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Reverse Engineering PowerVR Is Now A High Priority

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  • #21
    Originally posted by monraaf View Post
    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.

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    • #22
      Originally posted by PsynoKhi0 View Post
      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.

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      • #23
        Originally posted by popper View Post
        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.

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        • #24
          Originally posted by popper View Post
          it was ARM that helped PowerVR become what they are today.
          From a promising PC graphics company to an underpowered embedded graphics provider?

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          • #25
            Linux GNU GPLv2

            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.

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            • #26
              Originally posted by sylware View Post
              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

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              • #27
                been busy and forget to come back to this,sorry.
                Originally posted by deanjo View Post
                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

                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

                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
                Arm Newsroom contains the latest press releases, partner and Arm-related news and social media from the industry leader in microprocessor Intellectual Property.

                "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
                Arm Newsroom contains the latest press releases, partner and Arm-related news and social media from the industry leader in microprocessor Intellectual Property.

                "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. "

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                • #28
                  Originally posted by kernelOfTruth View Post
                  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.

                  Comment


                  • #29
                    Originally posted by airlied View Post
                    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.

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