Parallels today launched Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac and Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac Enterprise Edition, the industry-leading software for running Windows applications on Macs. New built-in intelligence and support for Apple’s latest operating systems – including OS X Yosemite – greatly improves ease-of-use for both business users and consumers, allowing them to forget about the operating system and focus on the task at hand. Starting Aug. 20th, current users can upgrade to Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac at www.parallels.com/uk/upgradepd10. For new customers, Parallels Desktop 10 will be available for purchase at retail and online stores worldwide and via the Parallels website starting Aug. 26th.
“Millions of Parallels Desktop for Mac customers have come to expect ingenuity, ease of use and speed from Parallels and they will not be disappointed with Parallels Desktop 10,” said Parallels President Jack Zubarev in a statement. “With Parallels Desktop 10 customers can enjoy new levels of productivity without having to worry about whether the app they need is available on a specific operating system — Parallels creates a world of compatibility at home, work and on the road.”
Parallels Desktop 10 will bring many of the announced features of Mac OS X Yosemite to Windows and Windows applications, supporting iCloud Drive, iMessages and SMS text sharing from Windows, and control of virtual machines from Spotlight preview and Finder QuickLook. New ease-of-use improvements include Wizards that guide users through optimising their experience, improved performance and battery life, and improved usability between operating systems so that people can complete tasks more quickly.
Parallels Desktop 10 gets out of the way so customers can think less about the tools being used and more about what’s important. It also offers the choice and freedom to use whatever operating system fits your needs – including OS X Yosemite, OS X Mavericks, Mac OS X Mountain Lion, Windows 8, Windows 7, Chrome OS, Android and a number of Linux operating systems – all on one computer.
“Today we are seeing a shift in consumer behaviour. Users’ expectations are that they should be able to simply run any application they need regardless of operating system,” said Laura DiDio, ITIC Consulting, in a statement. “Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac is helping customers realise this goal by offering best-in-class virtualisation software and cross-platform access tools for consumer, SMB and enterprise users.”
Parallels Desktop for Mac Enterprise Edition
Parallels is also updating Parallels Desktop for Mac Enterprise Edition — the best way to provide Windows applications on Macs in a corporate environment. Now IT managers can support Windows applications for Mac users with a configurable, policy-compliant solution that easily fits into existing IT business processes. New features allow administrators to select and enforce a USB device policy, install OS X guests using a NetBoot image from a server on the corporate network, encrypt OS X virtual machines with the help of the FileVault encryption feature built into OS X, and check the status of licenses and reclaim seats directly. Built upon the world’s best-selling Mac desktop virtualization solution, it adds centralized administration and management capabilities as well as enhanced security to keep IT in control of virtual machines.
New Features and Improvements
Regardless of whether it’s ease-of-use, increased productivity, or better performance, Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac offers improvements across all fronts:
Performance and Optimization:
· Users can now open Windows documents up to 48 percent faster
· Battery life is extended by up to 30 percent giving people additional work time when they need it most
· Virtual machines use up-to 10 percent less Mac memory
· New virtual machines with default settings launch Office 2013 applications up to 50 percent faster
· Virtual machine only takes as much disk space on the Mac hard drive as it needs. Real-time optimisation automatically compacts virtual disk eliminating the need for periodic manual compacts.
· Free Disk Space Wizard allows users to review and clean up space used by Parallels Desktop and Virtual Machines
Easy to get started:
· Now with one click users can select from a number of choices to optimise their virtual machine based on what their primary usage is: productivity, games, design or development
· The new Parallels Control Centre is a one-stop-shop for managing Parallels Desktop; it allows users to manage all their virtual machines and configuration settings from a single place
· Windows installation has been streamlined, with new ways to configure virtual machines
· Regional settings from the Mac are now set by default in Windows virtual machines
Seamless integration for best user experience:
· Users can share files, text or web pages from Windows using Internet accounts configured on their Mac such as Twitter, Facebook, Vimeo, Flickr; or send them via email, AirDrop and Messages.
· When users install a new Windows application, its icon will automatically be added to the OS X Launchpad
· The unread email indicator on Outlook lets users see at a glance the number of unread emails in Outlook, just like with Apple Mail
· Users can drag and drop files to the virtual machine icon in the Dock to open in Windows
· Users also have the ability to easily restore any setting to its default value by clicking the Restore Defaults button in the Virtual Machine Configuration window
· Users can drag and drop files to Mac OS X virtual machines
Availability and Pricing
Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac is available beginning Aug. 20th, as an upgrade for current Parallels Desktop for Mac users. The full version will be available to new customers on www.parallels.com/products/desktop starting Aug. 26th. Packaged software will also be available worldwide starting on Aug. 26th.
The standard retail price of Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac is $79.99, and the Student Edition is available for $39.99. Upgrades for existing Parallels Desktop 8 or 9 for Mac customers are $49.99. Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac customers receive a complimentary three-month subscription to the Parallels Access app (www.parallels.com/products/access) for up to 5 Macs and PCs and an unlimited number of iOS and Android mobile devices. Parallels Desktop for Mac Enterprise Edition software is available via www.parallels.com/products/business.
Parallels Mac Management (www.parallels.com/products/mac-management) plugin for Microsoft System Centre Configuration Manager (SCCM) extends your existing SCCM infrastructure to discover, enrol and manage Macs just like you do PCs, through a single pane of glass. From deploying Mac OS X images to managing virtual machines running in Parallels Desktop for Mac Enterprise Edition, it’s everything you need to be a Mac management expert.
More info here.
Source: Parallels
In other news, Crossover is on sale at stacksocial so you can run windows app without having to deal with windows
Crossover is a subscription app.. I have had licenses through the likes of MacHeist and other summer sales, and amazingly through national voting in the US, (honor system) So when your subscription runs out, you have to re-up. Not a fan of that.
It’s basically a polished wine, right?
You get 12 months of updates when you buy it. Renewal for another 12 months is 1/2 the price which is better than what I was getting from Parallels which was full price for the new version.
I usually skip a generation of parallels since they come out with a new version every year. The only reason i got version 9 was that it was needed for Mavericks.
Also watch out for their special offers. When I bought the last version they were handing out free iTunes vouchers. Problem was they had a technical issue with reclaiming the voucher at the time. Apparently after a month the offer expired so when I went back later I was no longer eligible. Serves me right for not reading the small print but the customer service I received was pretty lame.
9 works on Yosemite, just fine.
Cool. Thanks for the heads up.
Apple gives us a free OS upgrade and Parallels forces us to pay $50 to upgrade? I upgraded last time and that will be the last upgrade. If Parallels isn’t patched for Yosemite for free, I will be using any of the other alternatives and will NEVER use Parallels again. I will encourage all my friends and contacts to switch also.
Goodbye Parallels.
Apple makes money on hardware, so they can afford to give away upgrades. Parallels makes money selling software, and this looks like a real version upgrade, not just a patch to run Yosemite. Don’t be a cheapskate.
Other companies only charge for updates that include something you might want, and don’t have to buy otherwise. Parallels relies on OSX updates (frequent and free) to force upgrades you might not otherwise want. You HAVE to buy because the old version no longer works. Unless you don’t upgrade OSX for free just to keep dingy old Parallels.
Does it really HAVE to break with every new OSX? Other software doesn’t. I (think I) understand Parallels might be more of an issue, but every time?
Would it take much to patch so it remains functional and then people can upgrade when new features are attractive enough, like all other vendors?
I don’t want free stuff, but I expect maintenance patches for software and making it work on at least one more generation of OS seems reasonable. Make it a point release and also do a new version for new users and those who fancy the upgrade.
You make a good point, but I don’t believe Parallels 10 is a required update for Yosemite. Parallels 9 works on Mavericks, Mountain Lion, Lion, and Snow leopard, I think, so I don’t think you are forced to upgrade if you don’t want to.
I’ve already done it. When they decided subscription was a good idea I got native replacements for what I needed parallels for. I just bought Crossover for the odd app here and there.
Its easy to say don’t be a cheapskate but paid parallels upgrades are needed too often for a $50 price tag.
A lot of people are bitching about having to pay for Parallels upgrades, but they must have forgotten that Parallels is a software company, so giving out upgrades for free isn’t possible unless their goal is bankruptcy. That being said, I think they should update Parallels 9 to run with Yosemite so that customers can CHOOSE whether they want to upgrade or not rather than be forced to.
Parallels doesn’t sell software. They rent it.
Actually, no one sells software. They license it. So basically, everyone “rents” their software whether we pay the software vendor one time or many times. As long as I’m getting new and better features, I don’t mind paid upgrades. I purchased and installed Parallels 10 this morning, and it is a huge speed improvement over version 9. It was worth the $50 upgrade price.
FSCK Parallels, FSCK Ballmer, Gates, Windows and Redmond!
Dark Fscking Ages Bullcrap.
Really like Parallels. Appreciate the software. I still use Corel products and need Windows for them. Works like magic for me. Still use Ventura Publisher. Still the best, even though it hasn’t been updated for 13 years. No one else beats their ease of paragraph styling.
Sure would be great to have native OSX versions of Corel apps. but they seem determined to stay on Windows. Sad. Its a dying platform.
Hey, if ya’ don’t like Parallels there’s always VirtualBox. For free.