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The new Parallels Desktop 12 for Mac is faster and simpler to use

By Liu Hongzuo - on 19 Aug 2016, 11:52am

The new Parallels Desktop 12 for Mac is faster and simpler to use

Parallels just released the latest version of their virtualization software, the Parallels Desktop 12 for Mac. The new version provides more support for everyday tasks, and it lets Mac users play Overwatch - the rare Blizzard game that doesn’t come with a Mac OS version.

The new Parallels Desktop 12 for Mac fully supports the new Windows 10 Anniversary Update, and it’s ready for the upcoming macOS Sierra update. It allows the user to keep Windows ready in the background (as opposed to suspending the VM when not actively in use), which allows users to instantly open Windows applications and documents. Besides Overwatch, it also supports the Windows 10 Xbox app, so users can stream and play Xbox games on their Mac. You can check out their full list of upgrades here.

It’s not entirely fun and games either. Parallels Desktop 12 for Mac boasts a panel of performance improvements – based on their internal tests, it’s now 90 percent faster at Snapshot creation, 60 percent faster at suspending VMs, and it has 25 percent faster Shared Folders performance, topped off with 10 percent battery life improvement (for those using a MacBook to run this software).

Parallels Toolbox for Mac

Users who get the new virtualization software are given Parallels’ new standalone tools called Parallels Toolbox for Mac at no extra cost. This set of over 20 single-function tools and utilities makes common tasks easier by having them easily accessible on your desktop. Some examples of single-function tools include hiding of desktop files, keeping the Mac awake, capturing screenshots or video-recordings of an area of your screen, and the downloading of videos from sites such as YouTube or Facebook with a single click. Parallels said that this panel of tools will gradually expand to include more functionality over time. If you’re getting the Parallels Toolbox for Mac on its own, it’s US$9.99 a year.

Otherwise, users can get the Parallels Desktop 12 for Mac at S$108. It costs S$68 if you’re upgrading from Parallels Desktop 10 and 11 for Mac (perpetual license), with an introductory offer to upgrade to a Parallels Desktop Pro Edition subscription at just S$68 per year for life (originally US$99.99 or ~S$134.37 per year).

Source: Parallels

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