Reverse Engineering PowerVR Is Now A High Priority

[popper]

Let's see:

And again:

So they only opensource the kernel component, that's not very interesting.

sure ,but i never said it was a perfect world, they both need to open that side of it, and other parts too OC, but its a start and they are open to the possibility, they are both the better option than buying a PowerVR GPU device today it seems, and remember it was ARM that helped PowerVR become what they are today.

[devius]

Ah poop! Nothing for my KyroII boo
!

Yeah, that's a shame. Also nothing about the PCX2, which is a bummer. I was really really really hoping to use it on linux one day :'( I bet it would beat a GMA950... or not.

[airlied]

sure ,but i never said it was a perfect world, they both need to open that side of it, and other parts too OC, but its a start and they are open to the possibility, they are both the better option than buying a PowerVR GPU device today it seems, and remember it was ARM that helped PowerVR become what they are today.

There is open PowerVR kernel code as well under the GPL.

So they are all equally shit.

Dave.

[deanjo]

it was ARM that helped PowerVR become what they are today.

From a promising PC graphics company to an underpowered embedded graphics provider?

[sylware]

People have to keep in mind that the linux GNU GPL has a exception.

Indeed, this exception makes the GNU GPL stops at syscall level *only* for "normal" user space programs. Recently on the DRI mailing list (search the archives and look for a mail from Alan Cox), it was recalled that a user space program which drives hardware is *not* a "normal" user space program, then it's protected by the GNU GPL.

Then, it means that the FSF can sue the PowerVR mother companie to make it release the source code. But for that, it will need support from some linux developers. It seems most of them do not want to bother.

[kernelOfTruth]

People have to keep in mind that the linux GNU GPL has a exception.

Indeed, this exception makes the GNU GPL stops at syscall level *only* for "normal" user space programs. Recently on the DRI mailing list (search the archives and look for a mail from Alan Cox), it was recalled that a user space program which drives hardware is *not* a "normal" user space program, then it's protected by the GNU GPL.

Then, it means that the FSF can sue the PowerVR mother companie to make it release the source code. But for that, it will need support from some linux developers. It seems most of them do not want to bother.

wait - wat ?

wow - all the Android-users (especially the ones with the Samsung Galaxy S) need to know about this and force PowerVR to release the code

[popper]

been busy and forget to come back to this,sorry.

From a promising PC graphics company to an underpowered embedded graphics provider?

well most people forget the PowerVR/ Imagination Technologies origins as VideoLogic and that they originally focused on graphics AND sound acceleration OC

they even made and make the UK DAB radio chipset etc.

plus their focus in the digital set top box and mobile market with them trying to become the dominant MPEG-2 chip License holder way back in 1999, when the world market for mobile phones sold was something like 50 million, and at the same time trying compete with 3dfx.

perhaps we shouldn't really discourage Imagination use and dialogue (even though Hossein Yassaie is a Brummie he did work over 10 years at Inmos back in the day too so that's a very good thing ) as they are also a far more powerful embedded graphics provider than you seem to think!, especially with this year's product lines and spec's coming out apparently.

but back to the point,Hossein first signed an official Strategic Agreement with ARM way back in January 2001
http://www.imgtec.com/corporate/news....asp?NewsID=53
Imagination Technologies and ARM Sign Strategic Agreement

ARM to Offer PowerVR Cores to ARM Licensees

KINGS LANGLEY, UK and CAMBRIDGE, UK: "

and then on 21 February 2001
"25 January 2001
http://www.imgtec.com/corporate/news...asp?NewsID=233
21 February 2001

Imagination Technologies and ARM Announce New Graphics Processor Technology for Mobile Computing and Communications

PowerVR® MBX Will Provide Landmark Performance for Mobile Graphics

NICE, France Feb. 21, 2001 Imagination Technologies (LSE:IMG), the leading provider of human computer interface intellectual property (IP), and ARM"

then again in February 2004 they renewed their Collaborate with ARM
http://www.arm.com/about/newsroom/4861.php
"ARM and Imagination Technologies Collaborate To Offer Greater Support For Advanced 3D Graphics
23 February 2004

PowerVR technology-based PowerVR MBX Embedded Graphics Accelerators to support the OpenGL ES standard for embedded systems

CAMBRIDGE, UK AND LONDON, UK – Feb. 23, 2004"
right after
http://www.arm.com/about/newsroom/4743.php
"Samsung Licenses PowerVR MBX From ARM For 3D Mobile Graphics Technology
29 January 2004

PowerVR MBX technology facilitates Samsung’s high-end 3D graphics on mobile APs for smart phones and PDAs
CAMBRIDGE, UK - Jan. 29, 2004 - ARM"

only after around June 2006 did that Collaborate stop, but even then not totally as they are still and will continue to use ARM as their core CPU.

"ARM's decision to acquire Falanx Microsystems in June 2006 was so that it could have its own graphics cores instead of selling the ARM-plus-Imagination combination. "

[popper]

wait - wat ?

wow - all the Android-users (especially the ones with the Samsung Galaxy S) need to know about this and force PowerVR to release the code

or you could just ask Hossein to open up to start with i guess.

[popper]

There is open PowerVR kernel code as well under the GPL.

So they are all equally shit.

Dave.

we know your main code base focus is x86 600g but do you also do ARM development yet Dave?, did you or any of the other Mesa dav's actually bother to actually ask Sam Taylor, Jem Davies or even Ed Plowman etc to open it up ASAP and how best to do that for your needs/wants ?

i dont even see any real developer effort to post to that open http://blogs.arm.com/multimedia/249-...r-open-source/
thread when they clearly want you're feedback to improve, perhaps the mesa devs should actually try and make the effort to at least post to that thread and ask.

ARM are even talking to Linaro ( i dont hold out much hope Linaro will do it right as they dont even work or respond at weekends and patches seem very irregular ATM) so am surprised that mesa in all this time are not/cant be bothered talking to them and the other ARM Gfx vendors today to open up and how best to do that for everyone's profit in 2011/12.