DirectX 8.1 shipped as an integral part of Windows XP and is available
for all versions of Windows 98, Windows ME and Windows 2000. Developers
choosing to support Windows 95 should continue to use DirectX 8.0a.
DirectX 8.1 includes all of the previous DirectX 8.0 functionality as
well as new DirectX graphics features and new DirectShow features specific to
Windows XP.
DirectX 8.1 graphics supports the following new features:
- new pixel shader models 1.2, 1.3, and 1.4
- new high precision texture formats
- new nPatch quadratic interpolation order
- new dynamic texture support
- new D3DX methods
- updated DirectX graphics documentation
There have been considerable improvements made to the DirectShow content
for the DirectX 8.1 SDK. These improvements include updating existing samples,
adding many new samples (including Windows XP samples), providing modified
source code for the sampleGrabber, and improving documentation. See the
DirectShow section below for more specific information.
The SDK contains several new tools, they include:
- screensaver framework
- AppWizard support
- DX error lookup tool,
- MView mesh viewer
- DP8sim network simulator
This DirectX 8.1 version of DirectMusic Producer sports a number of new features to streamline the authoring process for composers and sound designers. Some of these features include low enough software synthesizer latency to input musical performances from a keyboard in real time (WDM driver required), easier wave capture, and improved DLS/wave editing features like one-click stereo wave insert, insert silence and a resample wave option. Segment Designer features include multiple wave insert as segments, the ability to edit segment length based on clocktime, and ability to start and stop segments while editing DMO effects. Other improvements include many bug fixes, an improved look to segment strips and customizable wallpaper. Documentation has been thoroughly revamped and a new tutorial with a sample game is also available.