Parallels Desktop for Mac, the virtualization software that allows users to run a variety of OSes virtually alongside Mac OS X has been updated again to build 2.2.1970.0, released on Nov. 1st. Some handy features have been added to this update.

First of all, a new installation assistant is included which will complete the entire installation process for you – you don’t have to select any configurations, answer any questions, or make decisions about partitions or other options if you don’t want to.
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Hey, I realize that switcher stories are getting so common these days, we’re all at risk of fatigue from the influx of new Mac fans and fanatics among us. Forgive me then for adding a few words more in the rising tide of Mac market share. When I quite literally blew up my home-built PC a few weeks back—with a dramatic flameout of the PSU and a roomful of acrid smoke–I was driven to make my “second-tier” switcher commitment. I am now officially a “switched-again” Mac user.

I got my 2Ghz MacBook as my first Mac in May, but in truth I’ve primarily used this machine as a desktop, KVM’d next to my home-built XP machine. Real multi-taskers use separate machines. Despite (or perhaps because of) over a decade of masochistic personal Windows malaise, I was struggling to get myself even to attempt Microsoft OS on my Mac. I’d upgraded to a 100gb 7200rpm drive, but I couldn’t convince myself that Parallels or Boot Camp would beat the sheer convenience of hitting the scroll lock key and moving over the to other box. My original plan was not to deepen my Mac ties until Leopard came out, then think about a MacBook Pro or Mac Pro, and let Windows run in its own isolated tier.
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Sling Media has announced the release of a public beta version of SlingPlayer for Mac OS X. SlingPlayer works with the Slingbox and allows you to watch and control your TV from just about anywhere in the world.

The beta release of SlingPlayer will run on Mac OS X 10.4 and is a Universal Binary application. There is no Mac OS X 10.3 support for SlingPlayer at this time. Sling Media will be providing a 10.3 version of SlingPlayer as soon as possible.

The public beta version of SlingPlayer can be downloaded free of charge from any of the following two websites:
http://us.slingmedia.com/page/downloads.html
http://ca.slingmedia.com/page/downloads.html

The public beta software is only available to US and Canadian customers. Support for other regions will follow.

The Slingbox is available for purchase through Sling Media’s website (http://us.slingmedia.com). Prices for the Slingbox start at USD $179.99.