Appletell

Darwine, the OS X port of the popular wine compatibility layer, has reached a stable version 1.0. Thanks to Mike over at kronenberg.org, it is available pre-compiled and ready to run. Until now, the alternative has been to download the source from SourceForge, which requires compiling the code. Version 1 updates include localization fixes for Danish, Spanish, and German, as well as performance and stability improvements for graphics-intensive applications. Darwine requires Tiger or Leopard, running on any Intel-based Mac.

The wine project seeks to deliver an open source implementation of the Microsoft Win32 API, to allow for source-code level compatibility between Microsoft Windows applications and other OS platforms, including Unix, various flavors of Linux, and Mac OS X. This is the key difference between wine and emulators such as Parallels and VMWare, which deliver a virtual machine in which Windows can run. Wine does not require a valid Windows license, as do emulators; rather it provides an open source version of the Windows API. Darwine is the Mac OS X-specific compile of the wine source code. 

As an open source application, Darwine offers several benefits that emulators do not. First, the price tag: it’s free. Parallels or VMWare both require a license, plus the cost of a Windows license. Another benefit is the extensibility of Darwine—since the source code is open and available, it is possible to customize the functionality to meet specific user requirements. And finally, Darwine offers the access to the power and functionality of OS X, while retaining native compatibility with any mission-critical Windows applications.

Via [Low End Mac]

Recently, the newest version of Parallels for Mac OS X was released. The latest build of the virtualization software is build 5608, and is available for Mac only, while Parallels Transporter is available for Windows and GNU/Linux. The biggest features of the new program are added support for guest Parallel Tools for the latest iterations of Linux. It also adds more support for 3D graphics rendering when using Vista through Mac OS 10.5.3.

A new build of Parallels Server for Mac was also announced. “We’re pretty excited about this newest build since it includes faster performance and some extra goodies to play with, like data compression and Common Address Redundancy Protocol,” Parallels officials said as part of the announcement. “Also, the restriction to virtualize OS X Server only on OS X Server has been lifted. You can now virtualize Leopard Server on either Leopard Server or Leopard client!”

Via [MacNN]

Parallels, Inc. introduced a new update to its popular Parallels Desktop application on Friday. The latest version, 3.0.5600, brings support for Windows Vista SP1 and Windows XP Sp3. It also fixes some other issues, including: Kernal panics, unusually high CPU usage, and improvements to shared folders. This update should have automatically downloaded for existing registered Parallels Desktop users - if not, you can download the update here as a DMG (88MB)

If you’re not a fan of Parallels Desktop, there’s always alternatives like Apple’s own Boot Camp and VMware Fusion. Boot Camp is included in Mac OS X Leopard and VMware Fusion costs $60.

Via [TUAW]

MacUpdate has unlocked Parallels Desktop in its Promo Bundle, making it slightly worth the money. It seems like sales might not be as great as expected, because it took quite a while to reach the 5,000 sales needed for SoundStudio, and somewhere before the 6,000 mark, it seems they manually unlocked the remaining two apps, BannerZest and Parallels.

The bundle now includes software that retails for a combined $475, though the actual value price is more around $100-$150, in my opinion. Parallels is the only real reason to buy this bundle. If you don’t need Parallels, I cant see a reason for buying the bundle. Other worthwhile apps include Hazel (review coming soon), Typinator, and MenuCalendarClock, but those can be had for much less than the bundle price. All in all, it seems most of the apps in there are filler.

Product Page [MacUpdate Bundle]

Not digging the MacHeist bundle? Well you’re in luck because MacUpdate has just released their OWN bundle of software. In my opinion, it is a much better deal than the MacHeist Bundle, offering more unique applications. The bundle is priced at $64.99 and will end April 29th.

The star of the show is Parallels Desktop, which at retail price of $79.99 is made a great deal in this bundle, even if you are only buying for the one application. The other applications included are Hazel (a task manager for OS X), Art Text (vectorized text creator for banners and logos), MenuCalendarClock (a date and time expander), Leap ("a combination Spotlight, Bridge, Finder, and more"), StoryMill (writing aide to visualize time setting, plots, etc.), Typinator (a text shortener), DVDRemaster Pro (DVD recompression), Sound Studio (multipurpose audio recorder and editor), and BannerZest (a WYSIWYG Flash editor).

As of this writing, Sound Studio, BannerZest, and Parallels are locked, and are set to unlock at certain sales levels. In the past, all levels have always been met. Individually, each program is over $20 (MenuCalendarClock is $19.95) so even if you only want a few, its still a great deal.

Check out the bundle [MacUpdate]

All Prices USD.

Parallels, the creators of the popular virtualization software for Mac, are offering a $15 rebate on their Parallels Desktop Premium 3.0 software. The full premium package includes Parallels Desktop 3.0 plus extra software: Kaspersky Internet Security for Windows, Acronis Disk Director Suite, and Acronis Image Home. The new Premium version of Parallels sells for $99, and includes $175 worth of software. With the rebate it now costs just $84.99, making the offer seem more than reasonable.

If you have a powerful enough Intel Mac, and you don’t want to do any processor or graphics intensive work on Windows, then you should check out Parallels Desktop or its competitor, VMware Fusion. This type of virtualization allows you to run Windows XP or Vista whilst running Mac OS X in the background, eliminating the need for a restart. Unfortunately, this means it will be half the speed of doing the same in Boot Camp - and therefore I don’t recommend doing it if you intend to play games on Windows.

Via [The Mac Observer]

Parallels, the makers of the most popular virtualization software for Mac, have just announced Parallels Server Beta 2 available for public download, due to positive results from the private beta testing beforehand. Parallels Server enables efficient and easy-to-use server virtualization. They managed to bring virtualization to the consumer world, their server alternative looks promising too. One of the biggest concerns with server virtualization is the fact that a lot of resources are used, Parallels have done a good job on trying to reduce the amount of resources used by their software. It also offers virtual support for four-way symmetric multi-processing, which allows users to assign up to four virtual cores to a virtual machine; providing enhanced performance under heavy workloads. Parallels Server beta 2 is available for download from their website.

Via [MacNN]

You see all those smiling faces? Well, at least everybody except the 4th guy from the left. Anyway, they are the Parallels Desktop SWsoft team. That’s right, they work for SWsoft, on a product known as Parallels Desktop. And of course they’re happy, because they have a major product hit on their hands. Parallels Desktop has been a huge hit with both consumers and enterprises, it was the first software that allowed you to run Windows and Mac OS X at the same time. Or any other OS for that matter. SWsoft decided that there was too much confusion in the names, so they changed their name to Parallels.

“On the branding front, Parallels is a well known brand and has a very strong corporate image, largely due to the fact that Parallels Desktop for Mac is so popular and has such a massive, fiercely loyal fan base,” Ben Rudolph, Parallels Director of Corporate Communications, told Macworld.

They also said that despite their name change, they will still stay committed to the Mac, and will show it in their upcoming release of Parallels Server, as well as continuing the development of Parallels Desktop.

Via [Macworld]

Parallels and VMware seem to be working in an effort to one up each other. This time Parallels is following up quickly with Parallels Desktop 3.0 beta 2, which is coming just about a month after their last beta release. In the latest beta 2 release they have improved Shared Folders and also Coherence mode. With Shared Folders you are quickly and easily able to move your files to and from Windows and OS X.

MORE »

Earlier on Wednesday, the Parallels team released a new beta for Parallels Desktop, that supports syncing an iPhone to a Windows virtual machine. Other additions include Expose and drop shadow support for Windows applications in Coherence Mode. Users also have the option to change the size and state of disk images.

Most readers will be wondering what’s the point of syncing in Windows, when you’re already running a Mac with OS X and iTunes. Fair point; it turns out that some users require syncing with Outlook (according to Ben Rudolph of Parallels), which limits them to either Windows XP or Vista.

The beta is currently free for Parallels 3.0 users.

Read [Paralells Blog]