why PowerVR not provide open 2d/3d aceleration driver?
 

They design the GPU and get the Licensing and Royalties from their customer ie. SoC manufacturer.

Open source 2d/3d acceleration driver will make their GPU be used in more device and be accepted by more users so they will have more income.

Anyone can give some background information about this.

PS. no GPU's open source 2d/3d acceleration driver have greatly prevent ARM cpu to enter MID and smartbook market.

Re: why PowerVR not provide open 2d/3d aceleration driver?
 

the problem is they are primely a ip company and any thing that can revealed that ip must be avocet
also it not true that Open source would bring them more business as in most cases the device manufacturer would like to have a close platform to be able to control it more
also there may be some divergence between SoC implements that would make drives unable to work on all devices with that core
and the bigger device manufacturers would certainly have access to the source

Re: why PowerVR not provide open 2d/3d aceleration driver?
 

It was already a big step up having a open source kernel driver... next step is redistribution rights - this is something MeeGo might help with.

Re: why PowerVR not provide open 2d/3d aceleration driver?
 

This let me feel there is a long way to have open source driver.

Indeed big manufacturer have different idea with end user. They hope theie device just like the fashion.

is GPU drivers developed by PowerVR or SoC manufacturer? If SoC manufacturer don't like open platform, they can implement so limitation to prevent this driver to work.

I feel the obstacle is mainly from SoC and device manufacturer not the IP designer. But perhaps I am wrong.

There are a lot info about ARM cpu will enter smartbook market, if no GPU 2d/3d acceleration driver is available, performance will not so good just as Sharp NetWalker.

Re: why PowerVR not provide open 2d/3d aceleration driver?
 

Your input let me see the bright future of open handheld device. I know more time is needed.

Re: why PowerVR not provide open 2d/3d aceleration driver?
 

powervr/imtec supplies the SoC manufacturer with a reference drivers
which the SoC manufacturer then customize to there need's


there will be d/3d acceleration driver is available, they just will distribution the driver in binary form like they are doing rite now

Re: why PowerVR not provide open 2d/3d aceleration driver?
 

That's what I want as an end user. Also it is a must for ARM device work as real handheld computer and hope it will not be far way.

Re: why PowerVR not provide open 2d/3d aceleration driver?
 

heck, it may well be that powervr itself have licensed something, with a limited redistribution clause.

Re: why PowerVR not provide open 2d/3d aceleration driver?
 

Now seems if user-upgradeable linux ARM device can enter market not depends on ARM cpu but hardware acceleration driver of GPU.