Parallels Desktop 9 with OS X Mavericks and Cloud Services Support Launches for Existing Customers

Parallels today announced the launch of Parallels Desktop 9 for Mac, the latest version of the company's software for running alternate operating systems such as Windows in virtualized environments on the Mac. The new version is available today as an upgrade for existing Parallels users, and it goes on sale for new customers September 5, in line with pre-order information that began popping up earlier this month.

Parallels Desktop 9 brings a number of new features and enhancements, including faster performance and support for Apple's upcoming OS X Mavericks and Microsoft's Windows 8.1, while also building in new support for a number of cloud services. Among the main features of Parallels Desktop 9 are:

- Support for cloud services: Sync iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, SkyDrive etc., with your Mac and your Windows virtual machine without unnecessary duplication of files locally
- Enhanced Windows 8 and 8.1 support: Parallels Desktop brings back the real Start menu and lets customers use Metro apps in a window instead of full screen
- Security Center: Easily access and install complimentary security software subscriptions to keep the Mac and Windows virtual machines safe from viruses and malware, all from one location
- Enhanced new Virtual Machine Wizard: It is easier than ever to set up a new virtual machine, especially on computers that don’t have DVD drives
- Power Nap support: On a Retina MacBook Pro or a MacBook Air, the Power Nap feature now extends to Windows and Windows apps, so virtual machines and all Windows applications are always up-to-date


Upgrade pricing on Parallels Desktop 9 for users of version 7 or 8 is $49.99, with standard retail pricing set at $79.99 for regular users and $39.99 for students. Customers who purchased Parallels Desktop 8 on or after August 15 can also receive a free upgrade to version 9.

For a limited time, Parallels Desktop 9 customers also receive a free six-month subscription to the new Parallels Access service that allows users to access Mac and Windows machines from their iPads.

Popular Stories

maxresdefault

Apple Releases iOS 18.4 With Priority Notifications, Ambient Music, New Emoji and More

Monday March 31, 2025 10:03 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, the fourth major updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating system updates that came out last year. iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 come two months after Apple released iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to...
iOS 19 Mock WWDC25 Feature

iOS 19 Expected to Run on These iPhones

Monday March 31, 2025 5:28 pm PDT by
iOS 19 will not be available on the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or the iPhone XS Max, according a private account on social media site X that has accurately provided information on device compatibility in the past. The iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max all have an A12 Bionic chip, so it looks like iOS 19 will discontinue support for that chip. All other iPhones that run iOS 18 are expected...
iPhone 17 Pro 34ths Perspective

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Sunday March 23, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of March 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

Monday March 31, 2025 11:27 am PDT by
Apple today released new firmware updates for all AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 models. The new firmware is version 7E93, up from the 7B21 firmware that was installed on the AirPods Pro 2 and the 7B20 firmware available on the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC. It is not immediately clear what new features or changes are included in the new firmware, but we'll update this article should we find ...
top stories 2025 03 29

Top Stories: WWDC 2025 Announced, iPhone 17 Pro and iOS 19 Rumors, and More

Saturday March 29, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
Apple's big developer event is a little over two months away, and rumors about what we can expect to see in Apple's next major operating system updates are becoming increasingly frequent. A public release of iOS 18.4 is also imminent with a number of updates and improvements, although we won't be getting the major Apple Intelligence Siri upgrades that had reportedly been planned for this...
macOS Sequoia Feature

Apple Releases macOS Sequoia 15.4 With Mail Categorization and More

Monday March 31, 2025 10:04 am PDT by
Apple today released macOS Sequoia 15.4, the fourth major update to the macOS Sequoia operating system that launched in September. macOS Sequoia 15.4 comes two months after the launch of macOS Sequoia 15.3. Mac users can download the ‌‌macOS Sequoia‌‌ update through the Software Update section of System Settings. It is available for free on all Macs able to run macOS 15. With...
iOS 19 visionOS UI Elements

Apple Codename Provides Clue About iOS 19's Rumored New Design

Sunday March 30, 2025 6:40 am PDT by
Multiple sources have claimed that iOS 19 will introduce a new design with more translucent buttons, menus, notification banners, and more, and there is now another clue that points towards this glass-like appearance. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said the new design project is codenamed "Solarium" internally. A solarium is a room with glass walls that allow in plenty of sunlight, so this...
watchOS 11 Thumb 2 1

Apple Releases watchOS 11.4 With Sleep Alarm Update

Tuesday April 1, 2025 10:34 am PDT by
Apple today released watchOS 11.4, the fourth major update to the operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 11.4 is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 6 and later, all Apple Watch Ultra models, and the Apple Watch SE 2. watchOS 11.4 can be downloaded on a connected iPhone by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software,...

Top Rated Comments

twintin Avatar
151 months ago
I think for most it would be much cheaper to buy a secondary machine instead of paying their yearly Parallels-tax...

or just use Virtualbox, which is free.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cymerc Avatar
151 months ago
If Parallels actually supported their software I'd probably get this. They seem to have a bad habit of dropping support as soon as there is a new version (which is every year).
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Detektiv-Pinky Avatar
151 months ago
If Parallels actually supported their software I'd probably get this. They seem to have a bad habit of dropping support as soon as there is a new version (which is every year).
It is amazing how much money people are prepared to invest to run Windows on a Mac. I think for most it would be much cheaper to buy a secondary machine instead of paying their yearly Parallels-tax...
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
john123 Avatar
151 months ago
It is amazing how much money people are prepared to invest to run Windows on a Mac. I think for most it would be much cheaper to buy a secondary machine instead of paying their yearly Parallels-tax...

It's not about cost. It's about convenience. Having two machines, especially for those of us who are mobile/laptop only, just isn't viable. Plus, the integration of files between the guest and the host OS actually comes in handy.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Codyak Avatar
151 months ago
If you whant to play still dent upgrade!Sounds an mice does not work at all.

Did you just have a stroke?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zorinlynx Avatar
151 months ago
Parallels is basically subscription-ware. It is very good at eventually breaking with OS X updates, and you have to pay to acquire a version that works again.

I got tired of the constant pay pay pay and switched to VirtualBox. VirtualBox is free and works nearly as well.

Other software doesn't break when OS X updates, why must Parallels?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)