* VMware's Mac virtualization announcement
VMware last week announced that Intel-based Macintoshes will be able to run instances of Windows, Linux, NetWare and Solaris as virtual machines. Microsoft, separately, said it would not develop a new version of Virtual PC for Macintoshes.
The VMware software, which has yet to be named, will let multiple operating systems run as virtual machines under the Mac OS X operating environment. The announcement was made at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco.
VMware claims that with the new software, Mac users can use more than 25 pre-built and virtualized software applications. Among the applications available are load-balancing, security and databases. The applications can be downloaded from the VMware Technology Network. The software can also be run on VMware Player and VMware Server (the old GSX Server) and both can be downloaded here.
The software is currently in beta test and is scheduled to be available later this year. Interested users can sign up to receive beta copies here.
At the WWDC Microsoft indicated that it would not develop a new version of its Virtual PC for PowerPC-based Macintoshes. The company had earlier acquired that technology from Connectix. Microsoft said it would still continue to support the Connectix product.
