diff --git a/src/graphics/camera.cpp b/src/graphics/camera.cpp
index d56096cf5..85f4f0f16 100644
--- a/src/graphics/camera.cpp
+++ b/src/graphics/camera.cpp
@@ -524,6 +524,19 @@ void Camera::getCameraSettings(float *above_kart, float *cam_angle,
  */
 void Camera::update(float dt)
 {
+    if (m_kart == NULL)
+    {
+        if (race_manager->getNumLocalPlayers() < 2)
+        {
+            Vec3 pos(m_camera->getPosition());
+            SFXManager::get()->positionListener(pos,
+                Vec3(m_camera->getTarget()) - pos,
+                Vec3(0, 1, 0));
+        }
+
+        return; // cameras not attached to kart must be positioned manually
+    }
+
     if (race_manager->getNumLocalPlayers() < 2)
     {
         Vec3 heading(sin(m_kart->getHeading()), 0.0f, cos(m_kart->getHeading()));
@@ -531,9 +544,7 @@ void Camera::update(float dt)
             heading,
             Vec3(0, 1, 0));
     }
-
-    if (m_kart == NULL) return; // cameras not attached to kart must be positioned manually
-
+    
     float above_kart, cam_angle, side_way, distance;
     bool  smoothing;
 
diff --git a/src/guiengine/scalable_font.cpp b/src/guiengine/scalable_font.cpp
index d6d076adf..3956439b4 100644
--- a/src/guiengine/scalable_font.cpp
+++ b/src/guiengine/scalable_font.cpp
@@ -688,11 +688,13 @@ core::dimension2d<u32> ScalableFont::getDimension(const wchar_t* text) const
 
         if (gp_creator->getNewChar().size() > 0 && !m_is_hollow_copy && m_scale == 1)
         {
-            Log::debug("ScalableFont::getDimension", "New character(s) %s discoverd, perform lazy loading",
-                         StringUtils::wide_to_utf8(gp_creator->getNewChar().c_str()).c_str());
+            Log::debug("ScalableFont::getDimension",
+                       "New character(s) %s discoverd, perform lazy loading",
+                       StringUtils::wideToUtf8(gp_creator->getNewChar()).c_str());
 
             if (!GUIEngine::getFont()->lazyLoadChar())
-                Log::error("ScalableFont::lazyLoadChar", "Can't insert new char into glyph pages.");
+                Log::error("ScalableFont::lazyLoadChar",
+                           "Can't insert new char into glyph pages.");
         }
     }
 
@@ -822,19 +824,24 @@ void ScalableFont::doDraw(const core::stringw& text,
                 [GUIEngine::getFont()->getSpriteNoFromChar(&c)].Frames[0].textureNumber
                 == m_spritebank->getTextureCount() - 1) //Prevent overwriting texture used by billboard text
             {
-                 Log::debug("ScalableFont::doDraw", "Character used by billboard text is in the last glyph page of normal font."
-                              " Create a new glyph page for new characters inserted later to prevent it from being removed.");
+                 Log::debug("ScalableFont::doDraw", 
+                            "Character used by billboard text is in the last "
+                            "glyph page of normal font. Create a new glyph "
+                            "page for new characters inserted later to prevent "
+                            "it from being removed.");
                  GUIEngine::getFont()->forceNewPage();
             }
         }
 
         if (gp_creator->getNewChar().size() > 0 && !m_is_hollow_copy && m_scale == 1)
         {
-            Log::debug("ScalableFont::doDraw", "New character(s) %s discoverd, perform lazy loading",
-                         StringUtils::wide_to_utf8(gp_creator->getNewChar().c_str()).c_str());
+            Log::debug("ScalableFont::doDraw",
+                       "New character(s) %s discoverd, perform lazy loading",
+                       StringUtils::wideToUtf8(gp_creator->getNewChar()).c_str());
 
             if (!GUIEngine::getFont()->lazyLoadChar())
-                Log::error("ScalableFont::lazyLoadChar", "Can't insert new char into glyph pages.");
+                Log::error("ScalableFont::lazyLoadChar",
+                           "Can't insert new char into glyph pages.");
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/guiengine/widgets/CGUIEditBox.cpp b/src/guiengine/widgets/CGUIEditBox.cpp
index 5d2c0fe88..67bbe9136 100644
--- a/src/guiengine/widgets/CGUIEditBox.cpp
+++ b/src/guiengine/widgets/CGUIEditBox.cpp
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ bool CGUIEditBox::processKey(const SEvent& event)
 
                 core::stringw s;
                 s = Text.subString(realmbgn, realmend - realmbgn).c_str();
-                Operator->copyToClipboard(StringUtils::wide_to_utf8(s.c_str()).c_str());
+                Operator->copyToClipboard(StringUtils::wideToUtf8(s).c_str());
             }
             break;
         case KEY_KEY_X:
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ bool CGUIEditBox::processKey(const SEvent& event)
                 // copy
                 core::stringw sc;
                 sc = Text.subString(realmbgn, realmend - realmbgn).c_str();
-                Operator->copyToClipboard(StringUtils::wide_to_utf8(sc.c_str()).c_str());
+                Operator->copyToClipboard(StringUtils::wideToUtf8(sc).c_str());
 
                 if (isEnabled())
                 {
@@ -331,13 +331,13 @@ bool CGUIEditBox::processKey(const SEvent& event)
                     {
                         // insert text
                         core::stringw s = Text.subString(0, CursorPos);
-                        s.append(StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(p));
+                        s.append(StringUtils::utf8ToWide(p));
                         s.append( Text.subString(CursorPos, Text.size()-CursorPos) );
 
                         if (!Max || s.size()<=Max) // thx to Fish FH for fix
                         {
                             Text = s;
-                            s = StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(p);
+                            s = StringUtils::utf8ToWide(p);
                             CursorPos += s.size();
                         }
                     }
@@ -346,13 +346,13 @@ bool CGUIEditBox::processKey(const SEvent& event)
                         // replace text
 
                         core::stringw s = Text.subString(0, realmbgn);
-                        s.append(StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(p));
+                        s.append(StringUtils::utf8ToWide(p));
                         s.append( Text.subString(realmend, Text.size()-realmend) );
 
                         if (!Max || s.size()<=Max)  // thx to Fish FH for fix
                         {
                             Text = s;
-                            s = StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(p);
+                            s = StringUtils::utf8ToWide(p);
                             CursorPos = realmbgn + s.size();
                         }
                     }
diff --git a/src/scriptengine/script_gui.cpp b/src/scriptengine/script_gui.cpp
index a7cda59e3..74418d701 100644
--- a/src/scriptengine/script_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/scriptengine/script_gui.cpp
@@ -55,14 +55,14 @@ namespace Scripting
             DeviceConfig* config = device->getConfiguration();
             PlayerAction ScriptAction = (PlayerAction)Enum_value;
             irr::core::stringw control = config->getBindingAsString(ScriptAction);
-            std::string key = StringUtils::wide_to_utf8(control.c_str());
+            std::string key = StringUtils::wideToUtf8(control);
             return key;
         }
 
         /** Show the specified message in a popup */
         void displayModalMessage(std::string* input)
         {
-            irr::core::stringw out = StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(input->c_str());
+            irr::core::stringw out = StringUtils::utf8ToWide(*input);
             new TutorialMessageDialog((out), true);
         }
 
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ namespace Scripting
         /** Display text in the center of the screen for a few seconds */
         void displayOverlayMessage(std::string* input)
         {
-            irr::core::stringw msg = StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(input->c_str());
+            irr::core::stringw msg = StringUtils::utf8ToWide(*input);
             std::vector<core::stringw> parts =
                 StringUtils::split(msg, '\n', false);
                         
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ namespace Scripting
         {
             irr::core::stringw out = translations->fribidize(translations->w_gettext(input->c_str()));
 
-            return StringUtils::wide_to_utf8(out.c_str());
+            return StringUtils::wideToUtf8(out);
         }
 
         /** Translate string and insert values. e.g. GUI::translate("Hello %s !", "John") */
@@ -101,11 +101,11 @@ namespace Scripting
             irr::core::stringw out = translations->w_gettext(formatString->c_str());
 
             out = StringUtils::insertValues(out,
-                StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(arg1->c_str()));
+                                            StringUtils::utf8ToWide(*arg1));
 
             out = translations->fribidize(out);
 
-            return StringUtils::wide_to_utf8(out.c_str());
+            return StringUtils::wideToUtf8(out);
         }
 
         /** Translate string and insert values. e.g. GUI::translate("Hello %s !", "John") */
@@ -114,12 +114,12 @@ namespace Scripting
             irr::core::stringw out = translations->w_gettext(formatString->c_str());
 
             out = StringUtils::insertValues(out,
-                StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(arg1->c_str()),
-                StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(arg2->c_str()));
+                                            StringUtils::utf8ToWide(*arg1),
+                                            StringUtils::utf8ToWide(*arg2));
 
             out = translations->fribidize(out);
 
-            return StringUtils::wide_to_utf8(out.c_str());
+            return StringUtils::wideToUtf8(out);
         }
 
         /** Translate string and insert values. e.g. GUI::translate("Hello %s !", "John") */
@@ -129,13 +129,13 @@ namespace Scripting
             irr::core::stringw out = translations->w_gettext(formatString->c_str());
 
             out = StringUtils::insertValues(out,
-                StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(arg1->c_str()),
-                StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(arg2->c_str()),
-                StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(arg3->c_str()));
+                                            StringUtils::utf8ToWide(*arg1),
+                                            StringUtils::utf8ToWide(*arg2),
+                                            StringUtils::utf8ToWide(*arg3));
 
             out = translations->fribidize(out);
 
-            return StringUtils::wide_to_utf8(out.c_str());
+            return StringUtils::wideToUtf8(out);
         }
         /** @}*/
         /** @}*/
diff --git a/src/scriptengine/script_track.cpp b/src/scriptengine/script_track.cpp
index c327ff80b..f87ce8f0b 100644
--- a/src/scriptengine/script_track.cpp
+++ b/src/scriptengine/script_track.cpp
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ namespace Scripting
 
         void createTextBillboard(std::string* text, SimpleVec3* location)
         {
-            core::stringw wtext = StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(text->c_str());
+            core::stringw wtext = StringUtils::utf8ToWide(*text);
             core::dimension2d<u32> textsize = GUIEngine::getHighresDigitFont()
                 ->getDimension(wtext.c_str());
 
diff --git a/src/scriptengine/script_utils.cpp b/src/scriptengine/script_utils.cpp
index 06b726a92..c824e0e30 100644
--- a/src/scriptengine/script_utils.cpp
+++ b/src/scriptengine/script_utils.cpp
@@ -52,53 +52,58 @@ namespace Scripting
         /** Replaces placeholders with values. Note, in angelscript, omit the trailing number.
           * e.g. Utils::insertValues("Hello %s !", "world");
           */
-        std::string insertValues(std::string* formatString, std::string* arg1)
+        std::string insertValues(std::string* format_string, std::string* arg1)
         {
-            irr::core::stringw out = StringUtils::insertValues(StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(formatString->c_str()),
-                StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(arg1->c_str()));
+            irr::core::stringw out = 
+                StringUtils::insertValues(StringUtils::utf8ToWide(*format_string),
+                                          StringUtils::utf8ToWide(*arg1));
 
-            return StringUtils::wide_to_utf8(out.c_str());
+            return StringUtils::wideToUtf8(out);
         }
 
         /** Replaces placeholders with values. Note, in angelscript, omit the trailing number.
         * e.g. Utils::insertValues("Hello %s %s !", "John", "Doe");
         */
-        std::string insertValues(std::string* formatString, std::string* arg1, std::string* arg2)
+        std::string insertValues(std::string* format_string, std::string* arg1, std::string* arg2)
         {
-            irr::core::stringw out = StringUtils::insertValues(StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(formatString->c_str()),
-                StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(arg1->c_str()),
-                StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(arg2->c_str()));
+            irr::core::stringw out = 
+                StringUtils::insertValues(StringUtils::utf8ToWide(*format_string),
+                                          StringUtils::utf8ToWide(*arg1),
+                                          StringUtils::utf8ToWide(*arg2));
 
-            return StringUtils::wide_to_utf8(out.c_str());
+            return StringUtils::wideToUtf8(out);
         }
 
         /** Replaces placeholders with values. Note, in angelscript, omit the trailing number.
           * e.g. Utils::insertValues("Hello %s %s %s !", "Mr", "John", "Doe");
           */
-        std::string insertValues(std::string* formatString, std::string* arg1, std::string* arg2,
+        std::string insertValues(std::string* format_string, std::string* arg1, std::string* arg2,
             std::string* arg3)
         {
-            irr::core::stringw out = StringUtils::insertValues(StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(formatString->c_str()),
-                StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(arg1->c_str()),
-                StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(arg2->c_str()),
-                StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(arg3->c_str()));
+            irr::core::stringw out =
+                StringUtils::insertValues(StringUtils::utf8ToWide(*format_string),
+                                          StringUtils::utf8ToWide(*arg1),
+                                          StringUtils::utf8ToWide(*arg2),
+                                          StringUtils::utf8ToWide(*arg3));
 
-            return StringUtils::wide_to_utf8(out.c_str());
+            return StringUtils::wideToUtf8(out);
         }
 
         /** Replaces placeholders with values. Note, in angelscript, omit the trailing number.
           * e.g. Utils::insertValues("%s %s %s %s !", "Hello", "Mr", "John", "Doe");
           */
-        std::string insertValues(std::string* formatString, std::string* arg1, std::string* arg2,
-            std::string* arg3, std::string* arg4)
+        std::string insertValues(std::string* format_string, std::string* arg1,
+                                 std::string* arg2, std::string* arg3,
+                                 std::string* arg4)
         {
-            irr::core::stringw out = StringUtils::insertValues(StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(formatString->c_str()),
-                StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(arg1->c_str()),
-                StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(arg2->c_str()),
-                StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(arg3->c_str()),
-                StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(arg4->c_str()));
+            irr::core::stringw out =
+                StringUtils::insertValues(StringUtils::utf8ToWide(*format_string),
+                                          StringUtils::utf8ToWide(*arg1),
+                                          StringUtils::utf8ToWide(*arg2),
+                                          StringUtils::utf8ToWide(*arg3),
+                                          StringUtils::utf8ToWide(*arg4));
 
-            return StringUtils::wide_to_utf8(out.c_str());
+            return StringUtils::wideToUtf8(out);
         }
 
         /** Runs the script function specified by the given string */
diff --git a/src/states_screens/dialogs/custom_video_settings.cpp b/src/states_screens/dialogs/custom_video_settings.cpp
index 8ea27e58b..31fafeed4 100644
--- a/src/states_screens/dialogs/custom_video_settings.cpp
+++ b/src/states_screens/dialogs/custom_video_settings.cpp
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ void CustomVideoSettingsDialog::updateActivation()
 {
     bool light = getWidget<CheckBoxWidget>("dynamiclight")->getState();
     getWidget<CheckBoxWidget>("motionblur")->setActive(light);
-    getWidget<CheckBoxWidget>("dof")->setActive(true);
+    getWidget<CheckBoxWidget>("dof")->setActive(light);
     getWidget<SpinnerWidget>("shadows")->setActive(light);
     getWidget<CheckBoxWidget>("mlaa")->setActive(light);
     getWidget<CheckBoxWidget>("ssao")->setActive(light);
diff --git a/src/states_screens/options_screen_ui.cpp b/src/states_screens/options_screen_ui.cpp
index c1077b451..7b6c76315 100644
--- a/src/states_screens/options_screen_ui.cpp
+++ b/src/states_screens/options_screen_ui.cpp
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ void OptionsScreenUI::init()
     {
         std::string code_name = (*lang_list)[n];
         std::string s_name = tinygettext::Language::from_name(code_name).get_name();
-        core::stringw nice_name = StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(s_name.c_str());
+        core::stringw nice_name = StringUtils::utf8ToWide(s_name);
         nice_lang_list.push_back(nice_name);
         nice_name_2_id[nice_name] = code_name;
     }
diff --git a/src/states_screens/register_screen.cpp b/src/states_screens/register_screen.cpp
index 9c4df5195..99e3e86f2 100644
--- a/src/states_screens/register_screen.cpp
+++ b/src/states_screens/register_screen.cpp
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ void RegisterScreen::init()
     m_info_widget = getWidget<LabelWidget>("info");
     assert(m_info_widget);
     m_info_widget->setDefaultColor();
+    m_info_widget->setText(L"", false);
     m_options_widget = getWidget<RibbonWidget>("options");
     assert(m_options_widget);
     m_password_widget = getWidget<TextBoxWidget>("password");
diff --git a/src/tinygettext/dictionary.cpp b/src/tinygettext/dictionary.cpp
index 8b2d6ac86..ffd6f3868 100644
--- a/src/tinygettext/dictionary.cpp
+++ b/src/tinygettext/dictionary.cpp
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ std::set<wchar_t> Dictionary::get_all_used_chars()
         const std::vector<std::string>& msgstrs = i->second;
         for (unsigned int k = 0; k < msgstrs.size(); k++)
         {
-            irr::core::stringw ws = translations->fribidize((StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(msgstrs[k].c_str())).c_str());
+            irr::core::stringw ws = translations->fribidize((StringUtils::utf8ToWide(msgstrs[k])).c_str());
                 for (unsigned int l = 0; l < ws.size(); ++l)
                     UsedChars.insert(ws[l]);
         }
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ std::set<wchar_t> Dictionary::get_all_used_chars()
             const std::vector<std::string>& msgstrs = j->second;
             for (unsigned int k = 0; k < msgstrs.size(); k++)
             {
-                irr::core::stringw ws = translations->fribidize((StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(msgstrs[k].c_str())).c_str());
+                irr::core::stringw ws = translations->fribidize((StringUtils::utf8ToWide(msgstrs[k])).c_str());
                 for (unsigned int l = 0; l < ws.size(); ++l)
                     UsedChars.insert(ws[l]);
             }
diff --git a/src/utils/string_utils.cpp b/src/utils/string_utils.cpp
index 2e58306d8..3ba36fa43 100644
--- a/src/utils/string_utils.cpp
+++ b/src/utils/string_utils.cpp
@@ -686,7 +686,7 @@ namespace StringUtils
 
     // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-    std::string wide_to_utf8(const wchar_t* input)
+    std::string wideToUtf8(const wchar_t* input)
     {
         static std::vector<char> utf8line;
         utf8line.clear();
@@ -695,11 +695,19 @@ namespace StringUtils
         utf8line.push_back(0);
 
         return std::string(&utf8line[0]);
-    }
+    }   // wideToUtf8
 
     // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    /** Converts the irrlicht wide string to an utf8-encoded std::string.
+     */
+    std::string wideToUtf8(const irr::core::stringw& input)
+    {
+        return wideToUtf8(input.c_str());
+    }   // wideToUtf8
 
-    irr::core::stringw utf8_to_wide(const char* input)
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    /** Converts the irrlicht wide string to an utf8-encoded std::string. */
+    irr::core::stringw utf8ToWide(const char* input)
     {
         static std::vector<wchar_t> utf16line;
         utf16line.clear();
@@ -708,7 +716,14 @@ namespace StringUtils
         utf16line.push_back(0);
 
         return irr::core::stringw(&utf16line[0]);
-    }
+    }   // utf8ToWide
+
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    /** Converts a utf8-encoded std::string into an irrlicht wide string. */
+    irr::core::stringw utf8ToWide(const std::string &input)
+    {
+        return utf8ToWide(input.c_str());
+    }   // utf8ToWide
 
     // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     /** Converts a version string (in the form of 'X.Y.Za-rcU' into an
diff --git a/src/utils/string_utils.hpp b/src/utils/string_utils.hpp
index 0f2b0577c..ca5b65d6d 100644
--- a/src/utils/string_utils.hpp
+++ b/src/utils/string_utils.hpp
@@ -226,8 +226,10 @@ namespace StringUtils
 
     // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     
-    std::string wide_to_utf8(const wchar_t* input);
-    irr::core::stringw utf8_to_wide(const char* input);
+    irr::core::stringw utf8ToWide(const char* input);
+    irr::core::stringw utf8ToWide(const std::string &input);
+    std::string wideToUtf8(const wchar_t* input);
+    std::string wideToUtf8(const irr::core::stringw& input);
 
 } // namespace StringUtils
 
diff --git a/src/utils/translation.cpp b/src/utils/translation.cpp
index d6f0423fb..13ed04dea 100644
--- a/src/utils/translation.cpp
+++ b/src/utils/translation.cpp
@@ -449,7 +449,7 @@ bool Translations::isRTLText(const wchar_t *in_ptr)
  */
 const wchar_t* Translations::w_gettext(const wchar_t* original, const char* context)
 {
-    std::string in = StringUtils::wide_to_utf8(original);
+    std::string in = StringUtils::wideToUtf8(original);
     return w_gettext(in.c_str(), context);
 }
 
@@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ const wchar_t* Translations::w_gettext(const char* original, const char* context
     if (original_t == original)
     {
         static irr::core::stringw converted_string;
-        converted_string = StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(original);
+        converted_string = StringUtils::utf8ToWide(original);
 
 #if TRANSLATE_VERBOSE
         std::wcout << L"  translation : " << converted_string << std::endl;
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ const wchar_t* Translations::w_gettext(const char* original, const char* context
     //for (int n=0;; n+=4)
 
     static core::stringw original_tw;
-    original_tw = StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(original_t.c_str());
+    original_tw = StringUtils::utf8ToWide(original_t);
 
     const wchar_t* out_ptr = original_tw.c_str();
     if (REMOVE_BOM) out_ptr++;
@@ -506,8 +506,8 @@ const wchar_t* Translations::w_gettext(const char* original, const char* context
  */
 const wchar_t* Translations::w_ngettext(const wchar_t* singular, const wchar_t* plural, int num, const char* context)
 {
-    std::string in = StringUtils::wide_to_utf8(singular);
-    std::string in2 = StringUtils::wide_to_utf8(plural);
+    std::string in = StringUtils::wideToUtf8(singular);
+    std::string in2 = StringUtils::wideToUtf8(plural);
     return w_ngettext(in.c_str(), in2.c_str(), num, context);
 }
 
@@ -524,8 +524,7 @@ const wchar_t* Translations::w_ngettext(const char* singular, const char* plural
                               m_dictionary.translate_plural(singular, plural, num) :
                               m_dictionary.translate_ctxt_plural(context, singular, plural, num));
 
-    static core::stringw str_buffer;
-    str_buffer = StringUtils::utf8_to_wide(res.c_str());
+    static core::stringw str_buffer = StringUtils::utf8ToWide(res);
     const wchar_t* out_ptr = str_buffer.c_str();
     if (REMOVE_BOM) out_ptr++;