Parallels Desktop has been with the Mac almost as long as it has run on Intel hardware.
Today, the company announced the 10th major release of its industry-leading virtualization software for Macintosh and mobile. It has more of what makes Parallels so special: Performance, integration and features.
Parallels has an important place in Apple history because it allowed many people who needed a few Windows applications over the last decade to buy and enjoy the Mac OS. In effect, it helped deal with Microsoft’s monopoly on software in the desktop era.
For many people that continues today. Microsoft still makes its Office suite a little bit handicapped on the Mac. Gamers know that to get a wider variety of games you need to run Windows. Developers need different environments, browsers and OSes to test their software on. And, probably most painful, many companies still require Windows to run proprietary apps or connect to antiquated network servers.
Speaking of Windows, Microsoft has made it harder for Parallels to integrate the Windows installation so you’ll have to do it yourself from with a Optical media or a USB port. In v9 of Parallels, you could buy the image from Microsoft and then install from an image in a matter of minutes.
The new Parallels 10 offers the following performance improvements:
- Users can now open Windows documents up to 48% faster
- Battery life is extended by up to 30% 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 optimization automatically compacts virtual disk eliminating the need for periodic manual compacts.
- Free Disk Space Wizard allows to review and clean up space used by Parallels Desktop and Virtual Machines
Getting started is now easier too:
- Now with one click users can select from a number of choices to optimize their virtual machine based on what their primary usage is: productivity, games, design or development
- The new Parallels Control Center 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
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy2-2VOhYFc&list=PLFEwXRyfSuQs51kh41b4UgTE_3IR8XgUq]
A gallery of screenshots and the official press release is below:
Parallels Announces Parallels Desktop® 10 for Mac with OS X Yosemite Integration, Enables launch of Office Applications up to 50 Percent Faster and Delivers Up to 30 Percent Better Battery Life
No. 1-selling software for running Windows applications on a Mac becomes an even easier choice for millions of consumers and IT professionals worldwide with this most powerful version of the software to date
Renton, WA, USA – August 20, 2014 – Parallels® today launched Parallels Desktop® 10 for Mac (www.parallels.com/upgradepd10) and Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac Enterprise Edition (www.parallels.com/business), 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 Yosemite1 – 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/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. “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 Yosemite1 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 optimizing 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 behavior. Users’ expectations are that they should be able to simply run any application they need regardless of operating system,” said Laura DiDio, ITIC Consulting. “Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac is helping customers realize this goal by offering best-in-class virtualization 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 (www.parallels.com/business) — 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 theyneed it most
- Virtual machines use up-to 10 percent less Mac memory
- New virtual machines with default settings launch Office 2013 applications up to 50percent faster
- Virtual machine only takes as much disk space on the Mac hard drive as it needs. Real-time optimization automatically compacts virtual disk eliminating the need for periodicmanual compacts.
- Free Disk Space Wizard allows to review and clean up space used by Parallels Desktopand Virtual MachinesEasy to get started:
- Now with one click users can select from a number of choices to optimize their virtual machine based on what their primary usage is: productivity, games, design or development
- The new Parallels Control Center 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 machinesSeamless 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 theRestore Defaults button in the Virtual Machine Configuration window
- Users can drag and drop files to Mac OS X virtual machinesGreat for development, design, and IT pros
- Create linked clones of your virtual machine
- Support for Vagrant Provider
- Support for 16 virtual CPU and 64 GB RAM per virtual machine
- Nested virtualization for Linux guests
- Create a virtual machine from VHD and VMDK disks
- Drag and drop in OS X guests
- Download 90-day trials Internet Explorer virtual machines for testingWhat Customers are Saying About Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac“Parallels Desktop 10 is – quite simply – remarkable. I’ve been a user of Parallels Desktop since version six,” said Steven Z.“I installed OS X Yosemite Developer Preview as a virtual machine (VM) within Parallels Desktop 10. It works like a dream. I like the idea and ability to configure before launching a VM. I love the Parallels Desktop Control Center – it looks elegant. I especially like the option to use compact or expanded views. Installation and integration is seamless. I installed Windows 7 and this worked flawlessly within Parallels Desktop,” said Mike B.“Parallels Desktop 10 running Windows 7 Ultimate is running great! I love the smooth interface between Windows on Parallels Desktop and going to my Max OS,” said Roland S.Availability and PricingParallels 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/desktop starting Aug. 26th. Packaged software will also be available worldwide starting on Aug. 26th.The standard retail price (SRP) 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 US$49.99. Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac customers receive a complimentary three-month subscription to the Parallels Access app (www.parallels.com/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/business.
Parallels Mac Management (www.parallels.com/ mac-management) plugin for Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) extends your existing SCCM infrastructure to discover, enroll 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.
About Parallels
Parallels is a global leader in hosting and cloud services enablement and cross platform solutions. Parallels began operations in 2000 and is a fast-growing company with more than 900 employees in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. Visit www.parallels.com for more information.
Stay connected with Parallels and our online communities: Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/parallelsdesktop, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/parallelsmac, and visit our blog at http://blogs.parallels.com/consumertech.
Media Contacts:
John Uppendahl, Vice President of Communications, juppendahl@parallels.com, 425.282.1734
Keely Hopkins, Bite Communications for Parallels, keely.hopkins@bitecommunications.com, 415.365.0361
1
Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac and Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac Enterprise Edition has experimental support for many of the features of OS X Yosemite Developer Preview, bringing them to Windows and Windows applications. However, we do not provide technical support for it at this time. Parallels plans to fully support OS X Yosemite in Parallels Desktop 10 when Yosemite becomes commercially available.
Parallels and the Parallels logo are registered trademarks of Parallels IP Holdings GmbH in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
$50 a year is annoying when I don’t want or need new features, I just want to be able to use it after updating my mac. Does the os change that much that they can’t give free updates to their older software to be able to run?
While increase performance and better battery life sound great, I don’t want to be forced into giving them money each year for something I rarely need to use for work, but need none the less. It’s not like photoshop where I use it every day and so the subscription thing is awesome since they pump out new features and fix bugs all the time. If I didn’t use photoshop often I’d just want to buy it once and not care about the new features that come out.
Does anyone else feel this way or do you think it’s fair that parallels charges for every upgrade and goes out of date every year?
All the OSs are free now. It’s better to buy a dual core windows laptop in some deals, rather than spending money for parallels every year.
Have you tried VirtualBox? You might find that it suits your needs if you’re not a heavy virtualisation user.
I paid $97 (AUD) for Parallels. I am using the same Mac Mini but after upgrading the op system I cannot use Parallels any more. I felt myself scammed. I never upgraded the Parallels since because what if after a new system upgrade I will need to buy it again. The software is fine but the financial fair play is missing.
You can use Parallels 8 on Yosemite without any issue. Just use this command:
sudo nvram boot-args=”kext-dev-mode=1″
If you don’t need any of the new features, don’t get forced to upgrading by their planned obsolescence scheme.
Hey, thanks. What exactly does that do? And do you know if it would work with parallels v7?
Since Yosemite DP4, Apple mentioned this change in their Release Notes:
In Developer Preview 4, unsigned or improperly signed kexts will not be loaded. To use unsigned kexts during development, this strict check can be disabled by adding a “kext-dev-mode=1” boot arg.
What the command does is that it allows loading these improperly signed kexts to be loaded, therefore allowing Parallels to work properly. IMHO it could work for Parallels 7 as well.
Thanks, Jan. I’ll give it a shot.
Fantastic, thanks for the help. I couldn’t get anything out of Parallels in regards to support except that an ‘upgrade’ was coming. And all it took was one command line entry.
I really would not recommend doing this unless you are a developer or a Hackintosh user. This command compromises security.
They should charge a fair price for the software to start. Instead they are charging me yearly, and if I don’t get the latest version what little support they do have is not available to me. Never mind any bug fixes or updates.
I also have an issue where each new version brings a ton of new bugs, still leaving the old bugs from the old version.
If they are going to keep charging they need to start bug free, then release the next version. Instead they are building on crap, just adding new features. I want/need reliable bug free software, not a ton of useless new features. Like that stupid Parallels Access they released last time…
If it were $5 I might reconsider, but at $50 each time, it is just way too much. I would expect a lot more for that, especially in the support department.
This may be my final straw to switch.
I purchased version 7 and loved it. Then the new OS came out and while I twiddled my thumbs waiting for the update to get it working. they came out with 8 and any support ticket I open just recommended I upgrade. So I upgraded to 8 and went through the exact same process when Mavericks came out. Fool me once shame on you, so I wasn’t getting fooled a second time. I found alternative methods of getting ver9 and will be doing so again for ver10. Until they notify purchasers that the software they sell is only supported until the next OS release, I’ll continue to find other means to acquire the software.
This new release is one of there best releases in a long time with some nice features and with Yosemite they have taken Windows Integration to an entirely new level. You can see my video review here – http://youtu.be/dy5eKs-dHG0
Sharing all others’ sentiments here. I am an ardent supporter of Parallels for the past 3 years (since v6.0) and $50/year (or upgrade) and that too when OS itself upgrades for free nowadays, that’s a little too much.
We should give it to the developers who make this product great with every version release, no doubt. But ripping existing customers with outrageous upgrade fee is NOT a right thing to do. Time to look for alternative, I guess too.
If you want to upgrade your mac then be ready to pay for a new parallels subscription everytime you upgrade.
Not ot mention upgrading your windows also if you want the latest windows. Its better to just buy windows and double boot from mac if you are not dragging files from mac to windows. Most poeple who use this are business profesionals who need to add and drag files from mac to windows so it would make sense for them but if you are doing it for just game play then to me its not worth it because in five years you will have to upgrade five times and that gets old after a while.
Agreed. I’ve been tempted in the past to try Parallels but once I realized I’d have to pay for annual upgrades (I prefer to keep my Mac OS up to date) I decided the relative cost wasn’t worth the convenience over just using boot camp.
To all those not wanting to pay for an upgrade, Parallels 9 has already had Host support for Yosemite for over a month.
http://blogs.parallels.com/consumertech/2014/7/8/parallels-desktop-9-for-mac-gets-update-for-host-support-with-yosemite
I don’t feel as though I’ll be forced to upgrade if I don’t want to.
Why don’t Parallels switch to a monthly (and annual) subscription system? £5-8/month would more than likely net them more money in a year assuming there is one (or two) major upgrades per year.
I too was very disappointed that parallels needed constant money feeding. One of the reasons I am a mac user is because of all the money I save in updates and software. But not parallels. In the end I changed to virtual box because I only use a few old PC programs now and then.
Not sure if ‘m allowed to post a link, but here is how I moved from parallels to virtualbox:
http://www.andrewbrettwatson.com/index.php/mac/300-how-to-end-your-parallels-problems-with-mavericks-and-break-free-from-parallels-forever
I usually upgrade every second release, due to cost however I finally think they have lost me. $50 is way too much for the hobby user. Sorry Parallels.
this is all well and good but I bought version 9 to add to my mac but new games did not play, has this version been upgraded to play new games ie battlefield 4, call duty ghosts mmm be interested if this has been added
doesn’t buy it, I have parallels 8 and work fine with Yosemite. I make shutdown of all the virtual machine, close parallels, next update maverick to Yosemite and when you finish everything work fine for me. Don’t lose your money with fake announcements of the provider to tried to still you money for worthless new functions.