So, you're happily running your Intel-Mac and suddenly, you hit a stumbling block that throws you off track from your work flow. Yeouch. We hate it when that happens. Good thing the folks up at CodeWeavers have a nifty solution that allows you to run Windows applications on your Intel-Mac. It gives you the opportunity to run Windows Office programs as if they were native, without even having to run Windows itself.

Now, the BETA version for CrossOver Mac has been upgraded. It's running faster and a lot of bugs have been fixed. Here's some of the new stuff:

• Performance improvements - startup time, bottle creation and install processes should run faster.
• Fixed switching to full-screen mode so the screen does not go all black.
• Fixed the CPU detection, which makes many installers happier.
• Made the Open Shell feature more reliable and useful.
• Fixed a freeze in Internet Explorer when accessing Windows Update.
• Much better support for Outlook 2003 and other Office 2003 applications.
• Many improvements to game support. Should install and run World of Warcraft and Half-Life via Steam.

Do note that this requires an Intel-based CPU in your Mac. Mac systems based on the PowerPC (G3, G4, G5) are not supported. Click the Read link to download the 60-day free trial, and make sure you give the developers your feedback.

You may remember a a piece of software named Crossover Mac that was announced back in July as a program that will allow Intel-based Mac users to run their favorite Windows applications seamlessly on their Mac, without the need for a Windows OS license of any kind. Some lucky users have already got their hands on a beta of the program and tested it out. Guess what - It works perfectly!

Gamers will be pleased to know that the worlds most popular online First Person Shooter game Counter-Strike works perfectly using this application! As soon as Sebastien (thanks for the tip!) got his hands on the Crossover beta he tested lots of Windows applications, including Steam. Even windows apps that Sebastien himself has coded worked well with this program, and pretty much every single Steam game he tried worked perfectly without problems; with Counter-strike running at above 30 fps.

Unfortunately, sign-ups for the Crossover beta have closed due to such high demand and no more beta copies of the program will be released to those who haven't already signed up; however the program should be released soon at the price of $59.95 with 1 year support and free software upgrades from Codeweavers.

 

CodeWeavers has recently announced the arrival of their newest product, CrossOver Mac. In case you aren't familiar with CrossOver, it is CodeWeavers' latest Windows-compatability product  intended for Intel Mac OS X machines. This one will allow Mac users to run their favorite Windows applications seamlessly on their Mac, without the need for a Windows OS license of any kind.

Pricing will be at $59.95 for single-user licenses, with volume and educational discounts available. CrossOver Mac will support a number of Windows applications to run natively within Mac OS X using Wine, enabling the user to run Windows applications without having a copy of Windows installed on their system. It will ship between July-August 2006.

Codeweaver's solution differs from solutions like Apple's Boot Camp and Parallels Desktop since it does not require a copy of Windows to run the Windows applications. Also, applications will be able to run side by side with their Mac OS X counterparts, whereas virtualization solutions must be contained within a "Windows window" or the machine must be rebooted in the case of Boot Camp. The bad part of the bargain is that only a limited number of applications will be supported, whereas dual booting can support any Windows application, and virtualization can support most non-3D intensive application.