Mobile Graphics News

[Janak Parekh]

Some interesting things are happening on the PDA graphics front...<li> A million people wrote in to let us know that nVidia is <a href="http://news.com.com/2100-1039_3-5059475.html">buying MediaQ</a>; they're responsible for some of the graphics processors in Dell, Toshiba, and HP Pocket PCs. It's obvious that they're diversifying their product line; they're a major player on the desktop arena (their main competitor being ATI), but they had virtually no mobile presence until now. It'll be interesting to see if they use their experience to release ultra-low-power 3D chipsets in Pocket PCs or other PDAs in the future.<br /><li> PPCT reader opus noticed that <a href="http://www.bitboys.fi/">BitBoys Oy</a>, the graphics chipset company famous for <a href="http://www.tech-report.com/onearticle.x/1760">vaporware on the desktop</a>, has announced a line of mobile graphics processors known as <a href="http://www.acceleon.com">Acceleon</a>. They claim sophisticated 3D graphics acceleration, but again, it remains to seen if it'll ever make it to market. It's good to see the amount of attention being paid to PDAs. I can't wait for my Pocket PC to be the next-generation 3D gaming solution.

[Mattb90]

PocketPC to become a rival format for Sony's PSP maybe? The PSP is been touted as having PDA features, so how about PDAs have gaming features too?

[Excalliber]

If what Sony claims is true, then PPCs in their current forms stand no chance. To make something to rival the PSP, we'd need to have both a good D-pad and good buttons; a removable, inexpensive cartridge (something similar to the new iomega disk?); a landscape oriented redo of the OS; and the new Samsung processor at 533 Mhz. Hmm, sounds good. Now someone needs to spend millions in R&D of the concept, and convince microsoft to make the OS landscape oriented. Then we're set. :lol:

[Robert Levy]

It's obvious that they're diversifying their product line; they're a major player on the desktop arena (their main competitor being ATI), but they had virtually no mobile presence until now. It'll be interesting to see if they use their experience to release ultra-low-power 3D chipsets in Pocket PCs or other PDAs in the future.

The new Smartphone from MiTAC is using MediaQ's chip for graphics acceleration, image rendering, and peripheral connectivity. We've got more details on this at Smartphone Thoughts: http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=31564

[beq]

Well Sony's PSP is over a year away. Meantime can't the PPC camp have an answer for Tapwave's Zodiac (Palm) and Nokia's N-Gage (Symbian) and other cellular handset offerings (i.e. Sprint/Samsung's game controller add-on)? The first two will be available next month, go read their web sites, pretty cool specs (though Tapwave's still running in secrecy mode)... Even if their CPUs is not the fastest, they could still have some really cool games that are enjoyable to play w/ the dedicated game control ergonomics of the units...

For example, Zodiac, 320x480@64K, BT multiplayer, two SD slots, plays all Palm games -- but I think the point is to play new Palm games designed for it where you hold it in landscape mode, where all the buttons and stuff a la GBA make gaming a serious proposition...

N-Gage, only 176x208@4K, but full tri-band GSM handset (plus BT multiplayer gaming also), and MMC (SD?) slot...

[sponge]

Also keep in mind Sony's hype machine. PS2 can handle Toy Story real-time, anyone remember that? PSP is largely overblown, keep that in mind when comparing platforms.

[beq]

Smartphone Thoughts: http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=31564
Coincidentally, I JUST saw that I'd won some smartphony game from there back on 7/24/03, from having registered :)

[Dalantech]

...about any new graphics chips for PocketPCs until Microsoft releases some form of DirectX for the moble OS...

[caywen]

Does anything think that perhaps the next version of Pocket PC (aka "Magneto") may bring Longhorn-style UI to the platform? If so, having a 3D chip in it would be absolutely necessary.

If we can get 500 Mp fill rate on a 320x240 screen, it could handle over 100 full overdraws at 60fps, or 25 full overdraws at 60fps at 4x AA.

[sponge]

OpenGL has a head start on mobile platforms already, with specifications to be released, and WORKING prototypes, while MS drags it's ass.

[wxrman]

...he'll build several horrible, buggy, lame-ass versions... force you to buy new hardware and then it might work ...

Anybody remember the video card upgrades of the late 90's?

constant dx driver updates and the hardware went through several evolutions.

Go Sony Go!