14 DAY TRIAL // Provided that it’s installed on top of the right hardware, Windows 8 is capable of delivering next-generation entertainment experiences, such as Stereoscopic 3D gaming and video playback.
According to Microsoft, users will need to own graphics cards designed to play nice with DirectX 10 and DirectX 11 in order to enable Stereo 3D for their displays.
Of course, for customers to enjoy Stereo 3D gaming and video playback, they need to run not only Windows 8, but also the components capable of supporting such experiences.
“These include 3D-capable display hardware, graphics hardware, peripherals, and software applications. The Stereo design in the graphics stack is such that the particular visualization or display technology used is agnostic to the operating system,” Microsoft explained.
“The Graphics driver talks to the Display and has knowledge about the display capabilities through the standardized EDID structure. The driver will enumerate Stereo capabilities only when it recognizes such a display connected to the system.”
The Stereoscopic display setting is hosted on the Screen Resolution tab on Windows 8 machines that support the new feature.
If the option is absent, or grayed out, then the hardware doesn’t support Stereo 3D, the software giant informed.
Provided that the right components are present, customers still have the option of not enabling Stereoscopic 3D. But even if turned on, Windows 8’s Desktop Window Manager (DWM) will still present all content in Mono by default.
This because the feature is actually “Stereo-On-Demand,” which means that content will be served to users only on capable hardware, if the option is switched on and just in scenarios in which a stereo application is executed. If disabled, even if stereo apps are launched, content will still be displayed in Mono.
“System builders are encouraged to test their stereo driver packages with the above settings to ensure correct functionality. Stereo 3D functionality can be enabled only on DirectX 10-capable hardware and higher,” Microsoft added.
Windows 8 Developer Preview Build 8102 Milestone 3 (M3) is available for download here.
