CodeWeavers has released a new beta version of CrossOver Mac, its software that lets Intel Mac users run some Windows software without needing a separate version of Windows to be installed. The new beta 2 release is available for download from the CodeWeavers Web site.
CrossOver Mac is an outgrowth of WINE (WINE Is Not an Emulator), an open source project designed to enable users of Linux and other operating systems to run Windows applications without relying on a separate copy of Windows to be running (the method used by Apple’s beta Boot Camp software and Parallels Desktop, the reigning popular virtualization software for Intel Macs).
CodeWeavers announced plans to release CrossOver Mac earlier this year and began offering a public beta of the software and the end of August. CodeWeavers claims that CrossOver is useful for operating Windows-only application software and some games as well.
The company said that CrossOver Mac 2 features “dramatic performance improvements” to startup time, bottle creation and a few install processes. Switching to full-screen mode no longer makes the screen go black. Bugs have been fixed on case-sensitive file systems and CPU detection. Freezes have been fixed in Internet Explorer, there’s better support for Outlook 2003 and other Office 2003 applications, and game support has been improved, with the ability to run Half-Life using Steam.