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Apple

Parallels Transporter Hits The Mac App Store

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Parallels today announced the launch of Parallels Transporter on the Mac App Store, an app that makes the move from a Windows PC to a Mac easy by automatically transferring music, pictures, Internet bookmarks, documents and more.

Parallels has shipped more than three million copies of its Parallels Desktop for Mac software. The Parallels Transporter app is designed for Mac users who may not need to run Windows on their Mac at all; it is a simple way to bring everything you need from your PC together on your Mac.

Parallels Transporter Agent collects data on your PC and uses your wireless network or an external storage device to transfer it to Parallels Transporter on your Mac.

Parallels Transporter on your Mac receives data from the Parallels Transporter Agent and copies it to the appropriate locations on your Mac. The files stored in your Windows home directory are copied to the corresponding folders on your Mac so they can be accessed and used with compatible Mac programs.

In addition to moving pictures, music and documents from a PC to corresponding Mac folders, Parallels Transporter also moves Windows programs and other files into a virtual machine on your Mac in case they are needed. Customers who later decide they want to run Microsoft Windows and Mac operating systems and applications simultaneously on their Mac can purchase and download Parallels Desktop 6 for Mac.

Parallels Transporter is available for download from the Mac App Store for limited time offer of $0.99, a $39 savings off of the $39.99 standard retail price.

Citrix Receiver Technology Preview for iPhone Released

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Today, Citrix released the Technical Preview of the upcoming ICA client for the Apple iPhone called “Citrix Receiver” (iTunes link).

Anyone with a properly configured Citrix XenApp environment can download the Citrix Receiver and access authorized company apps from their iPhone today ! Now is the time to start testing the iPhone in your environment, look for ways to increase productivity, and have some fun.

Note: Works with Wi-Fi or 3G connection, Citrix XenApp and XenApp Web Services, Windows applications hosted on Citrix XenApp.  And the Citrix XenApp secure application feature is not supported with this Technology Preview Release.

Also watch this Citrix Receiver video from Chris Fleck.

Parallels Launches Updated Version Of Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac

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Parallels today announced the general availability of an updated version of Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac (Build 3810), its market-leading desktop virtualization software for running Windows and more than 50 other operating systems on a Mac. Since its launch in November, more than 300,000 copies of Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac have been downloaded. All registered users of this version qualify for the free update, which will be available online and via the product’s AutoUpdater feature. The update results from Parallels’ commitment to constantly enhancing this premium solution to meet the growing demands and requirements of its 1.5 million users.

The Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac update includes new features and enhancements to offer users the easiest, fastest and most powerful way to run Windows on a Mac.

The new update is available free to all registered Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac users. The standard retail price (SRP) of Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac is $79.99 for new users and $49.99 for upgraders. New users can test a free, fully-functional copy for 15 days. Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac is available in English and localized versions including Chinese, Czech, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Polish and Russian. Please check with a Parallels representative for local availability.

Release: Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac

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Parallels today announced the availability of Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac, which enables users to run Windows, Linux and other operating systems side-by-side with Mac OS X. The new version improves OS integration, performs up to 50% faster and incorporates a range of security, backup and power saving features to give Mac users a truly easy, fast and powerful desktop computing solution.

Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac introduces support for DirectX 9, DirectX Pixel Shader 2.0 and OpenGL 2.0, providing fast video performance, while the Adaptive Hypervisor dynamically allocates resources to meet user needs. The responsiveness to all applications is further enhanced as the virtualization engine has been optimized to consume 15-30% less resources than previous versions.

Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac addresses two other primary user concerns: security and backup. The software offers users peace of mind through Parallels Internet Security powered by Kaspersky for anti-virus, firewall, scanner, recovery, filtering and identity protection as well as Acronis True Image Home backup and restore and Acronis Disk Director Suite. These three additions to Parallels Desktop represent $175 in extra value along with a more complete user experience.

Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac is available in English and localized versions will soon be available in Chinese, Czech, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Polish and Russian.

The standard retail price (SRP) of Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac is $79.99. New users can test a free, fully-functional copy for 15 days. Current Parallels Desktop users can upgrade their existing software for only $39.99 – a 50% off promotional price available until November 30, 2008. Users that purchased version 3.0 on or after September 1, 2008, qualify for a free upgrade to version 4.0.

Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac is available at Amazon.com, Apple Store, Best Buy, Fry’s Electronics, MicroCenter, Office Depot, Staples and hundreds of other retailers nationwide.

Aqua Connect Terminal Server 3.0 Adds Mac Leopard Compatibility and RDP Support

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Aqua Connect, a vendor of Macintosh terminal services, today announced the release of its Aqua Connect Terminal Server 3.0 software. The newest release is compatible with Mac OS 10.5 Leopard and offers support for Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP).

This development establishes Aqua Connect as the first company to license and implement RDP server for the Mac platform. The release of the Leopard version has been highly anticipated and Aqua Connect has delivered more functionality than previous versions. This version allows new organizations and existing terminal server users to easily integrate the Mac platform into existing IT infrastructures.

The Aqua Connect Terminal Server 3.0 includes substantial upgrades over the previous versions while still delivering the core features that made ACTS the standard in Mac terminal services.

Parallels Readying Attack on VMware Fusion With Desktop 4

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AppleInsider has taken a close look at a few features of the upcoming Parallels Desktop 4, which will be Parallels’ answer to the latest release of VMware Fusion 2.0.

“Those aware of the changes say the new release will be Parallels’ first to make good on promise made in early January that it would enable virtualization of Mac OS X Server on Macs already running the operating system, making use of a change in licensing terms with Leopard’s release late last year that permits more than one copy to run at the same time.

Such features have been frequently requested by IT administrators, who on Linux and Windows have already been able to segregate individual apps away from the main operating system in the event of a crash or a security breach.”

Ars Technica adds:

“Desktop 4’s performance will also be beefed up by adding DirectX 9 and OpenGL 2 support, an improved virtualization engine, and support for multiple cores and more RAM.

A makeover for the new version of Parallels Desktop is also in the cards, including a redesigned and simplified interface and more Terminal-based controls. In addition, the team is working on improving the ACPI interface (used for shutdowns and sleeping), and should be adding virtual machine resizing and 64-bit support. Based on those features, the software shouldn’t have a hard time catching up to Fusion, but I hope the team has something else waiting in the wings.”

Parallels