As a long-time Mac user, I was excited to hear about the next release of OS X, macOS Sierra (version 10.12 Beta, for those numerically inclined.) As a Mac developer, I had access to the Developer Preview released yesterday. As the product manager for Parallels Desktop, I was looking forward to installing Sierra in a VM.

• Parallels Desktop 12 Supports Windows 10 and macOS Sierra. On August 18th, Parallels updated its Parallels Desktop to version 12. This has been an annual tradition with Parallels, and each new.
• I also keep older operating systems around to occasionally run software like Final Cut Pro 7, which was orphaned with last year’s macOS 10.13 High Sierra. Parallels Desktop 14 for Mac is now.
• .Parallels Desktop 13 and 14 are not fully optimized and compatible with the new macOS release, Catalina (10.15). Please check this Knowledgebase Article for known compatibility issues prior to upgrading to macOS Catalina.

If you need Windows on your Mac, Parallels Desktop can help you download and install Windows 10. All you need to do is follow our Installation Assistant and click “Install Windows.” Or you can provide your own Microsoft Windows license key, purchase Windows directly from within Parallels Desktop, or transfer an existing Boot Camp partition with Windows already installed.

macOS Sierra VM (virtual machine)

The first thing I tried was installing Sierra in a new, blank VM. No joy here. The internal structure of the installer app must be different enough that Parallels Desktop could not use the app directly. (Add one item to the task list of the Parallels engineering team.)

Then I tried to upgrade an existing Mac OS X VM to Sierra. Of the Mac VMs installed on my home iMac, the smallest one was Mavericks, so I created a duplicate of the Mavericks VM, booted it, and dragged the Sierra installer app into it. No joy here either, because the copied installer app wouldn’t launch. I have seen this happen before: the internal structure of an OS installer app is rather complex, and sometimes the Finder can’t reliably copy it. (Add one item to the task list of the Finder team at Apple.)

So then I made of duplicate of my El Capitan VM, and directly downloaded the Sierra installer app into it. No Finder copy this time. Much joy – the installer app ran without problem, and I soon had Sierra running a VM.

I have often written in this blog about Siri and Cortana, so I was quite interested to see Siri on the Mac. Here is a video of Siri running in my macOS Sierra VM in Parallels Desktop 11.

I am looking forward to learning more about Sierra from the Worldwide Developers Conference. Stay tuned for future Sierra blog posts.

Tools to simplify common tasks to also be available as part of standalone Parallels Toolbox for Mac app

Bellevue, WA, USA – August 18, 2016 – Parallels^® (www.parallels.com/about), a global leader in cross-platform solutions and creator of the No. 1-selling software for running Windows^® applications on a Mac^®, today launched Parallels Desktop^® 12 for Mac (www.parallels.com/upgradedesktop12). Parallels Desktop 12 is macOS Sierra ready, includes up-to 25 percent performance improvements, and features more than 20 simple single-function tools and utilities which are also available as a standalone Parallels Toolbox for Mac app. In addition, all Parallels Desktop 12 for Mac customers will receive a one-year subscription to an industry-leading backup solution from Acronis True Image, which includes a fast incremental backup feature that reduces the time and size of subsequent backups ups and provides up to 500 GB of free online storage.

New utilities featured in all editions of Parallels Desktop 12 for Mac make it easy to perform common tasks with simple single-function tools for both the Mac and Windows virtual machines (VMs). Parallels Desktop for Mac Pro and Business Edition subscribers, and Parallels Toolbox for Mac subscribers, also receive free updates of additional tools which will be made available every quarter. Initial tools include:

• Distraction-free presentation modes for both Mac and Windows VMs, including:
  
  • Hide Desktop Files
  • Do Not Disturb
  • Keep Mac Awake.
• Archive, encrypt and password protect all of your files.
• Simply capture screen shots or record video of a screen, window or area.
• Download videos from YouTube, Facebook and other websites with a single click.
• Time management tools—an alarm, timer, date countdown and stopwatch.
• Unpack files from ZIP, RAR and many other formats.

“Parallels Desktop 12 for Mac joins our long history of innovations in ease of use and personalization,” said Jack Zubarev, Parallels president. “In addition to delivering our best Windows-on-Mac performance and experience, Parallels Desktop 12 for Mac simplifies a number of everyday tasks for millions of our customers in all walks of life.”

Parallels Desktop 12 for Mac also adds the ability to purchase Windows 10 and simply install it via the Parallels Desktop Wizard, and a Scheduled Windows Maintenance option so Windows Updates and maintenance can take place overnight or at times when it is not disruptive to a user’s workflow.

PC and Xbox^® game players will get increased support in Parallels Desktop 12 for Mac. Parallels engineers worked with Blizzard Entertainment^® and optimized Parallels Desktop 12 for Mac to support Overwatch™, a popular 2016 PC and Xbox game that sold more than 15 million copies in just over two months. Parallels Desktop also supports the Windows 10 Xbox app, enabling people to stream and play Xbox games on their Mac devices.

• Parallels Toolbox for Mac: 20 tools that simplify everyday tasks on your Mac.
• Simplified backup: One year of Acronis True Image 500 GB cloud backup storage, which can backup new incremental changes to a VM, instead of having to resave an entire VM and changes every time changes are made.
• Support for Blizzard Entertainment’s Overwatch PC game.
• Support for Windows 10 Xbox app, for streaming and playing all Xbox games on a Mac
• Schedule Windows updates for an appropriate time at night to avoid time-consuming disruptions during your day.
• Control storage space used by VMs directly from the Optimized Storage in macOS Sierra.
• Store Microsoft Edge™ and Internet Explorer^® passwords in Mac Keychain^®.
• Assign special behaviors to Windows apps, such as Always Open Full Screen or Always Hide Other Apps, so they play even better on your Mac.
• Easily cancel time-consuming VM actions.
• Open documents from SharePoint^® and Office 365^® in Microsoft Office for Windows desktop applications directly from your favorite Mac browser.
• Keep Windows ready in the background, instead of suspending the VM, to instantly open Windows applications and documents.
• Outlook^® for Windows now features your recently accessed documents, both Mac and Windows, so they are conveniently available to select when you add attachments to your emails.
• Improved Retina^® support for resizing Windows VMs.
• Archive VMs to save space in the Pro Edition.
• Set resource usage limits for VMs in the Pro Edition.
• Network Conditioner in the Pro Edition now features preconfigured network profiles (Edge, 100 percent loss, 3G, DSL, Very Bad Network and Wi-Fi) to make testing a breeze, as well as customizable settings.

Parallels Desktop 12 for Mac performance improvements include: *

• Up to 90 percent faster Snapshot creation.
• Up to 60 percent faster suspend of VMs.
• Up to 25 percent faster Shared Folders performance.
• Compile Visual Studio^® projects on shared folders up to 25 percent faster.
• Up to 10 percent battery life improvement.**
• Enjoy improved VM responsiveness when your Mac is low on free memory.

Availability and Pricing

Parallels Desktop 12 for Mac, Parallels Desktop for Mac Pro Edition and Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition are available today for subscribers and upgraders from Parallels Desktop 10 and 11 (www.parallels.com/upgradedesktop12), and general availability is Aug. 23 online at www.parallels.com/desktop and at local retail and online stores worldwide.

The recommended retail price (RRP) of Parallels Desktop 12 for Mac is $79.99. Upgrades for existing Parallels Desktop 10 and 11 for Mac perpetual license customers are $49.99, with an introductory offer to upgrade to a Parallels Desktop Pro Edition subscription for $49.99 per year for life. Parallels Desktop Pro Edition and Parallels Desktop Business Edition are available to new customers for $99.99 per year. Parallels Desktop Pro Edition and Business Edition include a complimentary Parallels Access^® (www.parallels.com/access) subscription to remotely access up to five Mac or Windows PCs from any device.

Parallels Toolbox for Mac is a feature of all versions of Parallels Desktop 12 for Mac which will also be available as a stand-alone subscription product for $9.99 per year, including all new tools and updates planned for release every few months. Starting Aug. 23, a 14-day full-featured free trial can be downloaded and subscription purchased from www.parallels.com/toolbox.

About Parallels

Parallels is a global leader in cross-platform solutions which make it possible and simple for customers to use and access the applications and files they need on any device or operating system. We help customers take advantage of the best technology out there, whether it’s Windows, Mac, iOS, Android™ or the cloud. Parallels solves complex engineering and user experience problems by making it simple and cost-effective for businesses and individual customers to use applications wherever they may be—local, remote, in the private datacenter or in the cloud. Visit www.parallels.com/about for more information.

Parallels Desktop 10 Macos High Sierra

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Media Contacts:

John Uppendahl, Vice President of Communications, john@parallels.com, 425.282.1734
Ryan Donough, Cohn & Wolfe for Parallels, ryan.donough@cohnwolfe.com, 415.403.8311

* based on Parallels internal testing
**for certain environments
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.