Microsoft DirectX FAQs

Q: What is DirectX? Do you have a definition?
A: Microsoft® DirectX® is a group of technologies designed to make Windows-based computers an ideal platform for running and displaying applications rich in multimedia elements, such as full-color graphics, video, 3-D animation, and surround sound.
Q: What is the latest version of DirectX
A: The latest released version is currently DirectX 9.0b for users of Microsoft Windows 98, 98Se, Me, 2000, XP, and Server 2003. The latest version of DirectX for Windows 95 users is 8.0a.

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Q: What is new in DirectX 9?
A: “There are many new and exciting features in all of the DirectX components.
The SDK has added a new member to its core technology called Managed DirectX, a DirectPlay port for the PocketPC, a High Level Shader Language for D3DX, and Windows XP parity on downlevel operating systems for DirectShow and the DirectX audio APIs.
DirectShow also has a new Video Mixing Renderer (VMR9) which uses D3D9 surfaces and always renders video through the 3D pipeline, along with new and exciting samples.
The generic Windows Media Format SDK stub library (wmstub.lib) available in previous beta releases has been removed. DirectShow samples using this stub library have been reverted to the DirectX 8.1 behavior of displaying a warning to obtain the stub separately, and the readme.txt files have also been reverted with information on the process to obtain the stub.”
Q: What is new specifically in DirectX 9.0b?
A: DirectX 9.0b includes security and performance updates, along with many new features across all technologies, which can be accessed by applications using the DirectX 9.0 APIs.
Q: Will there also be a SDK update coming?
A: Yes, Microsoft DirectX 9.0b SDK Summer 2004 Update will be released this summer.
Q: What will be included in that?
A: Primary areas of concentration for the Summer Update was for the Direct3D Extension Library (D3DX), Graphics Samples, Sample Frame work, tools and documentation. This release includes updated developer runtime and the previously released DirectX 9.0b Redistributable.
Q: What was new in DirectX 8.0a?
A: DirectX 8.0a contains updates for issues with international installs on Windows 2000 and issues where input devices could have buttons disabled that were enabled with previous DirectX releases. There are no other changes.
Q: What operating systems is DirectX 9 compatible with?
A: Windows 98, Windows 98SE, Windows Me, Windows 2000(Professional and server editions), Windows XP. and Windows Server 2003. DirectX 9 is NOT compatible with Windows NT or Windows 95.
Q: You do not have Windows 95 listed as being compatible with Microsoft DirectX. What should I do?
A: The latest version available for Windows 95 is DirectX 8.0a.
Q: Is DirectX compatible with Windows NT?
A: Yes, though the only version supported on Windows NT 4.0 is DirectX 3.0a. You must also install Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 6.
Q: How much space will this take up on the hard drive?
A: It will take about 18 MB of space once downloaded and installed. About 60 MB for installation.
Q: Do I need to install DirectX 9?
A: There are improvements over DirectX 8.1, but most users will do fine with running 8.1. Future games and hardware will obviously take better advantage of DirectX 9.
Q: What was new in DirectX 9.0a?
A: DirectX 9.0a featured bug fixes as well as improvements in performance within the graphics and networking components of the original DirectX 9.0 runtime.
Q: I thought that a DirectX Icon would appear in my control panel – what has happened to it?
A: The DirectX Control Panel is only included in the SDK versions of DirectX.
Q: What is the DirectX SDK?
A: The Microsoft® DirectX® 9 Software Development Kit (SDK) contains the tools needed to build cutting-edge, media-rich, interactive applications. It includes the run-time, headers and libs, sample executables, sample source, documentation, DirectX utilities, and support for both C++ and Visual Basic® development.
Q: What versions of DirectX are shipped with the different Microsoft Operating Systems?
A: Windows 98 comes with native DirectX 5 support. While Windows 98 Second Edition comes with DirectX 6.1a and Windows 2000 DirectX 7. Windows NT comes with DirectX 3.0a, and Windows 95 comes with DirectX 2. Windows XP comes with Direct X 8.1. Windows 2003 Server comes with DirectX 8.1.
Q: Will new versions of DirectX affect older games?
A: No, as each new version of DirectX is backwards compatible with older versions.
Q: Will Windows 2000 users finally be able to update to each new version of DirectX as they are released?
A: Yes – all future versions of DirectX will install onto Windows 2000.
Q: Does DirectX have a role with Xbox?
A: Yes, all DirectX technologies had played a role in the development of the Xbox both through Microsoft and NVIDIA. Xbox either shipped with a customized version of DirectX or has a similar set of non-updateable technologies.

Wireless Headset Tips

Wireless Headset TipsThe Best Wireless Headset
The best wireless headset for you will depend on your needs and how often you will use it. For a cell phone wireless headset, you will want to look for a blue tooth headset, as that is the industry standard. Other features to consider include:

Comfortable fit
Features you require
Within your price range
Compatible with your current cell phone.
If you need a wireless headset with a landline telephone, you need to consider some alternate options:

What brand name are you most comfortable with? Wireless headsets for your regular phone come from various manufacturers including Plantronics, GN Netcom and Polycom.
How much desk space you want it to take up?
How much range it needs to have (how large is your office)
You may not have considered it, but you can also get a headset for your computer. If you use Skype or any of the other nifty computer phone call programs, you may have a headset plugged into your desktop or laptop already, but wireless may make your life much more flexible.

Wireless Headset: Bluetooth
Bluetooth is another wireless standard, mostly used for short range connectivity. You will often find Bluetooth technology in printers, cell phones and wireless headsets. Its range is significantly shorter then other wireless technology, about 30 feet. It is less expensive then other Wi-Fi standards and works well for many home offices. This is why Bluetooth has been included in many wireless headsets – but beware of that range, you don’t want to wander too far from your source and lose you call.

Reasons to Use a Wireless Headset
A wireless headset offers you significantly more freedom while you talk on your cell phone or regular phone. By plugging in the wireless adaptor, you can walk all over your home or office since you isn’t tied to any location with a wire. The benefits in an office environment are clear, but these are also great for stay at home parents who may be chasing an active toddler all over the house! The car is another obvious location for the use of a wireless headset.

Good wireless headsets come equipped with volume control and answer buttons and they should be small and fit comfortably over your ear. They should be snug enough so you don’t have to worry about the headset slipping off your ear or falling to the ground.

Problems with Wireless Headset
If your wireless headset is having performance issues, there are a few things you can check.

Make sure your telephone or ell phone is within range and not overly obstructed.
Check to make sure your cell phone battery is charged and you are receiving a good signal.
Typically, with wireless headsets you will have multiple channels from which to select the best signal, so make sure that you have switched around to see which is best and that you aren’t still on the default channel.
Make sure you try your phone without the headset on at all to ensure that the line or signal is strong.
Finally, check to make sure the batteries in the wireless headset are charged.

Wireless Headset
A wireless headset is a small device you slip over your ear that allows you to talk via your cell phone, but hands free. Using the blue tooth technology standard, wireless headsets offer an excellent range and great hands free features.

These wireless headsets have been especially popular with commuters and people who need to use their cell phones in their car. The increased safety afforded when you are using both hands to drive makes the investment in one of the headsets an easy decision. Additionally, you aren’t hampered by an annoying cord which can also be hazardous if you need full range of motion to avoid a potential car accident.

Wireless Headset with Regular Phone
There are wireless headsets on the market that you can use with a regular phone, but don’t think you’ll have to buy a different headset for every phone in your home or office. There are also wireless headset devices that you can hook up to a regular phone, cell phone and PDA, and you can alternate which device you wish to use your wireless headset with. This kind of flexibility is key in this day and age of telecommunications – and for your wallet.

Web Hosting

Web hosting involves the placement of a web site or many web sites on a server that is connected to the Internet. The web hosting server is located off site at a web hosting company that leases the use of the server. The web hosting company should have two or more separate connections to the Internet for redundancy. Since very few web hosting systems need the throughput available on the Internet connection, the connections are shared to reduce cost. There are two primary web hosting methods, virtual web hosting and dedicated web hosting.

Virtual Web Hosting:
Virtual web hosting is where many web sites from different companies are placed on one server and the server is controlled by the hosting company. This is the least expensive way to have a web site as you only are paying to lease a small portion of the web hosting server. However, a virtual web hosting server tends to be less reliable and the available bandwidth is shared among hundreds of companies. These might be of 2 kinds

Shared Hosting:
These hosts run server machines hosting from hundreds to thousands of domains. They give great value if your needs aren’t too high and your budget is relatively small. You usually get one web domain, private FTP, email, a few gigabytes of data storage and bandwidth per day but no SSH or anonymous FTP. If you are just a beginner in web publishing or do not need sophisticated features, then these should be ideal for you.

Virtual Dedicated Servers (VDSs):
VDSs give you the flexibility of hosting multiple domains with no extra cost for an expense of a higher monthly fee than shared hosts. Similar to dedicated servers but you have “neighbors” that you share the machine with. You do not “see” your neighbors but if your site grows much, you will notice that they are there. They will give you anonymous FTP and SSH/telnet support for you to logon to the usually UNIX (Linux or BSD variant) operating systems command console. These plans are usually twice as expensive as their shared counterparts.

Dedicated Web Hosting:
Dedicated web hosting is where only one company places its web site on a server and that company controls the administration of the server. Dedicated web hosting is much more reliable than virtual web hosting and much more flexible. Since you control how the server is used you can configure it to your exact business needs. A dedicated web hosting server is more expensive to use, but for companies that rely on the Internet for their business it is normally a better value. A dedicated web hosting server also can be part of a cluster to increase throughput and reliability even further.

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