Parallels has released build 3170, the third candidate version, of Parallels Desktop for Mac. The final build, when complete, will be known as Parallels Desktop for Mac 2.5.

Parallels Desktop for Mac has become a favorite Windows virtualization tool for many Mac OS X users who can now simultaneously run Microsoft's Windows operating systems on their Intel-based Macs without having to reboot a la Apple's Boot Camp technology.

The new version, a 38.7 megabyte download, offers a wide variety of fixes and changes (as listed on the version's notes page), the most prominent being better Coherence support (which allows users to run Windows applications directly from Mac OS X's Dock), improved USB 2.0 support, Windows Vista upgrade improvements and preliminary support for Apple's upcoming Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard" operating system, due out later this year.

Parallels Desktop for Mac requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later and an Intel-based Mac to run. The software retails for US$79.99 and is available as a trial download.

If you've had any experience with the new Parallels build, positive or negative, let us know.