Topics

41

3D-Tech News Around The Web / Facebook Removed 2.2 Billion Fake Accounts (Q1 2019)

« on: May 24, 2019, 12:02:24 PM »

Facebook Inc. said it removed 2.2 billion fake accounts in the first quarter, a record that shows how the company is battling an avalanche of bad actors trying to undermine the authenticity of the world’s largest social network.

In the final quarter of 2018, Facebook disabled just more than 1 billion fake accounts and 583 million in the first quarter of last year. The vast majority are removed within minutes of being created, the company said, so they’re not counted in Facebook’s closely watched monthly and daily active user metrics.

“The larger quantities of fake accounts are driven by spammers who are constantly trying to evade our systems,” Guy Rosen, Facebook’s vice president of integrity, told reporters Thursday.

Links:
- https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-23/facebook-removed-2-2-billion-fake-accounts-in-first-quarter
- https://transparency.facebook.com/community-standards-enforcement#fake-accounts

42

3D-Tech News Around The Web / Taichi: Computer Graphics R&D Infrastructure

« on: May 24, 2019, 11:46:32 AM »

Taichi is an open-source computer graphics library that aims to provide easy-to-use infrastructures for computer graphics R&D. It's written in C++14 and wrapped friendly with Python. Taichi runs on Linux, Mac OS X and Windows.

Links:
- http://taichi.graphics/
- https://github.com/yuanming-hu/taichi

43

3D-Tech News Around The Web / Basis Universal GPU Texture format in glTF

« on: May 24, 2019, 11:39:41 AM »

Earlier today, Google and Binomial announced that they have partnered to open source a sophisticated texture compressor and a high-performance transcoder for Binomial’s cross-platform Basis Universal texture format. This format can help solve a long-standing problem in the 3D ecosystem: how can 3D textures assets be efficiently packaged or transmitted for an application in a way that is both compact AND can be efficiently processed by the wide diversity of GPU hardware texture engines - each of which has a preferred native format?

This problem is particularly acute for WebGL/WebXR applications that have to transmit their 3D assets over the network in real-time, but even native mobile and PC games often ship with texture assets in multiple native GPU formats - significantly bloating install sizes and complicating texture transcoding and distribution for developers.

Textures in the Basis Universal format are similar in size to a JPEG image but they can be efficiently and flexibly transcoded to a wide variety of GPU native formats on the target device without needing to be fully decompressed. Google and Binomial are contributing this format to the open and royalty-free glTF standard being managed by the 3D Formats working group at Khronos.

Link: https://www.khronos.org/blog/google-and-binomial-contribute-basis-universal-texture-format-to-khronos-gltf-3d-transmission-open-standard

Basis Universal is a "supercompressed" GPU texture and texture video compression system that outputs a highly compressed intermediate file format (.basis) that can be quickly transcoded to a wide variety of GPU texture compression formats: PVRTC1 4bpp RGB, BC7 mode 6 RGB, BC1-5, ETC1, and ETC2. We will be adding ASTC RGB or RGBA, BC7 mode 4/5 RGBA, and PVRTC1 4bpp RGBA next. Basis files support non-uniform texture arrays, so cubemaps, volume textures, texture arrays, mipmap levels, video sequences, or arbitrary texture "tiles" can be stored in a single file. The compressor is able to exploit color and pattern correlations across the entire file, so multiple images with mipmaps can be stored very efficiently in a single file.

Link: https://github.com/binomialLLC/basis_universal

44

3D-Tech News Around The Web / Python in Windows 10 May 2019 Update

« on: May 24, 2019, 11:26:43 AM »

Finally, with the May 2019 Windows Update, we are completing the picture. While Python continues to remain completely independent from the operating system, every install of Windows will include python and python3 commands that take you directly to the Python store page. We believe that the Microsoft Store package is perfect for users starting out with Python, and given our experience with and participation in the Python community we are pleased to endorse it as the default choice.

Link: https://devblogs.microsoft.com/python/python-in-the-windows-10-may-2019-update/

45

3D-Tech News Around The Web / Fast C++ logging library

« on: May 24, 2019, 11:24:21 AM »

spdlog is a very fast, header only, C++ logging library.

Features

    Very fast (see benchmarks below).
    Headers only, just copy and use.
    Feature rich formatting, using the excellent fmt library.
    Fast asynchronous mode (optional)
    Custom formatting.
    Multi/Single threaded loggers.
    Various log targets:
        Rotating log files.
        Daily log files.
        Console logging (colors supported).
        syslog.
        Windows debugger (OutputDebugString(..))
        Easily extendable with custom log targets (just implement a single function in the sink interface).
    Severity based filtering - threshold levels can be modified in runtime as well as in compile time.
    Binary data logging.

Link: https://github.com/gabime/spdlog

46

3D-Tech News Around The Web / AMD Adrenalin 2019 Edition 19.5.2 released

« on: May 23, 2019, 11:26:38 AM »

New features and changes:

Support For
- Total War: Three Kingdoms

Fixed Issues
- AMD Radeon VII may experience screen flicker when multiple displays are connected on desktop or while applications are running.
- Radeon WattMan may list the incorrect max temperature for some graphics products.
- GPU Utilization in Radeon Performance Metrics Overlay may sometimes show on unsupported products.
- HDR Video may freeze or have corruption during playback when using Movies and TV Application with some Ryzen APUs.

Downloads
- Latest Adrenalin driver win10 64-bit @ Geeks3D
- Latest Adrenalin driver win7/win8 64-bit @ Geeks3D

- Adrenalin 19.5.2 @ AMD


Adrenalin 19.5.2 exposes  OpenGL 4.6 (324 extensions - GL=300 and WGL=24) and Vulkan 1.1.106 for a Radeon RX Vega 56, like previous 19.5.1.

47

3D-Tech News Around The Web / Irfanview 4.53 released

« on: May 17, 2019, 04:43:07 PM »

Irfanview, one of the best image viewers on Windows has been updated:

- New effect in Image->Effects menu: Insert Speech Bubbles
  Examples/Screenshot: speech_bubbles.jpg
- New effect in Image menu: Add Shadow, Shape, Rounded corners, Snowflake etc.
- New effect in Image menu: Add Hexagon (or tiles), Star, Spikes, Heart etc.
- Show mouse zoom magnifier: CTRL+SHIFT + Mouse-move in the image
  (mouse wheel zooms within magnifier area, click inside closes it)
- New border effect in "Add Frame" dialog: Broken Edge
- New effect added: Radial Brighten (Effects browser dialog)
- New option in Capture dialog: Draw red circle around cursor
- New option in Advanced batch dialog: Set maximal dimensions for resize
- Profiles option added to Contact Sheet dialog
- Option to read 1 BPP images in RAW dialog
- Command line: /filepattern can be combined with /slideshow
- TIF/PCX/PSD loading bugs fixed (thanks to Apriorit)
-  Some PlugIns are changed/updated, please install the newest versions:
    http://www.irfanview.com/plugins.htm

via: https://www.irfanview.com/main_history.htm


Downloads:
- Downloads @ Author site

- Irfanview (64-bit) @ Geeks3D
- Irfanview plugins (64-bit)  @ Geeks3D
- Irfanview (32-bit) @ Geeks3D
- Irfanview plugins (32-bit) @ Geeks3D

48

3D-Tech News Around The Web / VSCode 1.34 and VSCodium 1.34 released

« on: May 17, 2019, 03:53:21 PM »

VSCode and its tracker-free version VSCodium have been released in version 1.34.

Welcome to the April 2019 release of Visual Studio Code. During April, we were busy with the Preview release of the Remote Development extensions. These extensions let you work with VS Code over SSH on a remote machine or VM, in Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), or inside a Docker container. You can read the Remote Development with Visual Studio Code blog post to learn more.

Complete release notes about version 1.34 are available HERE.


You can download VSCode / VSCodium for Windows 64-bit from these links:

- VSCodium 1.34 win64 direct download
- VSCode 1.34 win64 direct download


or from the following pages:

- VSCodium 1.34 downloads
- VSCode downloads

49

3D-Tech News Around The Web / MDS: new class of vulnerabilities impacting all modern Intel CPUs

« on: May 14, 2019, 09:03:19 PM »

A new class of side channel vulnerabilities impacting all modern Intel chips have been disclosed, which can use speculative execution to potentially leak sensitive data from a system’s CPU.

Intel said that the newest class of vulnerabilities, dubbed Microarchitectural Data Sampling (MDS), consist of four different attacks, which all ultimately depend on different ways of executing side channel attacks to siphon data from impacted systems.

...

The  four different attack vectors are dubbed ZombieLoad, Fallout, RIDL (Rogue In-Flight Data Load) and Store-to-Leak Forwarding.

...

Intel said that the new MDS class of flaws is addressed in hardware starting with select 8th and 9th Generation Intel Core processors, as well as the 2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processor family. Future chips will also have integrated fixes.

Source: Intel CPUs Impacted By New Class of Spectre-Like Attacks


CVEs assigned for MSD vulnerabilities

- CVE-2018-12126: Microarchitectural Store Buffer Data Sampling (MSBDS) - CVSS score 6.5: Medium, exploited by Fallout attack
- CVE-2018-12127: Microarchitectural Load Port Data Sampling (MLPDS) - CVSS score 6.5: Medium, exploited by RIDL attack
- CVE-2018-12130: Microarchitectural Fill Buffer Data Sampling (MFBDS) - CVSS score 6.5: Medium, exploited by RIDL attack
- CVE-2019-11091: Microarchitectural Data Sampling Uncacheable Memory (MDSUM) - CVSS score 3.8: Low, exploited by RIDL attack

Source: New RIDL and Fallout Attacks Impact All Modern Intel CPUs

50

3D-Tech News Around The Web / Radeon GPU Profiler 1.5.1 released (D3D12 and Vulkan)

« on: May 14, 2019, 06:38:54 PM »

Radeon GPU Profiler (RGP) is a tool from AMD that allows for deep inspection of GPU workloads.

The Radeon GPU Profiler (RGP) is a ground-breaking low-level optimization tool from AMD. It provides detailed timing information on Radeon Graphics using custom, built-in, hardware thread-tracing, allowing the developer deep inspection of GPU workloads.

This unique tool generates easy to understand visualizations of how your DirectX 12 and Vulkan games interact with the GPU at the hardware level. Profiling a game is both a quick, and simple process using the Radeon Developer Panel and the public display driver.

The new version 1.5.1 brings the following changes:

This release has support for detailed instruction tracing. This feature is currently available in the 19.10 driver for Ubuntu and the Adrenalin 2019 Edition 19.5.1 for Windows. Newer drivers will continue to support this feature.

Radeon GPU Profiler

-  Support for displaying profiles taken with instruction tracing data
-  Support for displaying user events in the Wavefront Occupancy timeline view
-  Support to display GCN ISA disassembly in the Pipeline state view
-  Support for showing and colorizing API PSO hash for each event
-  New grouping modes based on API PSO hash
-  Improved grouping of events and waves
-  Additional state bucket to support API PSO hashes
-  Barriers pane now has sortable columns in the table
-  Version number added to title bar
-  A Check For Updates feature has been added to alert users when a new version of the tool is available.

Radeon Developer Panel

- Support to capture detailed instruction tracing data based on API PSO hash
- Connection pane redesign with basic and advanced modes, allowing for a simpler workflow.
- Bug/stability fixes

Downloads: https://github.com/GPUOpen-Tools/Radeon-GPUProfiler/releases/tag/V1.5.1

51

Geeks3D's GPU Tools / Glitches in Seascape demo, the return!

« on: May 12, 2019, 09:46:40 AM »

I received this screenshot:



Hardware: GeForce GTX 960M with latest 430.64 driver.

The artifacts are also visible on my RTX 2070. In Vulkan and OpenGL.
It's weird, because I never saw these artifacts nor received feedbacks before. Looks like something has changed in NV drivers recently...

I'm working on the demo...

52

3D-Tech News Around The Web / Security flaws fixed in NVIDIA graphics drivers

« on: May 11, 2019, 06:37:24 PM »

NVIDIA has fixed several security flaws in recent graphics drivers and, for GeForce users / gamers, it's recommended to install the latest 430.64 that includes all security patches.

NVIDIA has released a software security update for the NVIDIA GPU Display Driver. This update addresses issues that may lead to denial of service, escalation of privileges, code execution, or information disclosure.


CVE‑2019‑5675
NVIDIA Windows GPU Display Driver contains a vulnerability in the kernel mode layer (nvlddmkm.sys) handler for DxgkDdiEscape where the product does not properly synchronize shared data, such as static variables across threads, which can lead to undefined behavior and unpredictable data changes, which may lead to denial of service, escalation of privileges, or information disclosure.


CVE‑2019‑5676
NVIDIA Windows GPU Display Driver installer software contains a vulnerability in which it incorrectly loads Windows system DLLs without validating the path or signature (also known as a binary planting or DLL preloading attack), leading to escalation of privileges through code execution.


CVE‑2019‑5677
NVIDIA Windows GPU Display Driver contains a vulnerability in the kernel mode layer (nvlddmkm.sys) handler for DeviceIoControl where the software reads from a buffer using buffer access mechanisms such as indexes or pointers that reference memory locations after the targeted buffer, which may lead to denial of service.

Link: https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4797

53

3D-Tech News Around The Web / Vulkan 1.1 is a requirement in Android Q

« on: May 11, 2019, 06:12:00 PM »

We're continuing to expand the impact of Vulkan on Android, our implementation of the low-overhead, cross-platform API for high-performance 3D graphics. We’re working together with our device manufacturer partners to make Vulkan 1.1 a requirement on all 64-bit devices running Android Q and higher, and a recommendation for all 32-bit devices. For game and graphics developers using OpenGL, we’re also working towards a standard, updateable OpenGL driver for all devices built on Vulkan. In Android Q we're adding experimental support for ANGLE on top of Vulkan on Android devices. 

Android Q is the 10th version of Android.

Link: https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2019/05/whats-new-in-android-q-beta-3-more.html 

54

3D-Tech News Around The Web / NVIDIA GeForce 430.64 WHQL driver released with RAGE 2 support

« on: May 09, 2019, 09:27:49 PM »

New features and changes:

Game Ready
- Provides the optimal gaming experience for RAGE 2, Total War: Three Kingdoms, and World War Z


Fixed Issues
- Fixes higher CPU usage by NVDisplay.Container.exe introduced in 430.39 driver. [2577118]
- [3DMark Time Spy]: Flickering observed when benchmark is launched. [200511272]
- [BeamNG]: The application crashes when the game is launched. [2575392]
- [Shadow of the Tomb Raider]: The game freezes when launched in SLI mode. [2575536]
- [Hitman 2 DirectX 12]: The game crashes. [2584342]
- The desktop flickers when videos are played on the secondary monitor. [2552316 2565509]

Downloads
- Latest GeForce driver @ Geeks3D
- 430.64 win10 64-bit (desktop + notebook) @ NVIDIA
- 425.31 win7 64-bit (desktop) @ NVIDIA


GRD 430.64 exposes  OpenGL 4.6 (419 extensions) and Vulkan 1.1.99 for a GeForce RTX 2070, like previous GeForce 430.39

55

3D-Tech News Around The Web / Shipping a full Linux Kernel with Windows 10

« on: May 09, 2019, 04:32:29 PM »

Beginning with Windows Insiders builds this Summer, we will include an in-house custom-built Linux kernel to underpin the newest version of the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). This marks the first time that the Linux kernel will be included as a component in Windows. This is an exciting day for all of us on the Linux team at Microsoft and we are thrilled to be able to tell you a little bit about it.

...

The kernel itself will initially be based on version 4.19, the latest long-term stable release of Linux. The kernel will be rebased at the designation of new long-term stable releases to ensure that the WSL kernel always has the latest Linux goodness.

Link: https://devblogs.microsoft.com/commandline/shipping-a-linux-kernel-with-windows/

56

3D-Tech News Around The Web / Intel roadmap up to 2021 (Ice Lake, Lakefield, Tiger Lake)

« on: May 09, 2019, 04:30:01 PM »

During Intel's Investor Day, Intel has revealed some details about its upcoming processors and their manufacturing process:

Links:
- Intel Details Manufacturing through 2023: 7nm, 7+, 7++, with Next Gen Packaging
- Intel Reveals "Tiger Lake" Architecture with 2020 release plans

57

GeeXLab - english forum / (Demo) NVIDIA FleX: Particles and Collision Shapes

« on: May 08, 2019, 12:05:21 PM »

A demo showing how to use NVIDIA FleX engine in a simple scene: particles + collision shapes.
32k particles are animated in realtime.

Requires GeeXLab 0.28+ and a CUDA-capable graphics card (GeForce or Quadro).


Article:
- https://www.geeks3d.com/hacklab/20190508/demo-nvidia-flex-particles-and-collision-shapes/

Video:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkKztFeL104

Downloads:
- FleX demo
- GeeXLab

58

GeeXLab - english forum / GeeXLab 0.28.0.0 released for Windows, Linux and macOS

« on: May 08, 2019, 12:04:12 PM »

A new GeeXLab is available for for Windows 64-bit, Linux 64-bit and macOS.

Release notes:
- https://www.geeks3d.com/hacklab/20190507/geexlab-0-28-released-for-windows-linux-and-macos/

Downloads:
- https://www.geeks3d.com/geexlab/downloads/

The Scripting API
- https://www.geeks3d.com/geexlab/reference/

The rootard guide:
- GeeXLab Rootard Guide
- Guide du Rootard GeeXLab


Full changelog:
- http://www.geeks3d.com/geexlab/changelog/

Version 0.28.0.0 - 2019.05.04
! (2019.05.04) updated gh_imgui lib with missing color elements for
  tabs (see IMGUI_TAB_COLOR, etc. in the scripting API doc).
* (2019.05.03) fixed minor bugs in the stopping phase of some plugins
  (Bullet3 and FleX).
+ (2019.05.03) added screenshot functionality at the end of a demo
  (command line).
+ (2019.05.02) [Windows / Linux] added new library: gh_flex to deal
  with NVIDIA FleX plugin.
+ (2019.05.02) [Windows / Linux] added NVIDIA FleX plugin for particles
  and fluids simulation.
* (2019.05.02) fixed a bug in the OpenGL renderer: VAOs were not enabled
  with VBOs in the gh_vb library: drawing with gh_vb lib was not
  possible with an OpenGL 3 core profile.

59

GeeXLab - english forum / (Demo) vkRtxInfo: VK_NV_ray_tracing Information

« on: May 07, 2019, 09:16:55 AM »

First contact with ray tracing in Vulkan. The easiest part 

https://www.geeks3d.com/hacklab/20190507/demo-vkrtxinfo-vk_nv_ray_tracing-information/

60

Geeks3D's GPU Tools / ASUS FurMark ROG 0.8.0.2 released

« on: May 07, 2019, 08:36:55 AM »

A new version of FurMark ROG has been released.

Homepage:
- https://geeks3d.com/furmark/rog/

Downloads:
- https://geeks3d.com/furmark/rog/downloads/

Version 0.8.0.2 - 2019.05.06
+ added support of GeForce GTX 1650
! updated user execution level to highestAvailable.
! updated with latest GeeXLab framework.


Version 0.8.0.0 - 2019.04.14
+ added online scores submission.
+ added four new FurMark-based tests that allocate
  lot of graphics memory (VRAM): 1700MB, 3200MB, 5200MB
  and 6500MB.
- removed old rog07 / GPU-Memtest.
+ added support of recent GeForce and Radeon GPUs
+ disallow screen saver and screen blanking.
+ added logging of GPU data (command line).
! increased fur density of ROG mesh
! updated command line options.
* fixed bugs in the Vulkan renderer.
! updated with latest GeeXLab framework.