Grafana 8.1 introduces several new features to enhance the Time series visualization capabilities and make panel configuration more dynamic. Key updates include the Gradient mode for Time series panels, which allows users to color lines or bars based on values set in Thresholds settings or a predefined color scale, providing clearer data visualization against specific thresholds. Additionally, a new transformation called Config from Query Results enables users to derive standard panel configuration options from queries, allowing for more dynamic and query-driven visualization setups. This update also includes the Rows to fields transformation, further enhancing the configurability of visualizations. Users are encouraged to explore the documentation for detailed guidance and to join community forums for further engagement. Grafana Cloud offers both free and paid plans to cater to various user needs, allowing easy access to these tools.