VMWare releases Fusion 7 with support for OS X Yosemite and Retina optimization
Virtualization firm VMWare on Wednesday announced the availability of VMWare Fusion 7, the latest release of its popular consumer virtualization package that brings compatibility with Apple's upcoming OS X Yosemite as well as better performance.
In Fusion 7, VMWare has adopted OS X Yosemite's visual style in Fusion 7, adding window translucency alongside streamlined toolbars and a new dock icon. Along with the visual tweaks, users can create more powerful virtual machines with support for up to 16 virtual CPUs, 8-terabyte virtual disks, 64 gigabytes of RAM and up to 2 gigabytes of video RAM.
The company says Fusion 7 is also faster when it comes to computationally-intensive tasks like multimedia and encryption thanks to optimizations designed to take advantage of the new hardware in Apple's most recent Macs. Along the same lines, MacBook users will find Fusion 7 to be a more energy-efficient option, using nearly half as much energy as its predecessor.
Professional users will find support for Microsoft's latest operating systems, including Windows 8.1 and Windows 2012 R2, in Fusion 7 Pro. Support for Linux has also been expanded, and users can now connect to VMware's vSphere or Workstation deployments in corporate clouds.
VMWare has also given pros the option to choose which GPU to use in systems that come with multiple graphics processing units, and Windows-focused video conferencing software can take advantage of the built-in iSight camera on MacBooks and iMacs. Finally, Fusion 7 Pro adds support for USB 3.0, HD audio with 5.1 surround sound, and Bluetooth 4.0.
Users of both editions will also find better support for Windows programs running on Macs with Retina displays.
VMWare Fusion 7 and Fusion 7 Pro are now available for $69.99 and $149.99, respecitvely, from VMWare. Existing users of Fusion 5 and Fusion 6 can upgrade for just $49.99 and $79.99.
In Fusion 7, VMWare has adopted OS X Yosemite's visual style in Fusion 7, adding window translucency alongside streamlined toolbars and a new dock icon. Along with the visual tweaks, users can create more powerful virtual machines with support for up to 16 virtual CPUs, 8-terabyte virtual disks, 64 gigabytes of RAM and up to 2 gigabytes of video RAM.
The company says Fusion 7 is also faster when it comes to computationally-intensive tasks like multimedia and encryption thanks to optimizations designed to take advantage of the new hardware in Apple's most recent Macs. Along the same lines, MacBook users will find Fusion 7 to be a more energy-efficient option, using nearly half as much energy as its predecessor.
Professional users will find support for Microsoft's latest operating systems, including Windows 8.1 and Windows 2012 R2, in Fusion 7 Pro. Support for Linux has also been expanded, and users can now connect to VMware's vSphere or Workstation deployments in corporate clouds.
VMWare has also given pros the option to choose which GPU to use in systems that come with multiple graphics processing units, and Windows-focused video conferencing software can take advantage of the built-in iSight camera on MacBooks and iMacs. Finally, Fusion 7 Pro adds support for USB 3.0, HD audio with 5.1 surround sound, and Bluetooth 4.0.
Users of both editions will also find better support for Windows programs running on Macs with Retina displays.
VMWare Fusion 7 and Fusion 7 Pro are now available for $69.99 and $149.99, respecitvely, from VMWare. Existing users of Fusion 5 and Fusion 6 can upgrade for just $49.99 and $79.99.
Comments
Wow, $149.99 seems like a pretty high price point, it will cost more than windows alone.
I doubt there are many of us normal folk who need the capabilities of the Pro version. Outside of IT departments and large development organizations who need cloned and cloud-based VMs or huge VMs running with massive amounts of memory and virtual CPUs (i.e. virtualized servers), most people can get by just fine with the standard edition.
My VMWare days are coming to an end and I am happy for it. Accounting app no longer required.
Ugh! I just upgraded to version 6 for Mavericks support. Now I gotta upgrade again!?!?
Is there anyone running version 6 under Yosemite?
Ugh! I just upgraded to version 6 for Mavericks support. Now I gotta upgrade again!?!?
Is there anyone running version 6 under Yosemite?
I do. Doing just fine on my beta testing machine.
I do. Doing just fine on my beta testing machine.
Cool, thanks bunch!
So far my running total of paid upgrades required for Yosemite support is about $450. Not to mention what plugins I need to repurchase for adobe CC 2014 support..... Free upgrades my ass.
I've also noticed many of my "expensive" $20 apps on iOS have announced upcoming version 2s which will require me to purchase them from the app store again for iOS 8 functionality.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not blaming third party developers because I do know first hand the amount of work that goes into supporting OS / Platform changes and I think they should be paid for it. We just really need to to put it in perspective that owning a computer that you use as a work tool day in and day out basically costs as much a year as a part time employee.
Cool, thanks bunch!
Cool, thanks bunch!
I use Yosemite with VMWare Fusion 6 on a late 2013 macbook pro. Ever since upgrading to Yosemite, when I have my Windows 8.1 VM in full screen mode on an external monitor connected to the thunderbolt port, it starts up with bad resolution, and it does not maintain any screen resolution changes I put in place. It got annoying very quickly, and now I run the VMs in "non fullscreen" mode.
Not tried that but I do have Yosemite running in 6 under under Mavericks ... but I know that's not what you asked
They just update their [URL=http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=2033582]KB2033582[/URL] to reflect the 6->7 free upgrade. It is for purchases between August 1 and September 30
Today I have zero need to run Windows for any of those reasons. In fact there has been a total reversal and it is Internet Explorer that is no longer compatible often with current technology. I have a VM with Windows 8.1 but have never 'needed it' it is now just for my own curiosity (masochism?). So for me I see an end to using VMs unless something else comes along I can't foresee. I am out of the hosting business now which is where I see VMs being mainly used in the future and that on Linux boxes. It's been a long and fun ride and I thank all the various creators of the old Emulators and the more modern Virtualization systems that ran on Macs and wish them well but I seriously don't see me being a customer in the future, now Apple rule ... and I have waited a long time to say that :smokey:
Just a thought, having seen that, have you re run the 'Instal VMWare Tools' option again? It fixed that issue for me.
I have Yosemite installed in the new VMware Fusion 7, and Yosemite doesn't recognise the VMware virtual display as something it should pixel double. So just a warning if you're thinking of buying this, on a Macbook Pro Retina, Yosemite will run at 2800x1800, not 1440x900 pixel doubled.
Using Windows 8.1 in Fusion 6, and after upgrading to Yosemite, I also was experiencing terrible flickering, especially when connected to an external display. It was all resolved when I set the display within the Virtual Machine's settings: Virtual Machine...Settings...Display:
- Use Full Resolution for Retina display (enabled)
- Automatically adjust user interface size in Windows (enabled)
I was also experiencing screen corruption in Internet Explorer (but not in Chrome, Firefox, etc.). I resolved this within IE's settings by enabling Software Rendering (instead of using the GPU) within Tools...Internet Options...Advanced.
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013)
Intel Core i7, 2.6 GHz
16GB
NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M 2048 MB
Thanks. The retina full resolution setting did the trick for me on my iMac 2011...