the basic functionalities found in Windows Task Manager, which is user-friendly but offers limited depth in process management and monitoring.
XnConvert version 1.116.0 has been released, enhancing its reputation as a user-friendly yet powerful image conversion tool, developed by the creators of the renowned XnView and XnView MP applications. A portable version is also available for users who prefer mobile solutions.
Ollama has recently launched version 0.33.0, a local-first platform designed to bring large language models (LLMs) directly to users' desktops without any reliance on cloud services. This innovative software allows developers and privacy-conscious users to run advanced models such as LLaMA 3.3, Phi-4, and Mistral entirely offline, ensuring data security and personalization. Installation is straightforward—users can simply download and set up Ollama, and once running, they can access it via Command Prompt or PowerShell.
The EA App version 13.778.0.6291 has been officially released, marking a significant step in EA's evolution of its PC gaming platform. Designed to ultimately replace the older Origin platform, the EA App aims to enhance the overall gaming experience for users by addressing feedback and incorporating new features.
Q-Dir, a powerful free file management tool, has released its version 12.77, enhancing the way users navigate and organize files across various storage devices, including hard drives, network folders, and USB drives. Unlike the standard Windows File Explorer, which is sufficient for basic tasks, Q-Dir offers a more efficient solution with its unique quad-pane interface, allowing users to view and manage up to four folders simultaneously. This feature significantly simplifies the processes of copying, moving, and organizing files.
Mountain Duck is a powerful utility designed for Windows and macOS that enables users to mount remote storage services such as FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, Amazon S3, and Google Cloud as local drives. By doing so, it allows users to seamlessly open, save, and edit files directly from their cloud storage without the need for cumbersome syncing or switching between applications. This software is particularly beneficial for those who work with remote servers and cloud storage, providing a more efficient workflow.
Viber has recently released version 28.6.1.0, enhancing its functionality as a cross-platform VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) application that enables users to send free messages and make free calls to other Viber users, regardless of the device, network, or location. The app automatically syncs contacts, messages, and call history with your mobile device, ensuring that users can stay connected without missing important communications.
MailWasher Free 8.5.1 has been released, offering users a powerful tool to manage their email effectively. This software enables users to preview emails from multiple accounts before downloading them, giving them the ability to assess the content and safety of their messages. Key features include the option to delete unwanted emails or bounce them back to the sender, who will receive a notification stating that the address is unknown.
Nomacs - Image Lounge has released a new beta version, 3.23.3, while the stable version 3.22.2 is now available. This image viewer is recognized for its lightweight and efficient functionality, supporting a wide range of image formats, including PSD and RAW files. Nomacs facilitates an intuitive user experience by providing thumbnail previews of the current folder and a file explorer panel for seamless navigation between directories.
Microsoft released PowerToys Preview v0.101.2373.0 on August 26, 2026, shortly after the stable v0.101 build, indicating a return to active development. This preview adds command-line shims for utilities like FancyZones and Image Resizer, enabling scriptable automation and system administration tasks. The update also includes improvements such as enhanced installer reliability and better Keyboard Manager performance across restarts. Looking ahead, the v0.102 roadmap aims for continued modernization, tabbed navigation for Command Palette, and support for JavaScript and TypeScript extensions
HyperSnap has announced the release of version 10.3.1, an advanced screen capture and image editing tool that simplifies the process of capturing screens from any source, including full-screen games. This software offers a unique TextSnap feature that enables users to capture editable text even from areas where standard copying isn't possible, making it particularly useful for extracting information from various applications and games.
Process Lasso has recently released version 18.3.0.19 Beta and a stable version 18.2.3.42. This powerful, free tool is designed to optimize the management and operation of processes and services on your computer, enhancing overall system performance.
Mozilla Thunderbird Eclipse ESR 140.14.1 has been released, showcasing its versatility as a free email application that excels in customization and user experience. A portable version is also available for those who prefer mobility.
Corsair and HYTE are innovating the mid-range case market with the wood-paneled FRAME 5000D WOOD RS and the affordable HYTE Y50 RGB, which features a curved glass design. Cooler Master has introduced the MasterFan M140 ARGB, though noise issues and availability hinder its appeal, while Corsair's TITAN II 360 RX RGB offers impressive cooling with a focus on lowering VRM and M.2 temperatures. The be quiet! Light Mount TKL keyboard is designed for quiet operation with pre-lubricated switches, catering to users who need a low-noise option for shared spaces. Lastly, the Asus ROG Strix B850-F Gaming Wifi Neo motherboard is priced similarly to higher-end models, raising questions about value as AMD continues to push its chipset pricing
Bazzite Linux has released version 44.20260825, featuring a rapid upgrade of the OGC kernel to version 6.1 and addressing a critical security vulnerability in SteamOS-Manager. The update includes various improvements to the Gamescope session wrapper, InputPlumber, and OpenGamepadUI, along with specific fixes for handheld devices like the OneXFly F1. With a focus on maintaining stability, Bazzite allows users to easily roll back updates if regressions occur, and the build pipeline has been optimized for efficiency. Users can update to the latest version using the bazzite-rollback-helper command, with consistent tagging across different setups
Liquorix Linux Kernel 7.1-18 has been released, incorporating micro-optimizations for the Project-C scheduler based on the Linux 7.1.10 base. This update includes two key patches aimed at improving context switch efficiency and branch prediction for non-migratable tasks. Maintainer Steven Barrett continues a rapid release schedule, focusing on low-latency performance, with packages available for Debian, Ubuntu, and Arch Linux. Additionally, the release introduces security enhancements, aligning with the zero-trust kernel philosophy, although it primarily serves as a tuning update rather than a feature expansion
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