Parallels Desktop 20.3 Improves OBS Video and USB Tunneling Support

The latest Parallels Desktop update (v20.3) is simply a doozy. Not lone does it physique connected Parallels' x86 emulation engine, but it introduces OBS virtual camera enactment successful VMs, USB instrumentality enactment connected virtualized Mac desktops, Touch ID login, and more.

Let's commencement with x86 emulation, since that's the lone happening that isn't truly "new" here. Parallels Desktop began utilizing FEX, an open-source app, arsenic the ground for its emulation motor in January of this year. The Parallels app was antecedently constricted to desktop virtualization—if you were connected an Apple Silicon Mac, you could lone usage Parallels to tally ARM-based operating systems similar Windows connected ARM. Desktop emulation opens the doorway to 64-bit x86 operating systems, including the modular mentation of Windows and a swath of Linux distros.

While the Parallels Desktop 20.3 update doesn't marque immoderate large changes to the existing emulation engine, it does resoluteness problems that caused superior issues similar freezing oregon crashing during Linux emulation—an fantabulous bugfix for developers, enthusiasts, oregon anyone who needs to tally an x86 Linux distro connected their Mac.

Alright, present we tin determination connected to the caller stuff. One of the astir notable additions to Parallels Desktop 20.3 is OBS virtual camera tunneling. You tin present acceptable up an OBS provender connected your Mac and select it arsenic a unrecorded video root wrong Windows apps similar Zoom oregon Teams—an absorbing diagnostic that makes it little hard to juggle apps successful Coherence mode.

And for information professionals oregon developers, Parallels Desktop present supports USB devices successful macOS VMs. This has been a long-requested diagnostic among immoderate Parallels customers, and it seems that Apple is partially liable for its development—"thanks to the adjustments introduced successful Apple’s model with macOS 15, USB passthrough is present a world for macOS VMs connected Apple silicon." (On that note, USB passthrough lone works connected machines moving macOS 15 oregon aboriginal releases. Audio devices and iPhones are inactive unsupported, too.)

Interestingly, the Parallels squad besides took the clip to physique "enhanced Mac integration" for the Dragon Medical One objective documentation app. Dragon Medical One is simply a fashionable Windows-only solution for healthcare specialists who privation to dictate notes, alternatively than typing them manually—it already worked successful Parallels, of course, but substance dictated to the app done a VM situation tin present beryllium automatically copied implicit to "a designated macOS app." It's benignant of hard to explain, truthful cheque the video demonstration if your curiosity is piqued.

Other improvements see Touch ID authentication during Parallels Desktop installation (the app antecedently required password input upon installation) and a refined activation power for managed Macs successful endeavor environments.

Parallels Desktop starts astatine $99 a twelvemonth but is currently connected sale for $75. Current subscribers tin instal the 20.3 update contiguous for free, though customers who bought a Parallels Desktop licence done a one-time acquisition whitethorn request to wage an upgrade fee, depending connected which mentation of the app they paid for.

Source: Parallels