VMware has released an update for users of its virtualization software application, VMware Fusion. Version 2.0.1 includes both enhancements and bug fixes, while the latter has been the main focus of this “maintenance release,” according to the company.

“VMware Fusion 2.0.1 is a maintenance release of VMware Fusion 2,” says VMware. Ehancements include:

- Bug fixes described in Resolved Issues

- Now shows application badge instead of generic document icons when assigning Windows applications to Mac documents

- Greatly reduced initial pause when opening mirrored or shared folders

- No longer disables certain shared folders and mirrored folders that were nested folders. The potential data loss issue with nested shared folders has been resolved

- No longer publishes Windows guest applications to Mac if Allow the virtual machine to open applications on your Mac is unchecked in virtual machine Settings > Sharing

- No longer maps Num Pad Enter to AltGr by default for non-European keyboards

Additionally, according to WMware, AutoProtect now postpones taking a snapshot when the user is interacting with the virtual machine, while the Enable Hints menu item in the Help menu has been brought back.

VMware Fusion allows Intel Macs to run x86 operating systems, like Windows, Linux, NetWare and Solaris, in a virtual machine, at the same time as Mac OS X. VMware Fusion runs Windows inside a secure and isolated virtual machine, protecting Mac OS X and the Mac hardware in the event that Windows crashes or becomes unstable. It also gives users the ability to suspend and protect their virtual machines.

To further enhance the protection of their computers, users can take a Snapshot of their virtual machine, to save a stable state of the PC, to which they can quickly return if something goes wrong. They can share data back and forth between Windows and Mac, by just dragging and dropping files from and to windows opened outside of and inside the virtual machine. Accessing Mac files from Windows applications is also possible, as is copy-paste between Mac and Windows apps.

VMware Fusion 2.0.1 is a free update for existing users. To download the new version, use the link below. Note that there is still an incompatibility between Fusion and the CheckPoint SecureClient software, according to the release notes.

Download VMware Fusion 2.0.1 (Update / Trial / Buy)