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Tag: desktop

  • Parallels voices support for Apple Silicon-based Macs, cites “tremendous progress” made on WWDC 2020 tech demo

    If you live and die by Parallels Desktop, you’re going to like this.

    Parallels on Wednesday announced that the company is actively working on a new version of its virtualization software that will be compatible with Apple Silicon and M1 machines, the company said on Tuesday.

    The company stated that it is “excited to see the performance, power efficiency, and virtualization features” that Apple’s new M1 chip brings to the Mac and MacBook lineups. It also noted that current versions of Parallels Desktop won’t be compatible on the new devices.

    An Apple Silicon-compatible version of Parallels was demoed at WWDC 2020, and Parallels has stated that it has made “tremendous progress” since then, having switched Parallels Desktop to a universal binary and optimized its virtualization code.

    To date, no other major virtualization company has made a similar announcement as to its compatibility with Apple Silicon. As of June, VMWare announced a macOS Big Sur-compatible “tech preview” of its software, but remains vague about how it will support Apple-designed chips.

    Virtualization, along with Rosetta 2, is one of several initiatives that Apple says will make the switch to Apple Silicon smoother for developers and consumers. Boot Camp, long a way for users to run Windows on Mac hardware, will not make the transition.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInsider

  • Mysterious Apple product with placeholder name “B2002” surfaces in Bluetooth product database

    A strange new listing has appeared in the Bluetooth product database for an unknown Apple product with a placeholder name of “B2002” and a model number of “TBD.”

    The product is filed under the “personal computer” category, which Apple has used for previous Mac and iPad listings in the database, so it’s hard to pinpoint the listing to a specific product at this time. It’s thought the listing could simply end up being the updated iPad Air unveiled in September, or the first Apple Silicon Mac or another product.

    The listing’s Qualified Design IDs also correspond with previous listings for both Macs and iPads, which makes things a bit more vague.

    The listing was first published on October 22, and is Apple’s first public-facing entry in the Bluetooth database since late 2019. Since many Apple products use the same Bluetooth specifications, Apple is often able to simply update its previous listings in the database with new products as they are released.

    It’s also speculated that the product could be Apple’s long-awaited AirTags, AirPods Studio over-ear headphones, or a new gaming-focused Apple TV.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and MyHealthyApple

  • Apple releases updated 27-inch, 21-inch, and iMac Pro desktop models

    Apple on Tuesday released what might be the final 27-inch iMac with an Intel processor, the new models featuring faster processors, twice the memory capacity, new AMD graphics processors, and a 1080p webcam.

    The 27-inch iMac sports the latest 10-generation Intel Core processors, complete with 6-cores and 8-cores, and for the first time, customers can also choose a 10-core processor option. The high end model can reach Turbo Boost speeds of 5.0GHz, and RAM capacity has been doubled to 128GB.

    Another first time option is a graphics card with 16GB of memory using the newest AMD Radeon Pro 5000 series.

    Solid state drives are now standard across the new 27-inch iMac models, with performance of up to 3.4GB/s as well as a new 8TB SSD option.

    The model’s Retina 5K display comes with True Tone and a nano-texture option that was first seen with the Pro Display XDR. The monitor features 14.7 million pixels driving a billion colors at 500 nits of brightness. The nano-texture cuts down on glare similar to matte displays.

    The updated 27-inch iMac starts at $1,799 and goes up from there, depending on the specs and options.

    In other news, the 21-inch iMac and iMac Pro received minor updates as well, these units now arriving with SSDs across the 21-inch line as well as a build-to-order Fusion Drive option. The iMac Pro, in turn, now arrives standard with a 10-core Intel Xeon processor.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via The Mac Observer and Apple

  • Patent application suggests that Apple could be bringing Face ID feature to Macs

    It’s wouldn’t be a huge surprise by any stretch of the imagination, but a new patent suggests that Apple could be bringing Face ID to the Mac.

    The newly released patent application , details how Face ID could work in future iMacs or MacBooks. The images within the application detail how the components would be at the top of an iMa’s display. Where a MacBook or other notebook would be concerned, some components remain at the top of the display, essential elements like the light pattern recognition module, including the dot projector, would be in  the keyboard.

    The patent is credit to Paul X. Wang, Keith J. Hendren, Adam T. Garelli, Antonio Clarke, Joshua L. Daigle, and Dinesh C. Mathew.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via The Mac Observer and Patently Apple

  • Mac Pro units’ delivery estimates slip into March, coronavirus outbreak thought to play role in delays

    If you ordered a 2019 Mac Pro, you may have to wait a little while for it to arrive.

    It’s been noted that many custom iMac, iMac Pro, and MacBook Pro configurations are facing longer-than-usual delivery times via Apple’s online store in the United States.

    While the reason for the delays is as-yet unconfirmed, it’s thought that it could be related to the coronavirus outbreak in the Wuhan region that’s forced several Apple suppliers to close their factories. Although some factories are beginning to resume operations, initial production appears to be limited. 

    These delays have apparently extended to the new Mac Pro. In the case of a number of European customers, the base model Mac Pro’s estimated delivery date has slipped to March 10 given that units for this region are assembled in China.

    The new Mac Pro also has a February 24-26 delivery estimate in the United States, despite being assembled in Texas, possibly because some components are still sourced from temporarily-closed suppliers in China. 

    If you’ve seen your Mac Pro order’s estimated delivery date slip, please let us know about your experience in the comments.

    Via MacRumors