Parallels is best known for its virtualization software that lets Mac owners seamlessly run Microsoft's Windows OS. But today the company is taking up another mission: it's attempting to bring desktop apps to the iPad in a way that's intuitive and actually useful for consumers. Many have tried and failed; dozens of iOS applications already allow users to remotely control a PC or Mac with Apple's tablet. But no clear favorite has emerged. Parallels previously gave it a shot with Parallels Mobile, an app that was quietly discontinued earlier this year. But with a new product called Parallels Access — which requires a separate $79.99 annual subscription for each computer you use it with — the company thinks it has found the right formula. And its revised approach can be summed up with one word: native.
Access, according to Parallels, lets you run full-fledged Mac and Windows apps "as if they were made for iPad." The "applify your universe" tagline is rather unfortunate, but it's an exciting premise for users that occasionally need to retrieve or edit a file that's stuck on a home PC. But can it deliver? The setup process is simple enough. Download a client for your desktop, install Access on an iPad, and you're off. Rather than presenting users with a complicated, desktop view, Parallels Access cuts down on the clutter by grouping your applications into a simplistic, customizable launcher menu.
Any apps you open are automatically maximized to a full screen view, which helps enhance the "native" feel Parallels is going for. But the illusion only goes so far. It's hard to mistake Lightroom for an iPad app, after all. All of the iOS touch gestures (like pinch to zoom) you'd expect are here, and Access supports native iOS actions like copy and paste.
You'll still inevitably find yourself tapping on icons that aren't finger friendly, and thankfully Parallels has taken steps to cut back on user frustration. If one of your taps is slightly off target, a feature called SmartTap will compensate on the fly so you'll still select the right menu item. Parallels has also come up with clever ways of interacting with control sliders in apps like Photoshop; simply hold your finger down for a few seconds, and an animation signals that you can then drag an item as you normally would.
As for how it performs, Parallels Access was responsive in our brief tests. There's always a hint of lag when you're controlling the remote Mac or Windows machine, but it's not by any means a deal breaker. Your experience could obviously vary dramatically based on the speed of your wireless network, but the company claims that Access has been optimized for subpar connections. On our LTE iPad with three bars of service, we were still able to complete some comprehensive tasks. Just don't expect to do any remote gaming with this app, as that's not what it's for.
So who is Parallels Access for? If it were priced somewhere below $10 or even $20, it'd be an easy recommendation for anyone that needs to access a PC or Mac from afar. But that $79.99 fee is tough to swallow, particularly now as productivity software like Office — long exclusive to the desktop — finally makes the jump to iOS. This latest Parallels product is for a very specific customer, but with a free 14-day trial to test the waters, you've got some time to figure out if it's right for you.
Comments
OMG Yes! Finally we can all run Internet Explorer on our iPads! I’ve been waiting for this feature for so long.
I always wanted OSX on an iPad with a side of poison, thanks Parallels.
By Knowledge on 08.27.13 9:15pm
Meow… catty!
By niceenough on 08.27.13 9:18pm
Before anyone kills me, I would just like to say I actually use Parallels on my Mac and run Windows from time to time and I also have Boot Camp with Windows installed for when I need a native/sluggish-free environment
By Knowledge on 08.27.13 9:19pm
No one is going to kill you, they know you’re just trolling and obvious don’t work for a big company that uses windows + use your ipad for work. It’s okay though.
By simbadogg on 08.28.13 12:55am
I actually laughed.
By nbousfield on 08.27.13 10:03pm
Surface does this better. RT can run Office and even has the official Remote Desktop Client which is second to none. Pro runs everything anyway.
By KurianOfBorg on 08.28.13 3:30am
RemoteApp can host any x86 software on Surface RT as well. I do it daily.
By kooksta on 08.28.13 9:24am
But nothing can cure RT from still being RT at the end of the day.
By highest.ranked on 08.28.13 4:45pm
Damn… $80? Really?
By thervp on 08.27.13 9:20pm
You know that not much for software thats this feature rich right?
Not everything is a $0.99 app.
By niceenough on 08.27.13 9:21pm
I bought Splashtop Gamepad for $10. It works flawlessly for my tablet.
By NicolasCook on 08.27.13 9:31pm
Paying $80 for an app is one thing….paying $80/year for the app and per machine is in a totally different ballpark.
This is simply way overpriced.
By Alex_Dedalus on 08.27.13 9:38pm
Splashtop does the same thing, even better ( you can literally stream sounds with NO delay), very very smooth, FREE. It is also compatible on both Surface RT and iPad, including mobile phones.
Parellel is awesome, but for $80, a year??
By mchon.jb on 08.27.13 9:36pm
Heck logmein is free!
By lurker22 on 08.27.13 10:00pm
Per year too. At that point one might consider buying a cheap separate Windows 8 Atom tablet.
By p_giguere1 on 08.27.13 9:22pm
Business people can deduct the cost from their income taxes. Few only non-business users will buy this app unless they will use it often enough to justify the hefty price.
By Virtuous on 08.27.13 9:27pm
I mean, this would make sense if someone were whining about the price when nothing else existed. But there are so many competitors out there for so much cheaper. Business deductibility still doesn’t mean you want to throw money away.
By cmasontaylor on 08.27.13 9:46pm
$80 wouldn’t be THAT bad if this actually works as advertised (which it seems to). I mean, it’s pricy, but not unjustifiable.
But it doesn’t cost $80. It costs $80 PER YEAR. EVERY SINGLE FREAKING YEAR YOU HAVE TO REPAY for the app.
Why are so many applications going to a subscription model? If you want to charge for updates that’s okay, but I should be able to use any one version of the software for as long as I want. This is ridiculous.
By Wowfunhappy on 08.27.13 9:38pm
Not only that…but it’s per year and per machine. Who’s gonna go for that ? For 80 bucks/year the least they could do would be to let you use this with every machines of your home…the pricing just looks ludicrous.
By Alex_Dedalus on 08.27.13 9:46pm
That’s $80 per year. That’s a lot considering these apps won’t work well with touch and the iPad doesn’t support a mouse.
By ymcpa1 on 08.28.13 10:18am
I thought Streamtop on both Surface RT and iPad already does a great job (with touch gestures enabled)…for free. Oh well, lets see.
Overall, you might as well just get a windows 8 pro tablet….Sounds more efficient.
By mchon.jb on 08.27.13 9:27pm
*Splashtop, not stream top. Sorry. Lol.
By mchon.jb on 08.27.13 9:31pm
This is what Windows RT should have included in the first place.
By NovaBall on 08.28.13 1:46am
Remote desktop and remote apps.
By talont on 08.28.13 2:43am
It has remote desktop……and office……..
By Kellzea on 08.28.13 6:44am