Tech Shout!

If you thought that the VMware Fusion for Mac OS X software was the only one to make news, then think again. On Thursday itself, virtualization firm Parallels too announced the launch of the new public beta version of the Parallels Desktop for the Mac platform. Amidst a variety of other features, the Parallels software also bundles support for the iPhone in Windows XP and Vista while running on your Mac PC.

With the new Parallels, Mac users get the ability to run Windows XP or Vista on their Mac without requiring a reboot like Apple’s built-in Boot Camp does.

The company claims that the Parallels public beta packs in a number of new features that users can test including Coherence compatibility with Expose. In addition, Parallels will now allow you to “stack” Windows and Mac apps the way you want to.

Further more, the public beta has an advanced Explorer tool that works with suspended, as well as shutdown, virtual machines. A complete, snapshot-compatible Image Tool to convert, enlarge, convert or split/unsplit virtual drives is included as well.

In a gist, the Parallel beta includes the following new feature updates:

Major enhancements to the look and feel of Windows programs in Coherence

Coherence support for Exposé and Transparent Windows

Support for overlapping several Windows and Mac windows in Coherence

Ability to silently boot into Coherence mode

Linux PC and virtual machine migration to your Mac using Transporter

Ability to change your VM’s disk format using the updated Image Tool

iPhone support in Windows. iTunes in Windows can connect to your iPhone

The Parallels public beta is absolutely free for all Parallels Desktop 3.0 users that have a trial or permanent key. The software can be downloaded from the company’s website.