Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac Adds 3D Graphics, Snapshots, and Improved Integration between Windows & Mac OS X

New major release includes 50+ new productivity and security features, enhancements and improvements to help Mac users get more out of Windows and OS X

Calabasas, CA – June 7th, 2007 – Nova Development announced today Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac, a completely new version the award-winning software that enables Mac users to run Windows, Linux, and any other operating system at the same time as OS X, will be shipping to leading retailers nationwide this month. 

The release of Parallels Desktop 3.0, which is the first major update of Desktop for Mac since the launch of the Parallels Desktop for Mac in June 2006, introduces over 50 new features, enhancements and improvements that make running Windows and Mac software at the same time on a single Intel-based Mac easier and more seamless than ever before. As with all earlier versions, this release fully and automatically utilizes Intel ® Virtualization Technology to deliver superior stability and performance while running multiple operating systems simultaneously.

The release is anchored by powerful new features that let users use any OS X or Windows application to open any file type, regardless of whether that file is on the Mac or Windows desktop. Users can select the right application to open a file each time via right click, or can set a default application association to ensure that a given class of file always opens in a specific application.

For example, if a user sets Word for Windows to be the default application to work with .doc, .rtf and .txt files, he or she could simply double click a file with that extension in either OS – even if it is an email attachment in Apple Mail or Entourage – and instantly open the file in Word for Windows. A user could also configure Parallels to open all hyperlinks clicked in either OS to open in a Mac web browser, such as Safari or Camino.

Parallels is also automatically configured to mount and open Mac .dmg installer files in OS X, even if they were downloaded in Windows via Internet Explorer or Outlook, and to automatically open .exe files in Windows, even if they reside in Mac OS X.

Other major Parallels Desktop 3.0 performance, usability and security features include:

Snapshots: An important new security and backup tool that makes Parallels virtual machines “bulletproof”. Snapshots instantly save the state of a virtual machine’s memory, settings and hard disk, and revert back to that instant at any time. This gives users the freedom to make changes, try beta software, and explore the Internet without the risk of corrupting their virtual machine. If a mishap occurs, the user can revert back to a VM snapshot with a single click, erasing all changes – including major system errors – that happened after the snapshot was taken. A built-in, map-inspired Snapshot Manager helps users manage multiple snapshots.
Security Manager: A built in management tool that helps users customize the level of interaction between Windows and OS X, including how and when files can be shared between OSes, if “drag and drop” is enabled or disabled, and when hard disks and devices are mounted and accessible.
Hardware-Accelerated 3D Graphics: Strong support for OpenGL and DirectX brings Windows’ vast library of 3D-intensive applications to the Mac. Without leaving their Mac desktop, users can play popular Windows-only 3D games such as Counter Strike, Half-Life 2, and Descent 3, as well as work with complex Windows-only 3D CAD programs.
Vista Boot Camp Support: Existing Windows Vista Boot Camp partitions, as well as Windows XP Boot Camp partitions can be run in a Parallels virtual machine. Users can switch between running Windows in Parallels Desktop and Boot Camp as often as they would like.

“This new version is an important milestone for us helping computer users get the best of all operating systems on a single, seamless desktop,” said Nick Dobrovolskiy, CEO of Parallels, Inc. “With new features that deliver more flexibility, increased security and peace-of-mind, working with multiple operating systems has never been easier, safer, or more fun.”

"Parallel Desktop 3.0 for Mac on Intel-based Macs is enabling a new era in virtualization," said Doug Fisher, Intel Vice President of System Software Division. "Users can now run multiple operating systems while enjoying blistering performance, energy efficiency and powerful resource management on desktop and mobile computers. This is made possible by Parallel's virtualization software that fully utilizes the capabilities of Intel® Virtualization Technology built into Intel® Core™ Microarchitecture processor technologies.”

Continued Momentum for an Industry-Leading Desktop Virtualization Product
Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac is a significant upgrade to the award-winning desktop virtualization product that already powers more than half a million Macs worldwide. Since its launch one year ago, Parallels Desktop for Mac has been recognized with MacWorld Magazine’s “Editor’s Choice” Award (the “Eddy”), PC World Magazine’s “Innovation of the Year” Award, and was the first non-Apple product to ever win the MacWorld Magazine Reader’s Choice Award. Parallels Desktop for Mac was also named “Best in Show” at the 2007 MacWorld Expo and in May 2007 was ranked #6 and a “Reader Favorite” on PC World Magazine’s “100 Best Products of 2007” list.

Availability and Pricing
Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac will soon be available at the Apple Store, CompUSA, Staples, Office Depot, Fry’s Electronics, Amazon.com, MicroCenter, Best Buy, and hundreds of other retailers nationwide. The standard retail price (SRP) of Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac is $79.99.

Current Parallels Desktop users who purchased boxed copies in retail or electronic versions from Nova Development qualify for a $30 upgrade rebate when purchasing Parallels Desktop 3.0.  Click here for more details.

Customers who purchased Parallels Desktop after May 1st 2007 automatically qualify for a free downloadable upgrade to Parallels Desktop for Mac 3.0. Click here for more details. Current copies of Parallels Desktop in retail stores also qualify for this free update.

About Nova Development
Based in Southern California, Nova Development Corporation is a market leader in personal and small business productivity software for both the Macintosh and Windows platforms. Nova Development is the retail publisher of the best-selling Macintosh titles Print Explosion, Art Explosion Photo Object 150,000 and the Berlitz® Premier line of foreign language learning software. For more information, call (818) 591-9600 or visit Nova Development on the Web at www.novadevelopment.com.