Parallels Desktop for Mac

Parallels Desktop for Mac

Parallels Desktop for Mac running Windows 10 on OS X 10.11
Developer(s) Parallels
Stable release
12.0.0 / August 18, 2016 (2016-08-18)
Operating system OS X
Platform Apple–Intel architecture
Available in English, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, German, Russian, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, Korean, Polish, Czech
Type Hypervisor
License Proprietary
Website www.parallels.com/desktop/

Parallels Desktop for Mac, by Parallels, is software providing hardware virtualization for Macintosh computers with Intel processors.

Overview

Parallels, Inc. is a developer of desktop and server virtualization software.

Historical

Released on June 15, 2006, it was the first software product to bring virtualization mainstream to Macintosh computers utilizing the Apple–Intel architecture (earlier software products ran PC software in an emulated environment).

Its name initially was 'Parallels Workstation for Mac OS X', which was consistent with the company's corresponding Linux and Windows products. This name was not well received within the Mac community, where some felt that the name, particularly the term “workstation,” evoked the aesthetics of a Windows product. Parallels agreed: “Since we've got a great Mac product, we should make it look and sound like a Mac product...”, it was therefore renamed ‘Parallels Desktop for Mac’.[1]

On January 10, 2007, Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac was awarded “Best in Show” at MacWorld 2007.[2]

Technical

Parallels Desktop for Mac is a hardware emulation virtualization software, using hypervisor technology that works by mapping the host computer’s hardware resources directly to the virtual machine’s resources. Each virtual machine thus operates identically to a standalone computer, with virtually all the resources of a physical computer.[3] Because all guest virtual machines use the same hardware drivers irrespective of the actual hardware on the host computer, virtual machine instances are highly portable between computers. For example, a running virtual machine can be stopped, copied to another physical computer, and restarted.

Parallels Desktop for Mac is able to virtualize a full set of standard PC hardware, including[4]

Version 2.5

The first official release of version 2.5 was on February 27, 2007, as build 3186.

Version 2.5 brought support for USB 2.0 devices, which expanded the number of USB devices supported at native speed, including support for built in iSight USB web-cams. The amount of video RAM allocated to the guest OS was made adjustable, up to 32MB. Full featured CD/DVD drives arrived in this version, which allowed the user to burn disks directly in the virtual environment, and play any copy-protected CD or DVD as one would in OS X. In addition, a shared clipboard and drag-drop support between OS X and the guest OS was implemented. This version brought the ability for users with a Windows XP installation to upgrade to Windows Vista from within the VM environment.[5] A new feature known as Coherence was added, which removed the Windows chrome, desktop, and the virtualization frames to create a more seamless desktop environment between Windows and OS X applications. This version also allowed users to boot their existing Boot Camp Windows XP partitions, which eliminated the need to have multiple Windows installations on their Mac. A tool called Parallels Transporter was included to allow users to migrate their Windows PC, or existing VMware or Virtual PC VMs to Parallels Desktop for Mac.

Netsys lawsuit

In 2007, the German company Netsys GmbH sued Parallels' German distributor Avanquest for copyright violation, claiming that Parallels Desktop and Parallels Workstation are directly based on a line of products called “twoOStwo” that Parallels developed on paid commission for Netsys, of which it says, Netsys has been assigned all copyrights. Additionally, the lawsuit claimed that Parallels Desktop 2.5's compatibility with “twoOStwo” showed that the two software products are run by essentially the same functional core.[6] When Netsys lost its initial urgency proceeding, it filed a new suit, in which it requested a temporary injunction from the Landgericht district court of Berlin.[7]

Version 3.0

On June 7, 2007 build 4124 was released as the first publicly available version of Desktop 3.0.

Version 3.0 retained all of the functionality from previous versions and added new features and tools. Support for DirectX 8.1 and OpenGL[8] was added, allowing Mac users to play some Windows games without the need to boot into Windows with Boot Camp.[9] A new feature called SmartSelect offers cross OS file and application integration by allowing the user to open Windows files with OS X programs and vice versa. Parallels Explorer was introduced, which allows the user to browse their Windows system files in OS X without actually launching Windows. A new snapshot feature was included, allowing one to restore their virtual machine environment to a previous state in case of issues. Further, Parallels added a security manager to limit the amount of interaction between the Windows and OS X installations. This version included a long awaited complete “Parallels tools'” driver suite for Linux guest operating systems. Therefore, integration between OS X and Linux guest-OS's has been greatly improved.[10]

Despite the addition of numerous new features, tools and added functionality, the first iteration of Desktop for Mac 3.0 may be missing some of features that Parallels had planned for it. A Parallels, Inc. representative stated at MacWorld in January 2007 that version 3.0 would bring accelerated graphics, “multi-core virtual machines/virtual SMP, some SCSI support, a more Mac-like feel, as well as a more sophisticated coherence mode, dubbed Coherence 2.0”.[11] While accelerated graphics have materialised, Coherence, as well as the overall look and feel of Parallels Desktop for Mac has only changed slightly. Also, SCSI support has not been implemented.[12]

It is currently unknown if these features have been abandoned altogether, or if they will show up in a later build of version 3.0.

Build 4560, released on July 17, 2007,[13] added an imaging tool which allowed users to add capacity to their virtual disks.

Feature update

Parallels Coherence in Exposé

Build 5160, released on September 11, 2007,[14] added some new features and updated some current features.

The release focused on updates to Coherence, with support for Exposé, window shadows, transparent windows, and the ability to overlap several Windows and Mac windows. Further, Parallels' Image Tool was updated to allow one to change their virtual hard disk format between plain and expanding. Parallels Explorer was updated to allow for one to automatically mount an offline VM hard drive to the Mac desktop. Some new features added are iPhone support in Windows, allowing iTunes in Windows to sync with it.[15] Users can now mirror desktops or other folders. Further, Mac drives can now be mapped by Windows and sound devices can now be changed ‘on the fly’. Up to 2 GB of RAM can be allocated to a virtual machine, with a total of 4 GB of RAM available.[16]

Parallels Desktop for Mac Build 5608 added support for guest Parallels Tools for Linux in the latest Linux distributions (including Ubuntu 8). It also added support for running 3D graphics in Windows virtual machines on Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.3.

Use of code from the Wine project

According to Parallels' Licensing page, Desktop for Mac version 3.0 contains Direct3D code that was originally developed by the Wine open source project.[17] Wine software is licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License, which required Parallels to release the source code. Parallels released the modified source code on July 2, 2007, about 2 weeks after the promised release date.[18] A Parallels spokesman explained the reasons for the delay in a message on the official company blog.[19]

Version 4.0

Version 4.0, released November 11, 2008,[20] updates its GUI, adds some new features, enhances its performance by up to 50%[21] and has been developed to consume 15–30% less power than previous versions.[22] Version 4.0 is the first version of Parallels Desktop that supports both 32-bit and 64-bit guest operating systems. Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac’s 3D support includes DirectX 9.0, DirectX Pixel Shader 2.0 and OpenGL 2.0[23] as well as 256 MB video memory. It also adds support for 8 GB RAM in a virtual machine and 8-way SMP. Parallels Desktop 4.0 introduces an adaptive hypervisor, which allows users to focus the host computer’s resources towards either host or the guest operating system.[24]

Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac adds some new features such as:

Since the Version 4.0 release, Parallels Desktop for Mac has a new logo. The new logo has what resembles an aluminum iMac, with what appears to be Windows XP on the screen and 2 parallel red lines overlaid on right side.

Feature update

Build 3810, released January 9, 2009,[26] includes performance enhancements and features, such as DirectX 9.0 Shaders Model 2 and Vertex Shader support for additional 3D support Intel Streaming SIMD Extensions (SSE4) for better media applications performance. Build 3810 also adds support for running Windows 7 in a VM and for running Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server as either a host or as a guest OS.[27]

Also included are usability features such as the ability to share Windows files by dragging them directly to a Mac application in Mac Dock. Windows can now also automatically start in the background when a user opens a Windows application on the Mac desktop. Version 4.0 drew criticism for problems upgrading from Version 3.0 shortly after its initial release.[28] Build 3810 also addresses installation and upgrade issues previously experienced with Version 4.0 and introduces the option to enroll in the company's new Customer Experience Program, which lets customers provide information about their preferences and user priorities.

Version 5

Officially released on November 4, 2009, Parallels Desktop 5 adds several new features, mainly to improve integration with the host OS.

New features include:

Feature update

Build 9308, released on December 21, 2009, added some new features.[29]

Linux guest operating systems

Virtualization

Windows guest operating systems

3D and video

OS X Server guest operating system

Version 6

Officially announced on September 9, 2010 and launched on September 14, 2010, Parallel 6 supports full 64-bit support for the first time. Parallels claims that Parallels Desktop 6 for Mac "[has] over 80 new and improved features, including speed 40% above the previous version." Specific new features include:

Version 7

Officially announced on September 1, 2011 and released on September 6, 2011, Parallels Desktop 7 adds many new features, compared to its previous version.

The list below contains most important features (according to developer's website) but is not exhaustive:

Version 8

Officially announced on August 22, 2012 and released on September 4, 2012, Parallels Desktop 8 adds many new features, compared to its previous version.

Version 9

Officially announced on August 29, 2013 and released on September 5, 2013, Parallels Desktop 9 for Mac adds includes these new features and enhancements over previous versions:

Enterprise version:

Version 10

Released August 20, 2014, Parallels Desktop for Mac 10 has included support for OS X 10.10 "Yosemite"[31]

Less than a year after release of its release, Parallels spokesperson John Uppendahl confirmed version 10 will not be fully compatible with Windows 10. The coherence mode, which integrates the Windows user interface with OS X, will not be updated and users will need to purchase and upgrade to version 11 to continue using this feature.[32]

Version 11

Released August 19, 2015, Parallels Desktop for Mac 11 includes support for Windows 10 and is ready for OS X 10.11 "El Capitan"[33]

Parallels Desktop for Mac version 11 is available as 1-time purchase of $79.99 for Desktop edition and annual subscription at $99.99 for Pro edition.[34]

Version 12

As of 2016, Parallels Desktop for Mac version 12 is the current version.

Supported operating systems

Host

Parallels Desktop 9 for Mac requires a Mac with one of these processors:[35]

The software requires the operating system be one of these versions:[35]

Guest

In Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac, support for guest operating systems includes a variety of 32-bit and 64-bit x86 operating systems, including:[35]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Rudolph, Ben (2006-05-18). "Parallels Workstation for Mac OS X is now Parallels Desktop for Mac—and the release candidate is ready for download!". The Official Parallels Virtualization Blog. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
  2. ↑ Rudolph, Ben (2006-05-18). "Parallels Desktop for Mac Update RC Wins MacWorld Expo 2007 "Best in Show"". Parallels, Inc. Archived from the original on 2007-01-16. Retrieved 2007-01-10.
  3. ↑ "Parallels Desktop for Mac Datasheet" (PDF). Parallels, Inc. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-03-07. Retrieved 2007-01-02.
  4. ↑ "System Requirements". Parallels, Inc. Archived from the original on 2006-12-21. Retrieved 2007-01-02.
  5. ↑ "Desktop Release Features". Parallels Web. Archived from the original on 2007-03-02. Retrieved 2007-02-28.
  6. ↑ Virtual Strategy Magazine – Virtualization's Dirty Laundry Aired in German Court Room
  7. ↑ MacNN | Netsys sues Parallels German distributor
  8. ↑ "Parallels Desktop for Mac 3.0 3D Graphics". SWSoft Parallels. 2007-06-07.
  9. ↑ Wang, Anthony (2006-12-11). "Inside Mac Games Interviews Parallels". Inside Mac Games. Retrieved 2006-12-21.
  10. ↑ "Parallels Desktop for Mac 3.0 overview". SWSoft Parallels. 2007-05-31.
  11. ↑ Chang, Jacqui (2007-01-11). "Ars at Macworld: Interview with Parallels". Arstechica.
  12. ↑ "Parallels Desktop for Mac 3.0 overview". SWSoft Parallels. 2007-06-07.
  13. ↑ Rudolph, Ben (2007-07-17). Desktop for Mac 3.0 – Build 4560. Retrieved on 2007-07-17.
  14. ↑ Rudolph, Ben (2007-09-01). "Parallels Desktop 3.0 Feature Update is LIVE!". Official Parallels Blog. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
  15. ↑ "Beta Announcement Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac Feature Update". Parallels, Inc. 2007-08-02.
  16. ↑ Parallels Desktop 3.0 build 5160 features and improvements
  17. ↑ Licensing information. Parallels, Inc. Retrieved on 2007-07-16.
  18. ↑ Dösinger, Stefan (2007-07-03). Parallels Desktop Watch. The official Wine Wiki. Retrieved on 2007-07-30.
  19. ↑ Rudolph, Ben (July 3, 2007). The Lowdown on Parallels & Wine. Retrieved on 2014-04-07.
  20. 1 2 "Parallels Desktop for Mac 4.0 Released". O'Grady's PowerPage. 2008-11-11. Archived from the original on 2009-05-03.
  21. ↑ Vilches, Jose (2008-11-11). "Parallels launches Desktop for Mac 4.0". TechSpot. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
  22. ↑ "Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac Offers Premium Windows-on-Mac Experience with Virtualization Enhancements Plus Internet Security, Data Protection and Disk Management" (Press release). Parallels. 2008-11-11. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
  23. ↑ "Parallels Desktop for Mac 4.0 unveiled". MacWorld.
  24. ↑ Wagner, Mitch (2008-11-11). "Parallels Boosts Mac Virtualization Performance". InformationWeek. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
  25. ↑ "ITT Systems - Information Technology News, Reviews and Product Comparisons". jkontherun.com.
  26. ↑ Marshall, David (2009-01-06). "Parallels updates Desktop 4.0 for Mac". Virtualization Report. InfoWorld. Archived from the original on 2009-03-18.
  27. ↑ Barylick, Chris (2009-01-05). "Parallels Desktop 4.0 Build 3810 Released". The Mac Observer. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
  28. ↑ http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/65195.html
  29. ↑ "A Holiday Basket of Goodies: Parallels Desktop 5 Build 9308 and New Features". Parallels, Inc. 2009-12-21. Retrieved 2012-01-22.
  30. ↑ Aero support in Parallels 5 Aero does not work in Parallels 5
  31. ↑ "Parallels Announces Parallels Desktop® 10 for Mac". Parallels, Inc. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  32. ↑ "Year-old Parallels and VMware software won't be updated for Windows 10".
  33. ↑ "Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac". Parallels, Inc. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  34. ↑ "Parallels". Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  35. 1 2 3 "Parallels Desktop 9 for Mac". Retrieved September 17, 2013.

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