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Microsoft patches Google-outed Windows security hole
As promised, Microsoft has issued a fix for the Windows security flaw that Google disclosed before a patch was ready. The update tackles vulnerabilities in numerous versions of Windows (from Vista through Windows 10) that would let an attacker get control of your system through a malicious app. You're already safe if you use Windows 10 Anniversary Update and an up-to-date browser, we'd add -- this is for people who can't or won't move to a newer operating system.
Microsoft will fix Surface Pro 3 battery issues through software
Microsoft was right about its hunch that Surface Pro 3 battery degradation was a software problem. The company reports that it has ruled out hardware as a cause for the shrinking battery capacity, and that it's working on a patch that should bring your Windows tablet back to normal. You'll get the fix as soon as it passes testing, Microsoft says. In the meantime, it's advising against asking for a hardware replacement.
Security director rigged lotteries with code
New evidence in an Iowa case shows a former security director at the Multi-State Lottery Association used code to rig draws. If someone made an 80s wish fulfilment movie for hackers, this might just be the plot. Or at least, until the whole getting caught part. Eddie Raymond Tipton was convicted for jackpot-fixing last year, but much of the prosecution's case was based on circumstantial evidence -- as the number generators involved had since been destroyed. A new filing on Wednesday this week claims to show that investigators have recovered code that proves the draws were fixed.
Photoshop Fix brings some of Adobe's powerful editing tools to iOS
Remember that tease Adobe gave us during the recent iPad Pro reveal? It was a brief demo of the so-called Project Rigel, and now the creative software company is ready to make the big reveal just before its annual Max design conference starts. The finished product goes by Photoshop Fix, and it'll reside in Adobe's mobile arsenal alongside Photoshop Mix, Photoshop Draw, Illustrator Sketch and the rest of the company's recent releases. You may have noticed there's more than one mobile app with Photoshop in its name. Well, there's a reason for that: productivity. Photoshop Fix will help you take care of retouching photos on that trusty iOS device, and it really works quite well, partially due to the fact that it doesn't try to do too much.
Windows gets an emergency security fix across most versions (update: Hacking Team link)
If you use Windows -- just about any recent version of it, in fact -- you're going to want to check for updates as soon as you can. Microsoft has released an emergency, off-schedule patch for a security hole that lets ne'er-do-wells hijack your system if you open documents or websites that use embedded OpenType fonts. The flaw exists in virtually every edition of Windows that Microsoft still supports, ranging from Vista all the way to your preview copy of Windows 10. There's no evidence that an attack exists in the wild, but you'll definitely want to get the fix before malware writers get their act together. Update: There are claims circulating that this fixes an exploit discovered in the Hacking Team breach. If so, it's not entirely true that this exploit has never been used. We've reached out to Microsoft for more answers. Update 2: Microsoft tells us that this is indeed in response to the Hacking Team vulnerability. The company is "not aware of any active attacks" right now, but it's not about to wait for them to show up.
Destiny patch repairs Crota's bum knee
Bungie issued a new patch for Destiny today, primarily providing fixes for issues with the Crota's End raid in the game's first expansion, The Dark Below. As the developer revealed late last week, the update zapped a glitch that allowed players to easily beat the raid boss, Crota, by unplugging one teammate's network cable. The "force quit" by one player previously caused Crota to enter an irrecoverable kneeling state, according to Bungie's patch notes. Additionally, not only does the update fix a "rare case where the Shriekers would not spawn, preventing players from reaching the Deathsinger" enemy in the expansion, but the Deathsinger now has a chance to drop rare exotic gear and materials. The Dark Below launched in December, bringing with it a slew of story missions and three Crucible arenas. The DLC is available for $20 on its own, or as part of Destiny's $35 season pass. [Image: Bungie]
Destiny update tunes exotic weapons to feel more 'overpowered'
Bungie updated Destiny today, changing the game's exotic weapons and introducing "additional acquisition paths for destination upgrade materials." Version 1.1 of the game re-balances the exotic gear so the weapons "look, feel and sound overpowered," and they will no longer require Ascendant Materials to upgrade. Final upgrades to exotic gear will require that players have exotic shards, obtained by dismantling other exotic gear or trading in seven Strange Coins. The update changed a number of exotic weapons, such as boosting the magazine size and reload speed of the Thorn and the stability of Hard Light and Monte Carlo. Bungie's update blog features a full list of the changes made to the exotic weaponry, which will generally start at a higher attack value than the items previously did. The version 1.1 update also fixed a few issues such as Raid exploits and lowered frame rates for Xbox One players using party chat. Destiny's first major expansion, The Dark Below, will launch on December 9. [Image: Activision]
Driveclub studio kicks the tires, lights two free DLC fires
Game launches can be tricky to nail, as there are plenty of variables where things can go wrong. Such was the case for the unfortunate Driveclub from developer Evolution Studios, which has already seen several fixes deployed and a delay of the game's PlayStation Plus version. Naturally, these developments have led to unhappy customers. To thank fans for their support in light of such problems, Evolution Studios will be giving away two DLC packs for free to customers who have purchased the game. The Ignition Expansion Pack and Photo-Finish Tour Pack, both due on November 25 in North America (November 26 in Europe, November 27 in Japan), will add five new cars, 22 new tour events, 10 new trophies and 10 new livery items. Since these new items will be given away for free, Evolution Studios will be offering Driveclub's Season Pass holders two extra DLC packs in July of 2015 so that, according to a Facebook post by the studio, "players who purchased the pass get everything that was promised." The studio will also be rolling out another update to the game on Tuesday, November 18, which will add the increasingly popular Photo Mode, as well as several game balances and fixes. [Image: Evolution Studios]
PSA: Here's one possible fix for PS4 Rest Mode issues
If your PlayStation 4 is behaving badly after this week's 2.0 update, Reddit user Nestledrink has a potential fix that may get your ailing console back up and running. The fix is for users who are unable to wake their PlayStation 4s up from Rest Mode. You'll see your console constantly blinking an orange light if you're affected, and your system will be unresponsive if you attempt to power it on or press the PS button on a DualShock 4 controller. If this is the case, Nestledrink recommends powering down the console by pressing the power button for seven seconds, then engaging Safe Mode by holding the power button for another seven seconds afterward. From there, you can select the third option on the screen that appears in order to reinstall the latest firmware update, which should hopefully fix the problem. While the method isn't guaranteed to fix all PlayStation 4 issues, one Joystiq staffer was able to resuscitate their console by following the steps above, and confirms that their PS4 is now back in action. If your PS4 is still unresponsive, try contacting Sony support for further assistance. [Image: Sony]
Bungie closes Destiny's 'Loot Cave,' discusses future fixes
Well that was fun while it lasted. The infamous "Loot Cave" that allowed Destiny players to collectively shoot into the darkness and reap massive rewards has been fixed by Bungie. "The Hive of the holy 'Treasure Cave' have realized the futility of their endless assault on Skywatch and have retired to lick their wounds and plan their next attack," the developer wrote in its latest update notes. Bungie also issued notes on some of Destiny's other issues that it plans to address in the future, in which it said that "shooting at a black hole for hours on end isn't our dream for how Destiny is played." Aside from addressing the Loot Cave exploit, Bungie will "increase engram drops from completing activities" and allow players to opt-in to voice chat during online matchmaking sessions. The developer also plans to increase damage dealt by players and reduce the impact from bosses during Strike missions as well as issue a number of balance changes to impact the effectiveness of weapons at different ranges. [Image: Activision]
Here's what to do if your PS4 ejects discs unexpectedly
Is your PlayStation 4 ejecting discs without your input, or attempting to eject a non-existent disc when the drive is empty? First off, relax -- your PS4 isn't possessed by a Blu-ray-hating phantom. This is a common issue, and Sony has issued a tutorial video demonstrating a quick fix for affected users. The process involves holding down the PlayStation 4's power button until you hear two beeps, waiting thirty seconds, and then unplugging the console from its power source for three minutes. Afterward, your PS4 should resume normal operation. If it doesn't, Sony advises visiting its Online Service Request page for a repair order. How's your PS4 holding up? Here's hoping the classic "turn it off and turn it on again" approach fixes whatever problems you may be experiencing. Even at its worst, though, the PS4's ejecting issue seems downright tame compared to the disc-launching PSP-1000. That thing could put someone's eye out. [Video: Sony]
WildStar to make character upgrades easier
The WildStar devs claim that they are listening to players' concerns over the infrequency of AMP upgrades and ability tier unlocks, which is why the team is planning to roll out several improvements to these drop rates in an upcoming patch. "For the uninitiated, players earn AMP power points and ability tier unlocks naturally through leveling up in WildStar," the team posted. "Special items can be found throughout the game however that further boost your character's AMP points and ability tier unlocks. These items, based on our data and from feedback from players, simply do not drop enough." Players will see a drop rate increase from level 50 creatures and PvP victory bags. On top of those, the team is putting in one-shot items from endgame reputation vendors, the prestige vendor, gold medal veteran dungeon rewards, and at path levels 15 and 30.
Mortal Online claims 'breakthrough' with improved client performance
If you've been frustrated by bad client performance with Mortal Online, then you'll be glad to hear that developer Star Vault has isolated the problem: It's Gordo the Carniverous Sea Slug (as seen above) who is eating your packets and pings with wild abandon. In all seriousness, the team has pinpointed the issue as related to the new armor models and is beginning to work on a solution. "We have made a very exciting breakthrough in how to handle player performance cost," a team update reads. "We have identified one big thing that does indeed add quite a bit of drop on client performance when the client sees many players." In addition to fixing the performance drop, Star Vault announced that the territory control system is "progressing very smoothly" and that the team has added a new concept artist to flesh out the world and lore. [Thanks to James for the tip!]
Microsoft is testing a fix for Windows 8.1 upgrade woes
There are many Windows 8 and RT users who want to upgrade to Windows 8.1 and RT 8.1, but can't; a glitch has kept a seemingly random batch of PCs from installing this latest revision through the Windows Store. Thankfully, relief is in sight. Microsoft tells SuperSite for Windows that it's testing a patch which automatically upgrades these stubborn computers to their respective 8.1 releases. If you're eligible, you only need to check Windows Update (not the Store) to get the ball rolling. Windows RT users, at least, can also download the solution if they're impatient. Microsoft isn't saying if and when the fix will spread worldwide, but it likely can't come soon enough if you're stuck with outdated software.
Microsoft fixes some of the Surface Pro 2's battery and sleep problems
Microsoft vowed that it would fix the numerous bugs plaguing the Surface Pro 2 in the wake of the flawed December update, and it made good on that promise by rolling out a patch this weekend. The company tells us that the update addresses the most serious problems for affected tablet owners, including reduced battery life and unexpected wake-ups. Future software will tackle the remaining glitches, Redmond says. The partial remedy isn't quite what some were hoping for -- we're still seeing a few complaints -- but it's at least a step in the right direction. Check out Microsoft's full statement below.
Pokemon X/Y patch fixes exploits, uses flying type on bugs
A wild patch appeared in the eShop region for Pokemon X/Y! It seems pretty willing to add itself to your collection though, so approach it expecting a Magikarp-tier fight. Patch 1.2's details note a fix to a problem involving the Wonder Trade feature - Pokemon that evolve due to being traded through Wonder Trade will now be capable of learning new moves. An issue where "certain captions" for Trainer PR videos weren't properly unlocking in Lumiose City has been addressed as well. The notes also list an update to an "internet communication issue," which Destructoid reports is related to curbing the use of unofficial tools called Battle Analyzer and Instacheck. Pokemon Champions will need to download this update before they can return to proving their abilities against opponents in online battles. If you've neglected your collection of new friends since October, Patch 1.2 also includes a previous patch addressing a saving glitch in Lumiose City.
LG and Google tweak Nexus 5 production to fix speaker and loose buttons
Owners of brand new Nexus 5 handsets are starting to notice a few subtle differences compared to the version that sold at launch. The mono speaker grille holes are slightly larger, for a start, which could potentially offer a decibel or so of extra volume and prevent buyers from having to go all crazy with a hot needle. The volume and power buttons seem to have been made stiffer too, suggesting that complaints about excessive rattling noises reached receptive ears at LG and Google. None of this will help those of us who bought launch day models, of course, unless there's the option of seeking a replacement, but we reckon the Nexus 5 remains the best $350 option on the market even with all its original foibles. [Photo credit: shinral]
Safeguard yourself against WeakAuras gold exploit
The incredibly versatile and popular addon WeakAuras has been subject to a completely bizarre exploit lately, as Blizzard Customer Support Representative Vrakthris posted on the forums. The exploit was done by allowing malicious code to run, hiding itself as a helpful link from other ill-intentioned players. The good news is that this is really easily fixed. The author of WeakAuras stepped in within hours of hearing about this with a modification to the code. Before performing either of these steps it's worth creating a backup copy of your Interface and WTF folders so that if something does go wrong you don't lose all your auras. If you use the Curse client, all you need to do is uninstall WeakAuras, and install WeakAuras 2. Ensure that when you uninstall WeakAuras you uncheck the box that removes your in-game variables, and you're done. If you want to do it manually, head over to the download page, download it and merge the folders. Simply log into the game and load up WeakAuras with the same commands as before, and you're done. Also, while this is fixed, a good general rule for WoW and the rest of the internet is this: don't click links from strangers.
The Last of Us patch 1.02 removes sex hotline numbers, includes multiplayer fixes
Naughty Dog has wasted no time in removing the completely unintentional sex hotline telephone number it inadvertently plastered on a bulletin board inside of The Last of Us. The game's first patch, version 1.02, changes the "texture of a phone number on a bulletin board" as its only modification to the single-player experience. Multiplayer mode, on the other hand, has received a handful of technical corrections and gameplay adjustments, including improved host migration and fixes for miscellaneous crashing, camera and connectivity issues. The full patch notes can be found here, but what we really want to find out is: Who was answering those telephones after the apocalypse? Clickers? We're betting it was Clickers.
PS3 firmware 4.46 update released to fix 4.45 malfunction
The PS3 firmware fix for update 4.45 is available now. The 4.45 update released last week left some systems unusable, but Sony today outlined how users can restore functionality. The three-step process involves downloading the newly released 4.46 update to storage media or a USB device, activating safe mode, then installing the 4.46 update from there.
