Parallels Access for iPad Treats Remote Windows and Mac Applications as Native iPad Apps

Parallels has introduced Parallels Access for iPad, which lets users remotely access their Windows and Mac applications from an iPad and use them as if they were native iPad apps.

There are two pieces to the Parallels Access puzzle: the Parallels Access iPad app and a Mac Agent or PC Agent that is installed on the computer that people want to access through the iPad. Once those two pieces are in place, users can launch their computer applications through their iPad and use native iPad gestures, such as tap, swipe, and pinch, even in applications that aren't optimized for the iPad, such as Microsoft Word.

Key features of Parallels Access include:

  • App Launcher to start any Windows or Mac desktop application as if it were an iPad app;
  • App Switcher to enable tapping to switch between apps;
  • iPad native select and drag to select words and graphics by tapping with one finger and then dragging and dropping;
  • iPad native copy and paste to select and copy from a desktop app and paste it anywhere, including between iPad apps and from desktop to desktop;
  • SmartTap and magnifying glass to zoom in on portions of a desktop app for precision tapping;
  • iPad native scroll for desktop applications;
  • Desktop keyboard on the iPad that appears when needed and includes Windows and Command keys;
  • Full screen mode for desktop applications to maximize iPad screen real estate; and
  • Support for low-bandwidth connections.

Parallels Access is currently available for iPad only, but support for other mobile devices is in development. The iPad app is available through the Apple App Store at a cost of $79.99 for each computer being accessed. Once users create their account on the Parallels site, they can download the Mac Agent or PC Agent from their My Account page and install it on their computer.

Further information about Parallels Access for iPad is available on the Parallels site.

About the Author

Leila Meyer is a technology writer based in British Columbia. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • glowing blue AI sphere connected by fine light lines, positioned next to a red-orange shield with a checkmark

    Cloud Security Alliance Offers Playbook for Red Teaming Agentic AI Systems

    The Cloud Security Alliance has introduced a guide for red teaming Agentic AI systems, targeting the security and testing challenges posed by increasingly autonomous artificial intelligence.

  • server racks, a human head with a microchip, data pipes, cloud storage, and analytical symbols

    OpenAI, Oracle Expand AI Infrastructure Partnership

    OpenAI and Oracle have announced they will develop an additional 4.5 gigawatts of data center capacity, expanding their artificial intelligence infrastructure partnership as part of the Stargate Project, a joint venture among OpenAI, Oracle, and Japan's SoftBank Group that aims to deploy 10 gigawatts of computing capacity over four years.

  • laptop displaying a red padlock icon sits on a wooden desk with a digital network interface background

    Reports Highlight Domain Controllers as Prime Ransomware Targets

    A recent report from Microsoft reinforces warnings about the critical role Active Directory (AD) domain controllers play in large-scale ransomware attacks, aligning with U.S. government advisories on the persistent threat of AD compromise.

  • Abstract AI circuit board pattern

    New Nonprofit to Work Toward Safer, Truthful AI

    Turing Award-winning AI researcher Yoshua Bengio has launched LawZero, a new nonprofit aimed at developing AI systems that prioritize safety and truthfulness over autonomy.