New beta version of free virtual machine for Intel Macs

German company Innotek has released the third beta version of its virtualisation software for Mac OS X. The new version of VirtualBox supports Mac OS X 10.5, codename Leopard. Also new is Seamless mode, in which an application running in a virtual Windows environment can appear on the Mac OS desktop without the need for a separaate Windows desktop. Commercial Mac virtualisation applications VMware Fusion and Parallels Desktop for Mac have long had this facility, which they call Unity and Coherence respectively.

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According to Innotek, the Beta 3 version of VirtualBox for Mac is based on the forthcoming software revision 1.6. The versions for Windows and Linux are currently at version 1.5.4. The Mac version is still missing fixes for problems with USB ports and Host Interface Networking. Innotek is now employing a number of Mac developers and expects the final Mac version to be ready soon. It should in future be maintained at the same level as the Linux and Windows versions.

VirtualBox works on all Intel-based Macs. PowerPC models are not supported. The disk image is 21.1 MB in size.

(ehe)