Parallels Desktop 11 Makes Cortana the first Windows Feature available to Mac Users in OS X

Almost everyone who uses a Mac for work should have heard of Parallels Desktop for Mac; the great piece of software that essentially allows you to use Windows on your Mac without the need to reboot. With the launch of Windows 10 as well as the upcoming release of OS X 10.11 El Capitan, Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac is looking primed to take the software to new levels.....

So, why should you consider thinking about running Parallels Desktop 11? 

It’s a good question, and one we’re going to explore over the next couple of weeks. Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac was only released today, so keep an eye on this blog post for updates as we give you the heads up on what’s new, and what’s going to change the way you use your Mac.

In terms of what to expect, Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac is a major release, covering all needs from consumers to developers, designers, power users and even business customers. With the newest release comes the promise of up to 50% speed improvements, along with a host of other changes. From an interface perspective, one of the biggest transformations from the previous software is that you can now use Cortana with ease on OS X. This is an exciting time for Mac users, as it marks the first time that Parallels Desktop for Mac has ever made a Windows feature available for OS X applications.

On top of this, an eagerly awaited Travel Mode also comes included with the latest release, which sees battery life extended by 25% by switching off power-hungry resources when not plugged in. Improvements in working with Boot Camp partitions should be music to the ears of those still stuck in re-boot cycles, and potentially allows them to give Boot Camp the boot.

The Enterprise Edition has now been renamed as ‘Business Edition’, and brings with it the new Parallels License Management Portal. This lets IT departments administer licences, as well as allowing them to control and manage end-user virtual machines. Parallels are enthusiastic about the new portal, promising that it will provide IT administrators with vital information; from usage statistics and licence expirations, to real-time visibility into licensing activities.

Keep checking back for updates to this post as we explore the software over the coming days