Running Windows on your MacBook isn't uncommon, but running it on a new Touch Bar MacBook Pro has its own set of challenges thanks to the removal of the function keys. Luckily, a trip through your MacBook's settings can bring those precious keys back when using Windows 10, either virtually or natively.

With Visual Studio you can develop apps for Windows as well as Android, iOS, and the web. Microsoft has released a Visual Studio Dev Essentials program to give you the tools you need to start coding -- including Parallels for Mac and Pluralsight training.

You can already run Windows 10 on Mac through Apple Boot Camp but Parallels' new Desktop for Mac software is bringing some extra features to the OS X Windows 10 experience with improved performance and Cortana. Here's a rundown of what's new.

Parallels has released the newest version of Parallels Access, introducing the ability to transfer large files from a computer to iOS and Android mobile devices directly. It has also brought out a companion Apple Watch app and an experimental gaming mode for the Access app. Here are the details on the improvements.

Parallels, already well-regarded as a solution for running Windows on Mac hardware, has updated to version 10. New features in this release include support for the forthcoming Yosemite Mac OS X update release and a number of enterprise enhancements.

The updated version of Parallels Access brings the service to Android tablets for the first time, as well as a significant price chop for businesses and private users.

iPad, Windows and Mac: Parallels Access, a new iPad app from the creator of our favourite Windows virtualisation software on OS X, makes it easier to use desktop software on your Apple tablet. With one part remote access and one part native iPad app, you get a desktop experience on a tablet that almost feels like the real thing.

Mac: Version 9 of Parallels, one of our favourite virtualisation solutions for running Windows applications in Mac environments, becomes available from today. Here's what's new, what it costs and where to buy it.

Mac: Need a copy of Parallels 8 but don't want to pay the full price of $89.95 for a new copy? Buying online knocks off a few dollars, but for maximum discount try upgrading from a trial copy of a rival virtualisation package.

We're in a Christmas mood, so it's time for some giveaways! First up, we have two copies of Parallels Desktop 8 -- the ideal solution if you want to run Mountain Lion and Windows 8 side by side.

Mac: Software bundles often score more of their value from one key app. The Mac Utility Bundle from StackSocial includes Parallels 8 and costs $US60, which is $20 less than our favourite virtualisation software for Mac costs on its own.

Mac: Parallels Desktop -- one of our favourite virtualisation apps for the Mac -- has upgraded to version 8. The latest update includes support for both Mountain Lion and Windows 8, making it easy for Mac owners to run an OS X environment while accessing Windows apps.

When we asked you to tell us the Windows software you most wanted to see on Mac for a chance to win a copy of Parallels 7, there was a big response. The most popular choice? e-tax.

Our week of giveaways continues. On offer today? We've got five copies of Parallels 7, our favourite virtualisation app for Mac users and the easiest way to run Windows apps in a Mac environment.

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If running Windows on your Mac isn't cutting it for you and you need access through your iOS device, Parallels has released Parallels Mobile for the iPhone, iPod touch and (most appropriately) iPad.

Love OS X but have that one stubborn app you can only run on Windows? With the right tools and setup, you can run individual Windows apps seamlessly on your Mac desktop, as though they were always meant to be there.

If you've had a tough time choosing between Parallels and VMware Fusion for running Windows on your Mac, all-things-Apple site MacTech pitted the two virtualisation tools against one another in a giant faceoff.

Since the release of Windows 7 last week, we've already seen a VMWare Fusion update that runs Windows apps inside OS X with full Aero graphical support. Now Parallels is going head-to-head, offering a similarly slick virtualisation package.

The Simple Help weblog runs through installing Windows 7 on your Mac using Parallels, so you can experience the hype—from the safety of an easily deletable virtual machine. The installation process is nothing new to most Lifehacker readers, requiring only a copy of the Windows 7 beta, a recent version of Parallels Desktop, and some free time. But this guide has a full walkthrough of all the steps for the less tech-savvy, useful for sharing with friends that aren't as technically inclined. If you want to use the new Aero-enabled features, you will need to install Windows 7 as a dual-boot OS using Boot Camp instead—Aero doesn't work inside a virtual machine. If you just want to run Windows 7 alongside your current XP or Vista installations, our guide to dual-booting Windows 7 with XP or Vista is for you. Alternately, you can also multi-boot your Windows 7 desktop with Linux.

How to install Windows 7 in OS X using Parallels Desktop - a complete walkthrough