Microsoft will ditch the name DirectX (http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=18683) - apparently - when it releases the new generation of the technology (apparently very soon.) Microsoft has decided to call it WGF (Windows Graphic Foundation).

The API will unite 2D and 3D Direct Draw into one. This will go some way into providing support for graphics cards to generate the desktop (as well as 3D games), which is intended for Longhorn and may even be with us before then for XP. It will also bring us Shader Model 4.0.

I'm sure a flurry of WTF rather than WGF jokes will accompany this graphics technology.

This makes no sense to me, they've worked hard to make Direct X as much of a name as an API is likely to get. This is strange.

The only thing I can think of is that the product has changed so much that they felt it necessary to change the name. Just think of all those animated desktops that will start appearing :=).