8.0
8.0
| Release date |
November 2021 |
| Developers | |
| New features | |
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| |
| Chronology | |
| Previous 7.1 |
Next 8.1 |
Purpose
Version 8 is 64 bit version of the front end aw::browser.
This implied replacing 32 bit components, in particular Renderware.
This also included binary dependencies to nVidia PhysX, VLC Media SDK, CEF Chrome Embedded and Microsoft's Xof.
All prior 32 bit-only dependencies were rewritten from scratch.
By release of build 1808 the major goals for v8.0 have been more than reached:
- Remove and replace Renderware components (were 32-bit only).
- Replacing some Microsoft specific dependencies, including D3DXof.
- Port engine and Windows-UI to native 64-bit, including PhysX, CEF and VLC.
- Extensive usage of SIMD extensions, such as SSE2+ and AVX2+ CPU extension.
- Software-render fall-back level for low-end graphics.
- Software-fallbacks for low-end CPUs without SIMD / vector extensions to the CPU.
Features
New features include additional 3D formats and modern shader-only render, to be made available during the v8 cycle.
AW::Browser 1801
2021 November 7th
- Initial Release
- Windows 64 bit will receive aw::browser 64 bit
- Windows 32 bit will receive aw::browser 32 bit
- Legacy 32 bit builds are available for manual download and manual updates (no auto patching).
AW::Browser 1803
2021 November 9th
- Fix collision for x-files
- Fix web-to-panel render
AW::Browser 1804-1807
2021 November 12th
- Re-implemented non-standard formatted x-files for skinned avatars.
- Animate avatars and objects built with seq animations in mirrors always.
- Fixed a crashing issue on models with more than about 175 nested groups.
- Enabled fall-back to fixed shading pipeline for Intel HD and AMD HD chipsets without T&L Hardware and Pure-device caps.
AW::Browser 1808
2021 November 17th
- Ensure total count of active light sources never exceeds the hardware's limit.
AW::Browser 1809
2021 November 22nd
- Fine tuning and further optimization for bone-skinned avatars and models.
- Fixed an issue when activating a sequence animated jointed model could eventually cause another nearby sequence animated model misbehaving.
- Ensure the notepad url is refreshed on world-enter.
AW::Browser 1810
2021 November 30th
- Fixed YouTube videos buffering when played via VLC, due to Google's changes - once again.
- Supress YouTube from looping when played via VLC.
- Removed a workaround that was applied for old versions 4 and 5 of Wine (Windows Emulation).
AW::Browser 1811-1813
2021 December 4th-9th
- Various fine tuning for jointed and skinned avatars, as well as CAV.
- Replaced left-over RW shaders.
AW::Browser 1814
2021 December 10th
- Removed Transparency Effects / Model Fade-In option from Performance - which became unused and unmaintained over the years.
- Added intermediate binary 3D format.
- Added "sile" avatars to Alphaworld.