Briefly: Virtual PC discontinued, new beta of Parallels

Microsoft has taken time to clarify its strategy for the Mac platform during the opening of the WWDC.

Although the company will continue to develop MSN Messenger and Office for Mac, its virtualisation/emulation solution, Virtual PC, aquired from Connectix two years ago, will be discontinued for Mac OS X.

During last year's WWDC, Microsoft was very vague on the development of an Intel version of Virtual PC and said it will provide more information in the future.

Meanwhile, Parallels has released a new beta (v2.1.1) of its own virtualisation solution for Mac, Linux and Windows. The new beta improves USB support and graphics among several other improvements and bug fixes. The company also announced it is working on adding CD/DVD-burning support and 3D accelleration so as to make its software work with Microsoft's Windows Vista.

VMWare recently confirmed our exclusive report relating the development of a Mac version of VMWare. It has started a beta program and will soon make a beta download available to registered users.