VMware Workstation 7 adds Windows 7 support

In today's podcast: VMware Workstation 7 adds Windows 7 support; new Indian IT law; and Google Voice goes voice-less.

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VMware has added support for Windows 7 and expanded the ability to handle virtual processors in Workstation 7, the new version of its platform for running multiple operating systems simultaneously on a PC. The new version of Workstation supports the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 7. VMware Workstation 7 also works with the Flip 3D and Aero Peek features in the Windows 7 interface to show live thumbnail pictures of a user's virtual machines. Installing Microsoft's new OS on a virtual machine is easier than on a physical PC, according to VMware, which also claims that a virtual installation of Windows XP running in Workstation outperforms Windows 7's own Windows XP mode.

A new IT law has come into force in India that frees Internet portals from liability for third-party content and activity, but gives the government powers to monitor communications on the Internet, and block web sites that are found to be offensive. The law may also strengthen the hands of India's security agencies, who have been demanding that service providers like Research In Motion should make available the decryption keys for the corporate e-mail services they operate.

To take full advantage of Google Voice's telephony management features, users had to convince their contacts to call them using the service's single "phone number for life." Now, though, Google has decided to relax the requirement that all calls must come in via the Google number. Starting today, existing Google Voice users will be able to link their cell phones to the service's voicemail feature. New members will get the option to sign up for a Google phone number and all Voice features, or sign up only for the cell phone voicemail service. Google won't charge for the service although cellular carriers may charge depending on the service plan.

Security start-up Dasient says more than 640,000 Web sites out of about 5.8 million surveyed were infected with malware between July and September. The company has also observed that the reinfection rate on Web sites that have been cleaned up almost 40 percent. Attackers use automated scripts or malicious advertisements, among other means, to continually seek to load malware onto sites to perpetrate criminal schemes.

And those are the top stories from the IDG Global IT News Update, brought to you by the IDG News Service. I'm Peter Sayer in Paris. Join us again later for more news from the world of technology.