Virtualization

How to fix the dreaded virtual machine error when attempting to run the TaiG jailbreak

Jeff Benjamin ∙ June 25, 2015

In a previous post, I lamented about the fact that I received a dreaded virtual machine error when trying to run the TaiG jailbreak tool on VMware Fusion 7. The error went something like this: Sorry, this application cannot run under a Virtual Machine.

Not only is that totally ambiguous, but it really didn't make much sense when you consider that the prior TaiG tool ran with no problems. After trying a few solutions I found via Google, I resigned myself to the fact that I would probably just have to settle and use the old tool instead..

Fortunately, however, one of our awesome readers has come though with a fix. Mohamed Elkady shared this interesting little trick to help bypass a frustrating error. In this post and video, I'll walk you through the entire process step-by-step.

How to jailbreak iOS 8.3 or iOS 8.4 on Mac using a virtual machine

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Although the iOS 8.3/iOS 8.4 jailbreak was a surprise, it was no surprise that the release was limited to Windows only. While this can make some Mac users feel bitter, it's actually not a very big deal at all.

Thanks to the awesome virtual machine software that we have on the Mac, it's super-easy to jailbreak an iPhone on our Macs, even if said jailbreak is Windows only.

In this complete tutorial, I'll walk you through the entire process of setting up the virtual machine, installing a valid version of iTunes, and jailbreaking your iPhone.

The most impressive thing about this tutorial is that it can all be done in less than 18 minutes (not including the necessary file downloads), and it's 100% free to do.

If you're a Mac-only user, there really is no excuse for you not to be jailbroken if you want to be. This method is tried and true, super-reliable, and it just works. In fact, by sticking to this method and following my video, you'll likely be able to avoid many of the pitfalls plaguing those who are experiencing issues with the TaiG tool.

How to pair Android Wear without an Android Phone using a virtual machine on Mac

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

I know, it may sound fairly niche, but hear me out. Recently, there's been a lot of buzz about using Android Wear devices with the iPhone, and that's the reason why I started exploring this topic to begin with.

As it turns out, when you buy an Android Wear device, you need an Android device to "activate" the smartwatch (go figure). Since I don't currently own an Android phone, my LG G Watch was stuck at the pairing screen.

Yes, there are more "in-depth" ways to go about getting passed this screen, but not everyone is up to that task. With this in mind, I've created a video tutorial that shows you how to run an Android virtual machine on your Mac with Parallels, and how to then pair an Android Wear device with the virtual machine.

How to install Windows 10 Technical Preview on your Mac with VMware Fusion

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated May 17, 2018

The Windows 10 Technical Preview is now available for free download and trial, but just because you're on a Mac doesn't mean you have to be left out of the fun. Windows 10 brings new features to the table like Cortana voice assistant integration, improved multitasking, and more.

In this full tutorial, I'll show you how to install Windows 10 Technical Preview on your Mac using VMware Fusion. In the video walkthrough, I show you how to install Windows 10 on your Mac in less than 15 minutes.

Parallels Access gains iPhone 6 support and much more, web version debuts

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 15, 2015

Parallels Access, a native iOS and Android app for remotely accessing your applications and files residing on Windows or Mac PCs, is now available as a web-based software that anyone can use on any computing device with a standard web browser.

In addition, the iOS edition of Parallels Access has received a fairly significant version 2.5 update today that brings out many enhancements such as full support for the native display sizes on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, a full-blown file manager, improved audio control settings and much more.

How to jailbreak iOS 8.1.1 or iOS 8.1.2 on Mac OS X using a virtual machine

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

As has been the norm as of late, OS X releases of the latest jailbreak tools have lagged behind their Windows counterparts. The TaiG jailbreak, which released to much surprise early this morning is no exception.

But what if you're an OS X only user who doesn't have access to a Windows machine? Are you left out in the cold waiting until TaiG decides to release an OS X version of its tool? Not necessarily.

Inside, I'll show you how easy it is to run a Windows virtual machine on OS X absolutely free of charge. Doing so will allow you to jailbreak iOS 8.1.2 even if you only have a Mac. Best of all, it's absolutely free to do so. Check out our video tutorial after the break for the full how-to.

Update: this post was originally created for iOS 8.1.1, but you can follow the same steps to jailbreak iOS 8.1.2 using the latest version of TaiG.

How to jailbreak iOS 8.x with Pangu on Mac OS X using a virtual machine

Jeff Benjamin ∙ October 23, 2014

Although you never can tell with these sorts of things, it doesn't look like we'll be seeing an OS X version of Pangu in the immediate future. Although I'm sure that the Pangu guys are working feverishly on an OS X version of the jailbreak tool for iOS 8.x, it likely lags behind other priorities, such as translation, embedding Cydia, etc.

With that in mind, what options exist for those of us in Mac-only households? You could, of course, visit a friend who owns a Windows machine. Or, you can do what I always do, and install Pangu and jailbreak using a Windows virtual machine on OS X. In fact, you may be surprised (or not), but I don't own a Windows machine, and haven't in years. But I'm always able to jailbreak on day one due to my Windows virtual machines.

In this tutorial, I'll tell you how to set up and install a virtual machine for free in order to jailbreak iOS 8.1 with Pangu on your Mac.

VMware Fusion 7 now available with OS X Yosemite and Windows 8.1 support

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 4, 2016

Following the recent release of Yosemite-enabled Parallels Desktop 10, rival WMware on Wednesday announced immediate availability of VMware Fusion 7 and VMware Fusion 7 Pro, major new versions of its virtualization software which now includes built-in support for OS X Yosemite, OS X Yosemite Server and Windows 8.1, along with a bunch of other perks.

Also compatible with OS X Mavericks and OS X Mountain Lion and available in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Simplified Chinese and Japanese, WMware Fusion 7 and VMware Fusion 7 Pro take virtualization on the Mac to the next level with a speedier performance, a redesigned appearance, improved connectivity, support for Macs with Retina displays and more.

Good deal: get Parallels + 7 awesome Mac apps for one super low price

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 20, 2013

Black Friday is nine days away, but that's not stopping companies from advertising huge holiday discounts like there's no tomorrow. Notable deals Cody told you about in the past week or so include 28% off the iPhone-controlled Cobra iHelicopter, 46% off id America's iPhone 5/5s accessory bundle, 55% off Jony Ive and Inside Steve’s Brain book combo and more.

You can put Parallels on your shopping list as the virtualization company is now offering eight great Mac apps for the price of Parallels Desktop 9 alone - that's 82 percent off or a cool $356 in savings right off the bat...