Parallels Desktop 8 updated with expanded support for Windows 8

Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac has just been updated with expanded support for the just-released Windows 8 operating system. Now Mac users can enjoy new features including Windows 8 tablet gestures and use a Windows 8 interface tile to access shared Mac apps. These updates, plus the already deep Parallels Desktop for Mac integration of Mac OS X and Windows 8, enable people to also use Mountain Lion’s Dictation feature in Windows applications, add Windows apps to Launchpad and the Mac Dock, enjoy brilliant Retina display resolution for Windows apps and more – making Parallels Desktop for Mac an ideal way to run Windows 8 on a Mac without rebooting.

“Parallels Desktop 8 for Macc on a MacBook Pro with Retina display is one of the best ways to run Windows 8,” said Laura DiDio, Principal, Information Technology Intelligence Consulting. “It enables people to experience Windows 8 on a Mac with the most vivid Retina resolution of 2880-by-1800 pixels, but with more readable text and graphics. Parallels Desktop 8 delivers excellent interoperability between the Windows and Mac environments, and empowers users to choose the amount of integration between Windows 8 and Mountain Lion that best suits them.”

New and expanded features include:
· Support for Windows 8 tablet gestures
· Addition of a single tile to the Windows 8 interface for easy access to shared Mac apps
· Full USB 3.0 support for faster connections to peripheral devices
· Updated Retina display settings for easier screen optimization
· Smooth transitions when entering and exiting Coherence mode
· Increased virtual machine limits for running large apps

Previously available Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac integration of Windows 8 and Mountain Lion features include:
· Sticky Mouse for Windows 8: When running in window view mode and slowly crossing the border of Windows 8 and Mountain Lion, the Sticky Mouse feature of Parallels Desktop 8 causes the mouse to stop at the border so you can simply move it to the last pixels in the corner of Windows 8 to access the Charms, Start and other menus or pages
· Use Mountain Lion’s Dictation in text-based Windows apps
· Windows 8 apps can be added to Mac Dock and to Launchpad
· Open in Internet Explorer (IE) button added to Safari launches the Windows 8 IE browser to quickly access a website that requires IE
· Mountain Lion Notification Center: Parallels Desktop 8 integrates Window 8 Toast Notifications into the Mountain Lion Notification Center so users in Mountain Lion can receive messages from Windows 8 and its calendar, games, Internet Explorer, mail, messaging, music, store and video plus all new applications that support Windows 8 Toast notifications
· Windows 8 applications in Full Screen and Mission Control
· Desktop and Windows 8 applications are searchable in Spotlight
· Launch Windows 8 applications while in Coherence mode
· Windows 8 running in window view mode at low resolution (less than 1024×768) is scaled, so Windows 8 apps still can be started on a 13-inch MacBook Pro or MacBook Air and 11-inch MacBook Air when using Windows 8
· Windows 8 user interface and desktop applications on a Retina display are readable with the “Best for Retina” option enabled, making high-resolution text more readable

More info here: Parallels Desktop for Mac

Related articles:
Macworld UK reviews Parallels Desktop 8.0: – September 20, 2012
Mossberg reviews Parallels Desktop 8: Works well; superior to VMWare Fusion – September 13, 2012
CNET reviews Parallels Desktop 8: New features put it above competitors – September 6, 2012
Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac now available – September 4, 2012