O'Grady's PowerPage

Tag: OBS

  • Parallels Desktop updated to 20.3, adds OBS support, Touch ID authentication, other new features

    Parallels Desktop updated to 20.3, adds OBS support, Touch ID authentication, other new features

    If you’re a fan of Parallels Desktop, this is going to come in handy.

    Parallels Desktop has been updated to version 20.3. The update adds new features such as OBS support, Touch ID authentication, and improved legacy emulation that makes the virtual machine experience even smoother.

    Other new features include new x86_64 emulation capabilities for Apple Silicon Macs, including full support for M4 chips. Users can now run legacy x86_64 apps on the latest Apple hardware, and the new version also provides USB passthrough support for macOS virtual machines.

    Previously, if a user tried to plug a USB device while running a macOS virtual machine on an Apple silicon Mac nothing would happen. Adjustments introduced in Apple’s framework with macOS 15 have now made it possible to connect a range of USB devices directly to your macOS virtual machine.

    Parallels has also highlighted that while many USB devices are now supported, audio devices and iPhones are not at the moment. Additionally, this feature is only available on Macs running macOS 15 or higher.

    The new features also allow users to use their OBS feed from macOS in Zoom, Teams, and other Windows apps inside their virtual machine. Touch ID integration has also been added, allowing users to skip typing their admin password and simply authenticate using Touch ID for a smoother experience. Finally, Parallels Desktop 20.3 also allows IT administrators to enforce Single Sign-On (SSO) as the sole activation method for managed Macs. Using the SSO configuration profile will prevent users from activating Parallels Desktop with a license key or trial, ensuring compliance with organizational policies. Even if a user uninstalls and reinstalls the software, SSO activation will still be required from the start.

    Parallels Desktop is available as a free 14-day trial, and currently retails for $74.99 per year and requires macOS 12 Monterey to install and run. It also comes with a 30-day, money-back guarantee.

    If you’ve tried the new version, please let us know about your experience in the comments.

    Via AppleInsider and Parallels

  • OBS live streaming app beta for Macs released, now offers support for Apple Silicon hardware

    OBS live streaming app beta for Macs released, now offers support for Apple Silicon hardware

    If you’re a fan of streaming, you’re going to like this.

    The popular OBS live streaming app has been released as a new beta that’s compatible with Apple Silicon Macs. The update adds native support for Macs equipped with M1 and M2 chips.

    The first beta of OBS Studio 28 provides full native support to Apple’s Silicon platform. This means that Apple Silicon Macs will be able to enjoy significant improvement in the app’s performance. The beta update also added some new features to the OBS live streaming app.

    While some Apple Silicon Macs support apps made for Intel-based computers through Rosetta technology and can’t fully utilize Apple’s ARM chips, apps with native Silicon support were proven to work faster without consuming too much power.

    The developer has noted that third-party plug-ins will still need to be updated to include Apple Silicon support.

    When it comes to new features, OBS Studio 28 added support for 10-bit HDR video and the new ScreenCaptureKit API. This API allows high-performance screen capture on macOS. In addition, the update also brought improved support for the Apple VT encoder.

    Unfortunately, the new beta of the OBS live streaming app has dropped support for the macOS 10.13 High Sierra, macOS 10.14 Mojave, Windows 7, Windows 8, Ubuntu 18.04, and all 32-bit operating system.

    OBS Studio 28 beta is now available to download on Github for testing purposes only. No word yet on when the public version of the app will become available.

    If you’ve had a chance to try the new beta, please let us know about your experience in the comments.

    Via The Mac Observer and GitHub