Near an abandoned French farm in 1918 field telephones crackled with orders in a language that baffled German eavesdroppers—and the code talkers were born

By Richard Selcer @ Historynet.com

During World War II the United States used American Indian code talkers to thwart enemy decoding of battlefield radio and telephone traffic. The exploits of these men—almost all of whom were Navajos serving with the Marines the Pacific—are justly famous, thanks to several popular written histories and the 2002 film Windtalkers.

Yet few people realize that U.S. reliance on code talkers during wartime did not originate with Navajos on some jungle-covered South Sea island. It was, instead, on the shell-pocked Western Front battlefields of World War I that American Indians—mostly Choctaws in Army uniforms—were first tasked with transmitting crucial military communications in languages the enemy could not decipher.

Read on…

We have a bit more information in regards to the Meltdown security exploit which primarily affects Intel’s CPUs, but also has been confirmed to affect some ARM CPU designs. Also the Spectre exploit that every high-performance processor ever made – Intel, AMD, ARM, and POWER – is thought to be vulnerable to. Intel has begun issuing updates for all types of Intel-based computer systems, and Microsoft has issued patches via Windows Update (Windows 10 only). Also there are a few news stories about when and if Intel knew of these security issues for an extended period of time.

• Intel Issues Updates to Protect Systems From Security Exploits
• Microsoft Starts Rolling Out Emergency Patches to Fix Disastrous Chip Bugs
• Intel Aware of CPU Flaws Before CEO Brian Krzanich Planned $24M Stock Sale
• Intel Released “Coffee Lake” Knowing it Was Vulnerable to Spectre and Meltdown
• Intel Hit With Three Class Action Lawsuits Related to Security Vulnerability
• AMD Issues Statement Regarding Processor Security
• AMD Big Winner from Chip Flaw Fiasco – More than $11 Billion in Intel Stock Value Wiped Out
• ARM Processor Security Update
• Apple’s Response to Meltdown and Spectre Exploits
• Amazon Rolls Out Patches for Meltdown Exploit
• Google Android Security Bulletin
• Google Updates its Cloud Infrastructure
• Potential Impact on Processors in the IBM POWER Family

Source: TechPowerUp!

Making good on its post-New Year promise, AMD late Thursday released its first Radeon Software Adrenalin iteration for the year, version 18.1.1 Alpha. Being flagged “Alpha,” these are very early drivers, the use of which are not backed by any warranties. They’re not fully tested to work by AMD.

Version 18.1.1 Alpha addresses critical bugs that caused some of the older games to break following Adrenalin 17.12 release. The games, which are nearly a decade old, are AAA blockbusters which are based on the older DirectX 9 API. A number of older DirectX 9 games, such as EA’s “Command & Conquer 3,” “Command & Conquer 4″ series, “Battle for Middle Earth 1-2,” and “The Witcher Enhanced Edition” had simply refused to start following the 17.12 driver update.

The new Radeon Software Adrenalin 18.1.1 Alpha drivers are available online at the AMD driver download page.

New trailer reveals first playable faction leader, plus new details and victory conditions revealed

Alfred the Great’s victory at the Battle of Edington, in which he stood fast against the Viking invaders and changed the future of the British Isles, marks the player’s historical starting point of 878 AD in the forthcoming game Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia.

See King Alfred alter the course of history in the first in-engine cinematic trailer HERE.

Like Alfred, each playable faction leader will face a series of unique events and branching dilemmas based on historical events. The choices made will have far-reaching and impactful consequences allowing players to write their own story and re-write history.

Players can attempt to achieve victory in a number of ways: by aggressively expanding through force of arms, by increasing their faction’s fame through construction, advanced technology and influence, and by completing a series of unique objectives based on their chosen faction’s history. A final, ultimate victory condition can also be aimed for, presenting the player with a unique and significant late-game challenge.

Further new details on Thrones of Britannia can be found on the games Steam page.

What To Know About New Exploits That Affect Virtually All CPUs

By Ryan Smith @ AnandTech

Security researchers working for Google’s Project Zero group, along with other research groups and academic institutions, have discovered a series of far-ranging security risks involving speculative execution. Speculative execution is one of the cornerstones of high-performance execution on modern CPUs, and is found in essentially all CPU designs more performance than an embedded microcontroller. As a result, essentially every last high-performance CPU on the market or that has been produced in the last couple of decades is vulnerable to one or more of a few different exploit scenarios.

Read on…

Check out these latest hardware announcements for today from around the web. Also included are some hardware news bits, and on some days, a few rumors tossed in for good measure. Click on the links below to read the official press release, visit the products web page, or to an independent news source.

• AMD Plans to Fix Adrenalin Driver’s DX9 Issues
• Mad Catz is Back in the Game - Legendary Gaming Hardware Brand Returns
• ASUS Announces AiMesh Whole-Home Wi-Fi for ASUS Routers
• Lenovo Announces New ThinkVision Series X24, P32U Monitors
• Creative Announces the Zen-Inspired Creative Pebble Desktop Speakers
• In Win Rolls Out the 305 Mid-Tower Chassis
• AMD Ryzen “Pinnacle Ridge” Processors Launch in March
• ID-COOLING Announces DF-12025-RGB-TRIO Fan Set
• G.SKILL Releases New Sniper X DDR4 Memory Series
• Lian Li To Release new PC-O11 cases and LanCool Makes a Return
• Plextor Debuts Gaming PCIe SSD with M9Pe Series Launch
• Mirage NP900, First Consumer NVMe SSD with Silicon Motion’s SM2262 Controller
• New Hardware Vulnerability Found in Intel Processors

Battlestate Games kick off the load testing of the Escape from Tarkov game servers before the official start of the Open Beta testing at the beginning of 2018. Also the studio starts a holiday event which will allow the game to be purchased with a 25% discount during the week, and some of the users will receive a free 7-day access to the game. A full description of the event, participation requirements and instructions for redeeming the gift can be found on the project website in the news section.

Moreover developers released the last update of the game in 2017. This version of the game introduces the complete Shoreline map along with new weapons and weapon modifications, including AKMS, AKMN, Gyurza pistol and Trijicon REAP-IR thermal sight, as well as new equipment like customizable Ops-Core helmets. Moreover, several gameplay systems have been seriously redesigned, most importantly, deployment and extraction system, weapon mastering and dynamic changing of its size. Other notable changes include customization of helmets and head gear slots. The end of the Raid screen now features the opportunity to view the list of characters killed during the game session. Furthermore, players can now take dogtags off deceased enemies, which contain info on nickname, level and PMC affiliation. The complete list of new developments and changes can be found on the official project Forum and in social network communities.

At this point, users purchasing any game package get access to the Beta testing and can start playing immediately after purchase.

Learn more about the project testing plans and the estimated completion time frame, and purchase the game on the official website of the project.

Check out these latest hardware announcements for today from around the web. Also included are some hardware news bits, and on some days, a few rumors tossed in for good measure. Click on the links below to read the official press release, visit the products web page, or to an independent news source.

• ELSA Releases GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 11GB ST
• ASUS Quietly Revises ROG Strix 1080 Ti PCB Design, EKWB Warns
• SilverStone Announces TP02-M2 M.2 Heatsink Kit
• Arctic Announces the Freezer 33 eSports One Tower Cooler
• Jonsbo Shows Intriguing CR-401 Tower Style Processor Cooler
• ADATA Introduces XPG Z1 DDR4 4600MHz Overclocking Memory Modules
• LG 27GK750F-B 27-inch FHD 240Hz Gaming Monitor Launched
• NVIDIA Ends Driver Support for 32-bit Operating Systems
• Cougar Releases Surpassion Gaming Mouse With LCD at the Bottom
• ADATA XPG Presents the INFAREX Mouse and Mousepad Combo Pack

The expansion brings new Game Mode “Special Operations”, Grassy Fields PvP map, Night Battles and more

My.com, developer and global publisher of Armored Warfare is thrilled to release its new expansion – Caribbean Crisis which adds a new game mode called ‘Special Operations’. This mode consists of a series challenging PvE missions which connect to an engaging overarching narrative. The first of these challenges will feature three new co-operative missions, set around the Panama Channel. The special operation will introduce a brand-new antagonist and enemy faction to the lore of Armored Warfare. By actively taking part, players will be able to shape the future of the story and lore of the game. Find out more about the new Armored Warfare – “Caribbean Crisis” expansion, check out some screenshots and watch the new announcement trailer HERE.

Other features introduced with Armored Warfare – Caribbean Crisis:

• Grassy Fields PvP Map: The new PvP Map Grassy Fields, is set in the open countryside of eastern Croatia and is ideal for armored vehicle operations. It offers numerous flanking opportunities as well as positions from which accurate fire can be delivered upon the opponent. Don’t admire the beauty and serenity of the environment for too long – the enemy might be lurking behind every tree.
• Night Battles: Introduced as an exclusive feature for the new Grassy Fields map are Night Battles! The new night fighting game mode will be available to both PvP and PvE versions of the map. Players can use their vehicle’s night vision devices and thermal optics to master the art of warfare in the darkness of moonless nights. Limited visibility will make spotting difficult, improving the importance of reconnaissance and battlefield awareness.
• Epic Medals: Among further additions and improvements, all new ‘Epic Medals’ will be introduced in this update. Epic Medals are awarded for truly notable achievements such as scoring a certain number of kills in a single match or spotting more than nine enemy vehicles to name but a few.
• AI in Low-Tier PvP: To improve the gameplay experience of Armored Warfare on the lower tiers and help new players learn the basics of PvP combat, AI controlled opponents will be available on Tier 1 and Tier 2 battles. The AI opponents will join and complement each team and will behave like actual players, trying to not only kill the enemy, but also to capture bases.
• New Dossier UI: The Dossier has been overhauled to match the new User Interface visual design of Armored Warfare.

About Armored Warfare

Armored Warfare is a free-to-play massively multiplayer online tactical military game that puts the player into the world of modern warfare. In Armored Warfare, players get a chance to try the most powerful tools of destruction invented by mankind – from modern main battle tanks to scouts and wheeled vehicles. Using modern defense systems like anti-missile protection and smoke grenades, along with various types of armor and ammunition, players can jump into fast paced battles both in PvP mode and a vast amount of PvE missions.

Find out more about Armored Warfare and download the game for free, visit the games official website.

The Christmas Truce of 1914 is going to be reenacted in Verdun once again this Winter, from December 21 to January 4! As in previous years, you’ll be able to get a taste of this unusual moment of peace and reflection in the midst of the enormous devastation of the First World War.

Between every few normal matches, players will experience the Christmas Truce event on a special map featuring football, snowball fights and Christmas cards which can be sent from the trenches by email or social media. Everyone who sends postcards to their loved ones has a chance of winning some WW1 Game Series swag, from Verdun / Tannenberg keys to a trench whistle or thermos. We’ll announce three winners everyday on this thread.

There will also be a Christmas Truce DLC to allow players to easily donate to War Child UK for €1.99 / $1.99 / £1.69. All players who pay for the DLC get a unique Christmas Truce 2017 medal, and will be able to access the Christmas Truce whenever they like for as long as they like until January 4. Purchase the Christmas Truce DLC HERE.

War Child is a charity working to help support children affected by war or living in conflict zones.

Click here to visit the Verdun Steam announcement page for more Christmas Truce DLC information.

The FPS Verdun takes place on the Western Front between 1914 and 1918, in one of the bloodiest conflicts in world history. We were inspired by the infamous Battle of Verdun France in 1916. The game offers four distinct game-modes: Frontlines, Attrition, Rifle Deathmatch and Squad Defense. We have included many historically accurate features such as realistic WW1 weaponry, authentic uniforms, gore, and maps based on the real battlefields of France and Belgium.

Find out more about Verdun at the games official website.