Open 3D-Graphics Spec For Devices Nears Release

An anonymous reader writes "LinuxDevices.com reports that version 1.0 of the Khronos Group's OpenGL ES (embedded subset) graphics API spec for embedded devices is now ready for final review and ratification by Khronos Group members, a process which should lead to its public release in July 2003. OpenGL ES is described as a light-weight, royalty-free embedded graphics standard that provides 3D-capable graphics API profiles for a broad range of embedded systems and devices, including handheld wireless devices, automotive and avionics displays, and multimedia consumer devices such as advanced digital TVs, set-top boxes, and game consoles."

The only one to win here

[ObviousGuy]

The only company on the Primary Contributor list that has anything to gain from this is ATI whose chips are nowhere to be found in the embedded space.

The other companies involved look like they just want to have a piece of the pie in case this takes off. Considering that you can put WinCE on these devices for a very nominal licensing fee and have DirectX support out of the box, many device makers will have already chosen against OpenGL. Likewise, Java has a good enough graphics library for phone-like devices.

This is probably great for truly embedded systems like flight computers, but for general purpose devices like telephones, automotive computers (Navigation systems, etc), or PDAs there just doesn't seem to be a real market for OpenGL.

Re:The only one to win here

[ArmorFiend]

Well, I think we the nerdy people also win, since OpenGL is quite fun to develop for, I hope to see some OGL games ported to cellphone. Because Snake II and Space Impact are getting Real. Old.

Re:The only one to win here

[weicco]

I wouldn't like to play games with my cellular phone. The screen is so tiny that me eyes gets sore after a while. I like to make calls and talk with my friends with my cellular phone. I have desktop computer and PlayStation if I want to play games.

Re:The only one to win here

[ocelotbob]

The only company on the Primary Contributor list that has anything to gain from this is ATI whose chips are nowhere to be found in the embedded space.

Not totally true. ATi's graphics are found in the Gamecube, which, while not embedded, is in the consumer-grade hardware sector, which is one of the main focuses of this group. Since ATI helped originate the specs, chances are, people looking to build devices with 3d framebuffers are going to look to them for the chips to make it happen. Same goes for PDAs.

Re:The only one to win here

[SynKKnyS]

Actually, ATI's Imageon chipset for embedded devices already has accelerated gouraud shading and the such. The Imageon is already used by Pocket PCs from Toshiba I believe.

I can see ATI upgrading their Imageon line to have a pixel pipeline and a T&L engine in the near future.

ring me, we'll frag

[cryptozoologist]

i hope this means i will soon be able to play bzflag (www.bzflag.org) on my cell phone ;)

Mini GL sounds like fun!

[halfgeek]

As a fairly recent inductee into the community of GL programmers, and one who has already had a lot of fun with it, I really like the sound of this idea, even despite a potential absence of viability. I know that if GBA, for example, were a possible build target for OpenGL on SDL, I would buy one in a heartbeat...

Well, one can dream, can't he?