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Parallels 16 for M1 Macs Gets Technical Preview 2 Update With New Features

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Back in December, Parallels released a Parallels Desktop 16 for M1 Macs Technical Preview Program, which is designed to allow Parallels to run Windows on M1 Macs.

mac-mini-macbook-pro-macbook-air-m1.jpg

Parallels today released a second Technical Preview, introducing new features and various improvements to the software for a better usage experience. The update adds support for suspending and resuming a virtual machine, improves stability, and more, with the full feature list below.
New features
- Added support for suspending and resuming a virtual machine.
- Support for installing Parallels Tools in the following Linux distributives: Ubuntu 20.04 or later, Debian 10.7 or later, and Fedora Workstation 33-1.2 or later.
- Compatible Linux installation images are now automatically detected in the Installation Assistant.

Improvements
- Improved overall stability.
- Resolved the issue with ARM-based Linux ISO images being recognized as Intel-based ones.
- Resolved the issue with missing sound when a virtual machine is created from a VHDX image.
- Resolved the issue with not being able to select an ISO image as an installation source when VHDX is specified in the drop-down menu.

Known issues
- During the Parallels Tools update, the virtual machine's screen may freeze for several minutes, please simply wait.
Click to expand...
The Parallels software can run Windows using Microsoft's Arm-based version that's available through the Windows Insider program, but there's no publicly available version of Arm Windows that can be purchased.

There are also several limitations to the software. It is not possible to install or start an Intel x86 based operating system in a virtual machine, and ARM32 applications do not work.

Current release versions of Parallels are not able to run on M1 Macs, so M1 Mac owners who want to use the software will need to participate in the Technical Preview program.

Article Link: Parallels 16 for M1 Macs Gets Technical Preview 2 Update With New Features
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/02/16/parallels-16-m1-technical-preview-update/
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Still no news on VMware Fusion 12 for m1 processors. Either VMware is working wonders without their PR department leaking progress or they are in serious trouble. Already regretting my Fusion Pro license at this point in time.

Come on VMware, provide at least a timeline on when to expect compatibility.
 
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TouchMint.com said:
I would love a full windows on m1 but maybe it’s just not possible. Arm windows does me no good.
Click to expand...

I'm curious – why not? You can run all 32-bit Intel-based Windows apps in ARM Windows now. Do you need to use an app that's only available in a 64-bit version?
 
Why not? Have you tried it? It works quite well as-is. Windows for ARM has it's own x86 emulation built in. I can play Fallout 3 as an example within Arm Windows and it's fully playable (and better graphical performance than Intel integrated on x86 Windows).
 
I think they're holding off on a full release until MS agrees to allow normal plebs like you and I to legitimately buy ARM Windows.. currently, that's not an option..
 
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mikeyy00 said:
People like to **** on the M1.. but I'm frankly impressed that a Beta version of Parallels running an insider preview of Windows can play x86 games faster than my 2017 Macbook Pro running Windows via Bootcamp.
Click to expand...
So true. People that complain need to test it. Sign up for the program.

I believe in final form this will run VM's including x86 windows programs dramatically faster than an Intel Mac running Parallels. It is pretty incredible for such early software and will be blazingly fast especially as much more powerful Apple Silicon comes out.
 
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I'm curious if Parallels could somehow negotiate with Microsoft themselves to be an OEM, and sell Windows ARM themselves and install automatically thru the interface, without having to get it externally.

Otherwise I think if that doesn't happen (or MS doesnt allow purchase of ARM separately), Parallels as a company is probably dead in a few years, once the old Intel Macs begin to be outdated.
 
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mikeyy00 said:
Why not? Have you tried it? It works quite well as-is. Windows for ARM has it's own x86 emulation built in. I can play Fallout 3 as an example within Arm Windows and it's fully playable (and better graphical performance than Intel integrated on x86 Windows).
Click to expand...

Wow, I would love to play AoE 2 DE on AS. Im currently resorting to Paperspace cloud service and Parsec to do this, paying just for the hours I play and the storage. What you say really gives me hope as the game is truly not very demanding, just not available on macOS.

I think what people comparing this to VirtualPC doesnt get is how much optimized the current macOS hypervisor is and how powerful and optimized the m1 can be for these tasks.
 
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FWIW, a Windows 10 Pro license key I was using for a prior VM on my old MBP is working fine to license Windows 10 on ARM for me.
 
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apparatchik said:
Wow, I would love to play AoE 2 DE on AS. Im currently resorting to Paperspace cloud service and Parsec to do this, paying just for the hours I play and the storage. What you say really gives me hope as the game is truly not very demanding, just not available on macOS.

I think what people comparing this to VirtualPC doesnt get is how much optimized the current macOS hypervisor is and how powerful and optimized the m1 can be for this tasks.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I don't know what black-magic Parallels has done on the Beta.. but you (seem) to be able to play quite a bit more older games without much issue. If they keep it up, I don't see the need for natively booting Windows at all... people preferred that on the Intel Macs because it gave way better graphical performance, but on the beta w/ Arm Windows, I'm not seeing a huge degridation..
 
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mikeyy00 said:
I think they're holding off on a full release until MS agrees to allow normal plebs like you and I to legitimately buy ARM Windows.. currently, that's not an option..
Click to expand...
Microsoft may also be waiting for a few other developments:
  • x86_64 emulation to improve (it's currently in beta)
  • faster chips from Qualcomm (Microsoft probably doesn't want the M1 running Windows faster in virtualization than it does natively on the Surface Pro X)
  • More ARM 32-bit apps on the Microsoft Store to be updated to 64-bit
  • Parallels to work out the bugs in Parallels Desktop, and identify areas where Microsoft can tweak Windows on ARM code (they are basically doing a lot of the heavy lifting Microsoft would have to do if they wanted to bring Windows on ARM to M1 Macs directly).
 
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mikeyy00 said:
People like to **** on the M1.. but I'm frankly impressed that a Beta version of Parallels running an insider preview of Windows can play x86 games faster than my 2017 Macbook Pro running Windows via Bootcamp.
Click to expand...
Thats really welcomed news.

I am waiting on the next batch of M1 iMacs, MacBook pros before I move over to M1 but always was a little gutted that i wouldnt be able to play Windows games anymore. Which i currently do via bootcamp :)

So you just use parallels and Windows ARM?
 
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HiVolt said:
I'm curious if Parallels could somehow negotiate with Microsoft themselves to be an OEM, and sell Windows ARM themselves and install automatically thru the interface, without having to get it externally.

Otherwise I think if that doesn't happen (or MS doesnt allow purchase of ARM separately), Parallels as a company is probably dead in a few years, once the old Intel Macs begin to be outdated.
Click to expand...
I doubt Parallels would be investing all the time and money necessary to make Windows on ARM work if they didn't have at least tacit assurance from Microsoft that they will make it available either directly through retail download, or more likely through Parallels as an OEM. Microsoft certainly hasn't been doing anything to prevent ordinary users from downloading the Windows on ARM beta or running it on M1 Macs.
 
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theviewer19855 said:
Thats really welcomed news.

I am waiting on the next batch of M1 iMacs, MacBook pros before I move over to M1 but always was a little gutted that i wouldnt be able to play Windows games anymore. Which i currently do via bootcamp :)

So you just use parallels and Windows ARM?
Click to expand...
So far, yes. I haven't tested a lot of games (yet), but there's numerous YouTube videos of others trying things like GTA V - which is totally playable.. In a VM!..
 
theviewer19855 said:
Thats really welcomed news.

I am waiting on the next batch of M1 iMacs, MacBook pros before I move over to M1 but always was a little gutted that i wouldnt be able to play Windows games anymore. Which i currently do via bootcamp :)

So you just use parallels and Windows ARM?
Click to expand...
Yes. You need to use the Parallels Technical Preview, and download the Windows ARM beta through the Windows Insider program (as right now Microsoft does not sell Windows on ARM separately). The "fast track" beta supports both 32-bit and 64-bit x86 apps.
 
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