VirtualBox has released version 7.2.0, introducing significant updates including hardware-accelerated video decoding for Linux hosts, UI changes aimed at enhancing user experience, and support for the latest Linux kernel. This version marks the start of a new stable series, building on the user interface improvements made in previous releases.
One of the most noticeable changes is the new left-hand global vertical taskbar, providing quick access to essential features. This includes sections for Home, Machines, Extensions, Media, Network, Cloud, and Resources. The Machines view also sees a redesign, implementing horizontal tabs for easier navigation to VM tools.
While the updated interface is a step in the right direction, some may still find it a bit cluttered. Alongside the layout changes, the Preferences and Settings pages have been improved, introducing a checkbox option for Shared Folders available across all VMs.
For Linux hosts, the addition of hardware-accelerated video decoding is particularly significant. This feature will enhance video playback and application performance, especially when running resource-heavy applications or animations in virtual machines. The update supports recent and upcoming Linux kernels, including Linux kernel 6.16 and 6.17.
On the ARM front, VirtualBox 7.2.0 expands support to run Windows on ARM VMs across various platforms, including Windows, Linux, and macOS ARM hosts. Additional features for these systems include new graphics drivers and compatibility adjustments aimed at improving functionality with Apple’s M-series chips. However, users on Intel-based macOS systems should stick with the previous version for 3D acceleration capabilities.
VirtualBox 7.2.0 also addresses several bug fixes related to Nested Virtualization, DNS handling in NAT, and video recording features. There are technical enhancements as well, including support for new instruction handling with Hyper-V, updated NVMe storage controller support, and improvements to image resizing.
For those interested, VirtualBox 7.2.0 is available for download on the official website, which provides installers for major OS platforms, as well as the source code for further customization.
For more detailed information, check out the official changelog.