Just found this page about all the upcoming releases from ESRI in 2014. It seems ESRI finally realized the heat of all the growing power in the geospatial market. It is really hard to believe that a market leading software doesn't even support more than one core of a pc !
Check these out,
What is ArcGIS Pro? ArcGIS Pro is a new application that will be released as part of ArcGIS for Desktop at version 10.3 (which is planned for later half of 2014 ). It is designed to be the premier application for visualizing, editing, and performing analysis using local content, or content from your ArcGIS Online or Portal for ArcGIS organization. Using ArcGIS Pro, you can author content in both 2D and 3D and publish it as feature, map, and analysis services, 3D Web Scenes, and Web Maps. It is a 64-bit, multi-threaded application with a modern user experience that runs on the Windows platform.
Will ArcGIS Pro replace ArcGIS for Desktop (ArcMap)? No. ArcGIS Pro can run side by side with your existing ArcMap application. At its initial release, ArcGIS Pro will not have some of the functionality in ArcMap. However, it will have capabilities not available in ArcMap such as:
project based workflows combined 3D/2D visualization 64-bit support multiple layout support and more
Will I be able to use ArcGIS Pro with earlier versions of ArcGIS for Desktop? Yes, even though ArcGIS Pro will be released with ArcGIS 10.3 for Desktop, customers current on maintenance who are using earlier versions of Desktop will be able to download it and use it.
Can I migrate documents from ArcGIS for Desktop into ArcGIS Pro? Yes. Map Documents (.mxd), Scenes (.sxd) and Globes (.3DD) can be imported into ArcGIS Pro. Once in ArcGIS Pro these can be saved as Projects (.aprx). Projects are not backward compatible; however, the data used by the application can be accessed by either ArcMap or ArcGIS Pro through the geodatabase so there can be collaboration at a data level. Services published using ArcGIS Pro can be used and shared with ArcMap. Also, ArcMap and ArcGIS Pro will run side by side, on the same machine, so it will be possible to use both applications for accessing and working with local data and online services.
Can I get ArcGIS Pro if I don't have a license for ArcGIS for Desktop? No. ArcGIS Pro is part of ArcGIS for Desktop, and only customers who are entitled (current on maintenance) to ArcGIS for Desktop will be able to receive ArcGIS Pro.
Will ArcGIS Pro have multiple license levels (i.e., Basic, Standard, and Advanced)? Yes. ArcGIS Pro will come in three versions that correspond to the ArcGIS for Desktop license levels: Basic, Standard, and Advanced. More functionality is included as we move from Basic to Standard to Advanced.
Can I use my licensed ArcGIS for Desktop extensions with ArcGIS Pro? Yes. With the initial release of ArcGIS Pro, the following extensions can be used with the ArcGIS Pro as long as they are licensed for ArcGIS for Desktop: 3D Analyst, Spatial Analyst, Network Analyst, Workflow Manager, and Data Reviewer.
Can I use ArcGIS Pro on my smartphone or tablet? No. ArcGIS Pro will only run on the desktop (Windows).
What are the system requirements for ArcGIS Pro? ArcGIS Pro requires Windows 7 or Windows 8 on a 64-bit machine with a recommended 8 GB of RAM or more. More specific information on system requirements is still coming.
Note: ArcGIS Pro will not be supported for Windows XP or Vista.
Will ArcGIS for Desktop be supported natively on a Mac? Currently, Esri has no plans to release ArcGIS for Desktop on Mac OS. However, a new application called Explorer for ArcGIS will be released in early Q2, 2014. In its initial release, it will support iOS 7 and be available for download from Apple's App store. In a future release we also plan on bringing this native app to the Android and Mac platforms. The initial release of the app will allow you to discover, use, and share maps in ArcGIS Online and Portal for ArcGIS. A future release will also have authoring capabilities.
In addition, developers can build custom apps for this platform using our ArcGIS Runtime SDK for OS X.
For additional Mac and iOS support options visit the Esri EdCommunity website.
Will ArcGIS for Desktop support 64-bit? At ArcGIS for Desktop 10.1 SP1, Esri released an optional 64-bit background geoprocessing module that executed tasks in 64-bit software. The 10.3 release of ArcGIS will feature ArcGIS Pro, a native 64-bit application that is included with ArcGIS for Desktop.