Windows/Mac/Linux: If you’re a gamer or heavy graphics user of virtual machines, VirtualBox 3.0 has an early beta out that introduces OpenGL 2.0 and Direct3D support. If you have no clue what that means, the release has other goodies, too.

The graphics support for Windows, Linux, and Solaris guest machines are the marquee features in the upcoming 3.0 release, but a lot of other fixes and tweaks are looking to make the cut, too, including a streamlined settings window, better synchronization of shared folders between Linux and Windows host/guest setups, and continued optimizing of virtual processors. The OpenGL and Direct3D additions will, of course, depend heavily on your hardware, and how much video memory you allot to your virtual machines, but it should clear up quite a few compatibility problems.

Apple Inc released 45 software patches on Wednesday to address rare security vulnerabilities in its popular iPhone and iPod Touch mobile devices.

The company released them as part of its widely anticipated iPhone 3.0 operating system.

“This is a large cluster of patches for the iPhone,” said Dino Dai Zovi, a security expert who is writing a book on cracking the iPhone.

Apple has a stellar reputation when it comes to securing its devices. While it is unusual for the company to issue so many patches at once, analysts have yet to uncover any malicious software targeting the iPhone since Apple got into the mobile phone market two years ago.