Parallels today announced the launch of Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac, the latest version of the company's software for running alternate operating systems like Windows in virtual environments on the Mac. The new version is available today as an upgrade for existing customers, and it will launch on August 26 for new customers.
Parallels Desktop 10 offers a bevy of new features and enhancements, including OS X Yosemite support, iCloud Drive and iPhoto Library support and battery life and performance speed optimizations. The main new features of Desktop 10 include:
- Mac OS X Yosemite integration, iPhone calling integration, iCloud Drive and iPhoto Library support
- Now with one click users can select from a number of choices to optimize their virtual machine based on what their primary usage is: productivity, games, design or development.
- The new Parallels Control Center is a one-stop-shop for managing Parallels Desktop; it allows users to manage all their virtual machines and configuration settings from a single place.
- Users can share files, text or web pages from Windows using Internet accounts configured on their Mac such as Twitter, Facebook, Vimeo, Flickr; or send them via email, AirDrop and Messages.
- Users can drag and drop files to Mac OS X virtual machines.
- Users can now open Windows documents up to 48 percent faster.
- Battery life is now extended by up to 30 percent, giving people additional work time when they need it most.
Upgrade pricing for users of Parallels Desktop 8 or 9 is $49.99, while standard retail pricing is set at $79.99 for regular users and $39.99 for students. Parallels Desktop 10 customers also receive a free three-month subscription to Parallels Access that allows Windows and Mac users to use their machines from their iPads.
Top Rated Comments
Jack wads.
If you want to upgrade to the latest version of OS X.
And yet, VMware Fusion manages to keep right on running with each new version of OS X. That software is not 'required' to be upgraded.
So, while Apple has started giving me free upgrades every year, Parallels is going down the path of forcing me into what amounts to an annual subscription. On three different machines. I don't need "new features" from my virtualization software. I just need you to support what I've already paid for.
Jack wads.
Agreed. Parallels was a great utility when it appeared years ago, but now it feels more like a long con.
After Parallels 9 was rendered useless to me for months following an OS X update, I swore off the annual donation to its cause and switched back to VMWare Fusion. No regrets so far. (A show-stopping bug that went acknowledged but unfixed resulted in guest OS X hosts' refusing to show anything other than a blank screen for months).
I tried to keep loving it (I've been a used since its introduction), but I can test IE (what else would you use it for?) on VirtualBox, CrossOver, VMWare and other solutions with a lot less headache these days.
I'm not paying for any more of their "upgrades". Had I known that it was going to cost me 100 to 200 bucks a year for their software on my machines I never would have bought it to start with.
Back to Bootcamp for the very few things i need to do in Windows, or maybe I'll buy and older PC for next to nothing.
Wow, I literally just purchased Parallels Desktop 9 slightly over a month ago. This sucks. :(
Yosemite was announced in June. Every time there is a new version of OSX, Parallells comes out with a new version of it's software.