Microsoft Frees DirectX 9 Release Candidate
BetaNews | at | by Mike
The first release candidate of DirectX 9.0 was made available for download Wednesday, an unexpected move that marks the first time Microsoft has opened a DirectX beta for public scrutiny. DirectX 9.0 RC0 follows the Beta 3 release that was issued to testers last month. Version 9.0 improves security and performance, and includes many new features across all technologies that can be accessed by applications using the DirectX 9.0 APIs, according to Microsoft. The new release adds a high-level shader language -- based on C -- designed to simplify development.
ATI has already released beta "CATALYST" drivers to take advantage of the technologies included with DirectX 9.0. "The combination of DirectX 9.0 and ATI's driver, CATALYST Beta Release Candidate 0, will provide incredible levels of gaming and cinematic realism," said Dean Lester, Microsoft's General Manager Windows Graphics and Gaming Technologies. ATI has created four demos to showcase the new capabilities.