Updated Apple has updated its Boot Camp Windows-on-Mac utility, taking the public beta test release to version 1.1. The 202MB download contains updated Windows hardware drivers, but most importantly adds support for the recently released Mac Pro desktops.

According to Apple, Boot Camp 1.1 extends its ability to create Windows disk partitions not only to any of however many internal hard drives the host Mac has installed but also to specify of one these drives as an XP-only disk. The only exception, we'd expect, is the drive containing Mac OS X.

The update also allows Windows to access built-in iSight cameras and microphones, and better maps the Apple keyboard onto the template Windows XP uses. The optical audio port laser now turns off when it's not in use. Mouse-less notebook users will at last be able to right-click by pressing the right-hand Apple key.

Bugs fixed include the time sync errors plaguing users flipping between XP and OS X, and XP's inability to turn off the Mac's speakers when earphones are connection. There's good news for notebook owners: XP's sleep facility now kicks in when the machine idles.

Boot Camp 1.1 is available from Apple's website here. ®

Read Reg Hardware's in-depth report on Boot Camp and Parallels Desktop here

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