Xvid.org has released an updated 1.1.3 version, dated 12.04.2008. This update contains a fix for a security vulnerability, so it is a must to update to this version.

For those of you who don’t know nothing about Xvid, it is a codec (Encoder/Decoder) for playing or converting avi files.

This is the most popular video codec today. If you download movies or videos in avi format, you need this codec in order to take advantage of its features.

To read more about video codecs, here is an article in wikipedia that covers the topic.

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The monthly release of ATI’s Catalyst drivers was released today. Read the release notes of version 8.4 to learn what’s changed/improved and to see the known issues in this release.

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A new version of JRE (Java Runtime Environment) is available. The Java RE is used by many programs that are written in java and you need it in order to run programs, among others, like LimeWire, RSS Owl, etc.

Also, JRE is used by web browsers to run java applets (programs) in web pages. Sun, the developer of JRE makes important security updates constantly. It is advised to run the latest vesion of JRE.

The Release Notes mentions all the changes in the new version.

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Today Mozilla released a new version of Firefox. The latest changes are not available yet.

There a few security issues that has been fixed. If you want a link to the release notes, check the link later when Mozilla updates it to see the complete changelog.

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Multiple Image Resizer is a freeware application that can help you resize images. It has features like cropping, rotating. You can also add borders to your images or even watermark them.

If you are interested, you can read all the features here.

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Earlier this month, Microsoft released the Windows XP SP3 Overview, a document that contains the highlights and most notable changes in the upcoming service pack.

Today, Neowin got its hands on the internal schedule planned for SP3. Here are the expected dates in which SP3 will be released:

• April 14, 2008: Support is available for the release version of Service Pack 3 for Windows XP

• April 21, 2008: Original Equipment Manufacturers, Volume License, Connect, and MSDN and TechNet subscribers

• April 29, 2008: Microsoft Update, Windows Update, Download Center

• June 10, 2008: Automatic Updates

Source: Neowin

If you own a cd/dvd burner with LightScribe support, then you need to update the system software with this and future updates.

Description:

The LightScribe System Software (LSS) is required for proper operation of your LightScribe system. Updates are released regularly to support new hardware or recently introduced LightScribe CDs and DVDs, and will ensure optimal and reliable operation of your LightScribe Labeling system.

In the official website of LightScribe you can download two free programs, Simple Labeler and Template Labeler. These two are very useful if you don’t have labeling software in order to take advantage of LightScribe.

Note: You need to use special media and burners that support LightScribe in order to print labels.

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Defraggler is a freeware utility from the developers of CCleaner and Recuva. Its a defragmentation tool for hard drives.

It can defragment individual files as well as entire hard drives.

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