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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]

VMware have announced the relesase of Fusion 1.1.2, with added support for Time Machine backups of your virtual machines. According to VMware, Mac OS X Leopard update 10.5.2 included a fix that prevented virtual machines from backing up properly. You can now back up your virtual machines correctly with 1.1.2. A word of warning though, virtual machines will start to eat up your external hard drive’s disk space - as Time Machine backs up all changes to all files. You may want to uncheck a few folders that don’t need backing up.

1.1.2 also brings support for the MacBook Air, Windows XP Service Pack 3, and simplified Chinese, as well as the standard bug fixes. You can download a free trial of VMware Fusion from their website. If you are already a registered user, this update is free - otherwise it’s $79.99.

Via [TUAW]

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.

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VMware has released their virtualization app for the Mac, Fusion, as version 1.0. A competitor to Parallels, Fusion emulates and virtualizes Windows, Linux, and more. With features like Unity, Snapshots, and 3D emulation, Fusion makes it easy to run other OS’ on your Mac.

“VMware Fusion combines a very clean and intuitive interface that Mac users expect with the world’s most trusted desktop virtualization platform to allow users to run Mac applications seamlessly alongside PC applications on Intel-based Macs”, said Dan Chu, Vice President of Emerging Products and Markets.

VMware Fusion retails for $79.99, and is available with a $20 rebate, bringing the price tag down to $59.99. A 30 day trial is also available for those who just want to try Fusion out.

Product Page [VMware Fusion]

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]

Apple’s Get a Mac ads are somewhat of a legend; even Parallels is copying the style for their own ads. This time, it’s no longer Mac vs. PC, or John Hodgman vs. Justin Long; the emphasis is on running Windows applications on a Mac. The ads are actually surprisingly well done, without making fun of anyone.

Parallels is one of the most efficient solutions of running Windows on a Macintosh; the program allows users to virtualize Windows while Mac OS X is running. One of the ads also highlights the Parallels Transporter, a great utility to migrate all the data on your existing PC onto your new Mac.

Via [CrunchGear]

Parallels had better watch out. Months ago, when they had a monopoly on the mac virtualization market, they were the only choice for running Windows and Mac OS X side by side. But now there is a new competitor in town--VMware. Known as the industry standard for Windows virtualization, they are trying to take a piece out of Parallels pie. Their product, Fusion, has just gotten out of beta and is now in Release Candidate 1.

VMware continues to enhance their product by improving their “Unity” feature, as well as adding 3D support for the integrated graphics cards. Fusion is now ready to work in Leopard, and also includes a new “Applications” menu so that Windows apps can be launched from the dock. Fusion is expected to ship in late August for $79.99 matching the price of Parallels.

All of this competition in the virtualization market is really healthy, and beneficial for the consumer. Both Parallels and VMware crank out new features every month and continue to enhance the users experience. It should be fun to see them go head-on when they both have shipping products this fall.

Read [Ars Technica]