A new version of Windows virtualization tool Parallels is out, bringing with it support for upcoming macOS Catalina features, amongst other improvements. Is it still the best way to run the. Mar 06, 2020 Yeh, I’m finding it runs poorly on Catalina, which, for all I know may be the source of its troubles since Catalina is so unstable on this mbp16, but after buying a year of it, I also discovered you lose the ability to even use your Parallels purchase after your year is up. MacOS Catalina is the first version macOS to exclusively support 64-bit applications. This means any 32-bit applications will no longer be supported if your Mac is on macOS Catalina. With Parallels Desktop, users can run an older macOS as a virtual machine to support the 32-bit applications you need. Optimized for the latest Windows 10 updates and macOS Catalina, including support for Sidecar. Parallels Desktop continues to stay up to date so you can keep working without interruption—even when a new macOS, Windows or Linux release pops up.
With macOS Catalina, Parallels Desktop for Mac users have even more powerful ways to run Windows, Linux and other OSes on Mac.
Sidecar
There are two new features brought to Parallels Desktop with Sidecar. First, you can now extend your Mac display on your iPad®. Second, there’s now Apple Pencil® support within Microsoft Windows applications. With our latest version of Parallels Desktop, users are now able to use their favorite Microsoft Windows applications on iPad.
Extending the Mac display on your iPad is incredible—it allows Parallels Desktop users to view their virtual machine in full screen on their iPad. Not only does this leave your native Mac screen available for whatever your needs may be, but it also feeds directly into the second benefit of Sidecar and Parallels Desktop.
Parallels Desktop users can now run a virtual machine as full screen on their iPad as an external display. This macOS integration allows designers, CAD experts and more to use their favorite stylist on their favorite Windows programs. With Sidecar and Parallels Desktop, users have full support with the Apple Pencil or your favorite stylist.
Note: Sidecar will work with any macOS application that supports stylists and turns your iPad into a professional creative tool, such as a Wacom tablet.
Personally, Sidecar is my favorite macOS feature announced in the last few years. Using Sidecar with Parallels Desktop? It’s simply magic.
Screenshot Preview to Windows
Drag and drop like never before! Apple® has entirely reworked the way screenshots are done in macOS Mojave and Catalina, and you may notice that you can’t use their previews in Windows applications.
Parallels Desktop now makes this possible—plus, it provides the ability to drag images right from Safari, Photos and your other favorite Mac applications.
Parallels Desktop 12 For Mac Catalina
Security
The security benefits of macOS Catalina can be broken up into three major components: hardware, system volumes and data.
Hardware
The Apple T2 Security Chip keeps your Mac secure by ensuring you’re running software that’s from a trusted developer and automatically encrypts your stored data. If you’re utilizing macOS Catalina, you’ll have a rich encryption on your host OS with the T2 chip. Plus, your virtual machine can also be encrypted to protect any unauthorized use. Learn how to encrypt your virtual machine.
Additionally, Microsoft Windows 10 Pro Edition has BitLocker encryption support, making your data even more protected.
System Volume
A dedicated system volume within macOS Catalina allows the volume to be read-only, so it’s separate from all other data on your Mac. Apple implemented this so that nothing can accidentally overwrite your system files.
Data
All Mac models with the Apple T2 security chip support an iOS feature, Activation Lock. This is beyond helpful if your Mac is ever lost or stolen—with Activation Lock, you can easily erase and reactivate.
Screen Time
macOS Catalina brings a popular iOS feature to the Mac: Screen Time. Screen Time monitors where a user spends their time when using their iPhone. Now, macOS Catalina makes it easy for Mac users to monitor their usage with individual applications.
While Parallels Desktop is in Coherence view mode, Screen Time will individually monitor Windows programs, too.
64-bit Applications
macOS Catalina is the first version macOS to exclusively support 64-bit applications. This means any 32-bit applications will no longer be supported if your Mac is on macOS Catalina. With Parallels Desktop, users can run an older macOS as a virtual machine to support the 32-bit applications you need. In order to continue using your favorite 32-bit applications on macOS Catalina, please read our blog post: 32-bit vs. 64-bit and why it matters.
Our engineering, sales, social, support and marketing teams closely monitor what our users need from Parallels Desktop. If you’re looking for known issues with macOS Catalina and Parallels Desktop, feel free to read the testing that engineering has already completed.
If you’re looking to try the latest version of Parallels Desktop, download a free 14-day trial and get started now. Let us know what you think, or if you have any feedback to help us make the experience better. You can reach us on Facebook or Twitter, 24/7.
Parallels 15 landed this week as a major new version of the Windows virtualization software for Mac. The latest update brings support for macOS Catalina, Apple’s next OS update for Mac coming later this fall, including support for features like Sidecar external display functionality with iPad and Apple Pencil. Parallels 15 also now uses Apple’s Metal API for improved graphics and DirectX 11 to allow compatibility with new CAD apps, PC games, and more.
Parallels announced the release of version 15 this week. One of the headlining features is the adoption of Apple’s Metal API and support for Microsoft DirectX 11. That means a host of CAD and CAM apps plus PC game titles are now an option for Mac users running Windows with Parallels that just couldn’t be supported before.
Now you can run graphic-intensive applications and games such as Autodesk 3ds Max 2020, Lumion, ArcGIS Pro, Master Series, FIFA 19, Age of Empires, Fallout 4 and more!
That makes Parallels 15 a huge deal for both gamers and graphics-intensive app users.
Further, the graphics improvements along with support for macOS Catalina mean that Parallels 15 will work with Apple’s upcoming external display feature, Sidecar, which leverages iPad and Apple Pencil to create a true second-display experience for your Mac at home or on the road. See the feature in action below:
Parallels 15 can also use macOS Catalina as a virtual machine in addition to being a host.
Parallels Desktop 15 can currently utilize macOS Catalina as a VM, with support for Catalina as a host operating system (OS) following its public release (expected in early fall 2019). Planned integrations include improved Sidecar support with processing of Apple Pencil tilt and double-tap, which can be used on programs such as CorelDRAW®, Corel®Painter® and Microsoft SketchPad among others.
Bluetooth LE support is another new feature that will bring compatibility with devices like Xbox controllers, Logitech peripherals, other devices that rely on the low energy wireless connection.
Bluetooth Low Energy support in Parallels Desktop 15 enables Xbox Controller, Logitech Craft, IRISPen and some IoT devices (such as smart home appliances and smart bands) to be used in a VM on a Mac. Supported platforms include Windows 10 and 8.1, Android and Linux with kernel 3.13 and newer. Shared Bluetooth driver is version 4.0.
Pro and Business versions of Parallels 15 include even more features including special support for vTPM and physical disks for the first time. This is something Parallels says has been highly requested from business customers.
Parallels Desktop 15 for Mac Pro Edition and Business Edition now feature a Virtual Platform Trusted Module (vTPM), a new virtual hardware to VM configuration required by Windows to enable additional security features. With a vTPM in highlysecure corporate environments, users can enable BitLocker in accordance with corporate group policies, use virtual smart cards, or enable a more secure version of Windows Hello PIN for improved security
Additionally, Parallels Desktop Pro Edition and Business Edition users can connect physical disks (both internal and external) to a VM as logically internal disk.
Parallels 15 and its support for macOS Catalina before release as well as new features like Sidecar on iPad with iOS 13 show just how forward-looking the VM software maker is right now.
Customers can also expect the experience using more advanced features like Coherence for mixing Windows apps with the macOS desktop experience to be easier to understand with this release.
Parallels 15 is available as an upgrade or new purchase for Home & Student, Pro, and Business Editions. Pricing starts at $50 for the Home & Student edition as an upgrade and runs $80 as a new purchase. The Pro version costs $50/year as an upgrade, with the Pro and Business Editions running $100/year for new subscriptions.
Check out another feature video below and the Parallels 15 landing page for more details:
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