Parallels 3.0 to take leap into next dimension

Are you a happy Intel Mac user using either Parallels Desktop for Mac, or VMWare’s Fusion, to run Windows XP, Vista, Linux or other operating systems?

Then you’ll be interested in learning about Parallels 3.0, with more than 50 new features, over 100 bug fixes, including the 3D graphics gaming support that many users have wanted since Parallels first came onto the scene.

The new version has also had the benefit of over 100,000 developer hours and more than 1000 beta testers working and testing the new version.

According to the Official Parallels Blog, one of the new features is called SmartSelect, a “wicked cool new feature that lets you assign any OS X or Windows application as the default for any Mac or Windows file type”. When you right-click on any file in either OS and selects “open with”, SmartSelect automatically populates the recommended application list with compatible applications from both operating systems.

Parallels say that this is total OS integration on a file and application level, and when you “put it together with Coherence, and you have the most seamless user experience possible”.

The next big feature is 3D Graphics, letting you run previously Windows-only OpenGL and DirectX games and apps in a virtual machine on your Mac, without shutting down OS X, with Quake 4 running at full speed offered as an example, a game they played for an entire day in a noble effort at bug testing the application, as well as having fun for an entire day with Quake deathmatches!

Vista Aero support through Parallel’s new 3D feature still isn’t available but is promised as ‘coming soon’, so there’s hope that Aero will be available to those who want it when version 3.0 finally ships.
Snapshots and Security Settings let you worry less about crashes and focus on work or play instead. Snapshots let you ‘bulletproof your VM’ by allowing you to store the VM state, and also do it at custom intervals, and rollback to a clean state as needed.

Some of the security features include the ability to make a virtual machine ‘read-only’, implement controls on the levels of integration and isolation with the Security Manager and stop viruses in their tracks with a 6 month free trial of Kaspersky anti-virus.

Other cool features include offline access to virtual machine files with Paralles Explorer, Coherence 2.0, including shared folders and UI enhancements, Linux Tools for seamless integration between Mac OS X and Linux, and a promise of a Native Hardware Experience.

The Native Hardware Experience promises the aforementioned 3D graphics support, expanded support for USB 2.0 devices, a USB connection assistant that quickly connects you to your OS of choice, shared printers for cross OS printing and significant enhancements in performance and audio quality.

Parallels 3.0 will retail for US $79.99, but an upgrade offer is available, even though the software is still in ‘release candidate’ stage, which is the equivalent of a very advanced beta that is nearly ready to ship to users.

If you pre-order and upgrade before June 6th, 2007, you can purchase Parallels 3.0 for only US $39.99, or half the regular retail price. However if you choose to upgrade later, it will cost US $49.99.

Customers who purchased Parallels 2.0 after May 1st can upgrade free, as can ‘Maintenance customers’.

With Parallels, your Mac is your PC, too. Apple should do an ad for Parallels, showing how the Mac guy can embrace and extend over the PC, with the PC guy living in the Mac guys stomach, bursting through ‘Alien’ style when needed.

Or maybe not. Either way, if Apple ever were to do an ‘I’m a Mac and a PC’ ad, we’re sure it would be very interesting to see! However, it’s an ad we’ll probably never see, unless Apple does indeed release a virtualization tool within Mac OS X 10.5.

However if you read the official Parallels blog (linked at the top of the story), Parallels are of the firm belief that Apple has no such virtualization tool planned, ensuring plenty more sales of Parallels and free downloads for VMWare’s Fusion beta for some time to come!
Source :http://www.itwire.com.au