Parallels has unveiled its Desktop 8 for Mac which is the latest generation of its applications enabled for running Windows on Mac computers.
Parallels said the new offering is also speedier than its previous product, Parallels 7, beating the speeds of the elder product by as much as 30 percent when gaming, and 25 percent when conducting “virtual machine” operations.
The redesigned application is designed at par with Apple’s latest-generation computers. It is modelled to support the high-definition Retina display available on the new MacBook Pro, and consists of features that take advantage of Mountain Lion, including the ability to use the new dictation tool in both Mac and Windows, the addition of Windows notifications in the Mac’s Notification Center, the ability to organize Windows apps in Launchpad, and the use of Mountain Lion gestures in Windows applications.
Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac is immediately available as an $50 upgrade for existing users of the app. New customers will be able to purchase it or download a free trial on September 4, either in the standard $80 version, or in a $40 “Student Edition.”
