Advanced 3D Multimedia Features Coming to Palm OS Cobalt

Posted By: Ryan Monday, March 22, 2004 12:23:24 PM

PalmSource today announced it has joined the Khronos Group as a contributing member to encourage the development and adoption of OpenGL ES as an important open 2D/3D graphics API standard for mobile multimedia applications. The company also announced to integrate OpenGL ES APIs into future versions of Cobalt to enable broad 3D and multimedia support.

Furthering the momentum of Palm OS in the wireless entertainment market, PalmSource will offer its own software implementation of the OpenGL ES APIs and enable the use of OpenGL ES-compliant hardware, allowing high performance graphics applications to run on a wide variety of Palm Powered devices. This software implementation is designed to provide Palm OS developers with a more cost-efficient development path towards the creation and deployment of sophisticated multimedia applications, while offering an improved multimedia user experience for Open GL ES compliant Palm Powered handhelds and smartphones.

Additionally, PalmSource will introduce a standardized graphics driver model for Palm OS Cobalt optimized for use with OpenGL ES-compliant chipsets. This driver will accelerate both the application level OpenGL ES APIs and most 2D graphics operations, as performed by Palm OS Cobalt's sophisticated system rendering technology. This will enable chipset vendors to concentrate on a single, standardized set of acceleration specifications, and allows Palm OS Cobalt to easily take full advantage of the growing number of graphics chipsets that support the OpenGL ES API.

"The addition of Palm OS to the list of OpenGL ES-enabled platforms is a vital and significant step in standardizing a single, cross-vendor, state-of-the-art graphics API across all key operating systems to build a strong market for mobile 3D graphics," said Neil Trevett, president of the Khronos Group and senior vice president of market development at 3Dlabs.

"We've been dreaming about something like this for a long time," said Scott Corley, CEO Red Mercury. "We believe platform support for OpenGL ES will position PalmSource as a strong contender in the mobile gaming community and Palm OS as the killer mobile game and graphics development platform. Today's announcement is certain to get the attention of software developers who just want a platform to do cool things on." With projected growth to $1.9 billion in 2006 from $520 million in 2003 (IDC), the wireless gaming market presents a tremendous revenue generating opportunity for Palm Powered licensees and Palm OS software developers to create innovative products and solutions that address the growing demands of the mobile gaming community. Palm OS licensee Tapwave pioneered a new category of Palm Powered mobile devices with the introduction of the Zodiac, a mobile entertainment console specifically designed to deliver an unparalleled wireless gaming experience combined with traditional Palm OS functionality and software application compatibility.

As a member of the Khronos Group, PalmSource is now enabled to participate in the ongoing development of OpenGL ES, which defines subset profiles of OpenGL and brings advanced 3D graphics to a wide range of embedded systems; and OpenML 1.0 which enables developers to easily integrate video, audio and graphics capabilities into their application suites. All Khronos Members are empowered to contribute to the development of Khronos specifications, vote at various stages before public availability, and are therefore able to accelerate the delivery of their cutting-edge 3D platforms and applications through early access to specification and conformance testing drafts.

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When?

rsc1000 @ 3/22/2004 2:00:06 PM #
Excellent - but i wonder how long before we see this happen? I mean - if this is included in future versions of Cobolt when devices that use the 1st version of Cobolt won't be out for months, i wouldnt expect to see any of this trickle down to the consumer for at least a year.

RE: When?
halcyon @ 3/22/2004 6:04:58 PM #
This is what I am wondering, too. How does this place PalmOne in comparison to PPC2003SE? Is Palm ahead of the competition or lagging behind? It sounds like some of the chipsets coming around the corner will be able to handle intensive 3D rendering, but when will developers and then the public be able to use this power on a Palm device?

RE: When?
JonathanChoo @ 3/22/2004 9:27:27 PM #
PalmOS is lagging behind PocketPC in terms of graphical ability in games. I don't know if it is because of technical reasons or developers just don't want to support the multiple PalmOS devices with incompatible APIs/Game controller etc. PPC is beginning to feel like a Windows PC with excellent games while PalmOS is like a MacOS with nice, friendly and useful interface.


---
PDAs: Psion 5> Vx > m505 > N770C > T625C > NR70V > Toshiba e310 > T/T > HP h2210 > T/T3/HP h4150 (est arrival 25th March)
Mobiles: StarTac > Ericsson T28m > T39m > T68m > T610 > T630
DigiCam: Minolta DiMage E323

RE: When?
abosco @ 3/23/2004 12:37:48 AM #
>>PalmOS is lagging behind PocketPC in terms of graphical ability in games.

It's tougher to crate them on the Palm OS because it's a bit harder to code, not that it can't be done. The tiny bit of Dragonball code required in OS 5 can be a pain for developers. For example, a couple PPC games recently ported have been Snails 2.0, Interstellar Flames 1.0, and the cross-platform demanding RTS Warfare Inc. Cobalt will make it easier to code these games and speed them up with native-ARM performance.

-Bosco
NX80v + Wifi + BT + T616

RE: When?
rsc1000 @ 3/23/2004 5:32:56 PM #
>>PalmOS is lagging behind PocketPC in terms of graphical ability in games.

Yes, but here is a chance to play catch up. correct me if i'm wrong - but Direct X for Windows Mobile isn't out yet - no? If PalmSource is able to get their OpenGL implementation out the door then we'll have a standard 3D API with hardware support (on at least high end models) - pretty cool. This with the 100% ARM native Cobolt code should - for example - make porting OpenGL games (like Quake 2, Halflife, etc) much easier.

RE: When?
JonathanChoo @ 3/24/2004 12:07:28 AM #
True true, but PocketPC developers has managed to get pretty darn amazing games (ie. Tomb Raider, Counter Sheep, Age Of Empires, Spawn, Rayman Ultimate etc) without DirectX. Just imagine how it would be like with DirectX. I am not writing off PalmOS platform's chance as a viable 21st century gaming platform. It is they have alot of catching up to do to reach PocketPC (or even GameBoy Advance) level. Hopefully this will happen soon with the port of the popular PocketPC game engine GapiDraw.

---
PDAs: Psion 5> Vx > m505 > N770C > T625C > NR70V > Toshiba e310 > T/T > HP h2210 > T/T3/HP h4150 (est arrival 25th March)
Mobiles: StarTac > Ericsson T28m > T39m > T68m > T610 > T630
DigiCam: Minolta DiMage E323
RE: When?
mikecane @ 3/26/2004 1:23:48 AM #
>>>PPC is beginning to feel like a Windows PC with excellent games while PalmOS is like a MacOS with nice, friendly and useful interface.

My God! And I thought I was the only person who felt that way -- and not about games, either!

OpenGL coming to Cobalt!

abosco @ 3/22/2004 3:07:48 PM #
That's all I can say! I'm in shock! :O

-Bosco
NX80v + Wifi + BT + T616

And yet...

mikecane @ 3/22/2004 3:29:05 PM #
... still NO icon in the Status Bar to call up the Command Bar, and still NO filesystem.

But look at how PRETTY they will make everything will look!

Some of us aren't so easily distracted, PalmSource!

RE: And yet...
RhinoSteve @ 3/22/2004 4:15:47 PM #
A flat file system would kill the performance of a handheld computer. You want a flat file system, to go PocketPC and let the file alloction table crash the system every day or so from geek-o-manic use.

Frankly, I'm glad there is not a flat file system, I can finally write code that has good performance instead of keeping a desktop mentality of assuming you have a hard disk to spin up and wait for those oh so precious track and sectors existing on mechanically moving media. Worst, you will want virtual memory next!

As far as the command bar, write a utility app and make some money off of it.
RE: And yet...
just_little_me @ 3/22/2004 5:32:30 PM #
Err Steve - don't you mean FAT file system... the Palm OS already has a flat file system... ;-)


JLM.

RE: And yet...
alanh @ 3/23/2004 9:22:27 AM #
I still wonder why anyone would want a file system on a PDA. Organizing the files is already done by the apps themselves. If I want to look at a Datebook entry, I go into Datebook or DateBk5 or Agendus or whatever. If I want to look at a DOC file, I go into TiBR, WordSmith, AportisDOC, iSilo, etc.... If I want to look at Plucker docs, I go into Plucker....

Etc....

With this granualarity, and the categories within each app, we should have as much organization as we need on a PDA.... Won't there be more categories available in future versions of PalmOS too?

-alan

RE: And yet...
mikecane @ 3/23/2004 10:35:45 AM #
Copy a JPEG to your SD card (not via a PalmOS device).

Not plop that SD card into a TT3's slot.

Now have fun pulling out your hair trying to get the Photos app to either *find* or *display* that JPEG.

Case closed.

Next!

RE: And yet...
mikecane @ 3/23/2004 10:37:07 AM #
Typo. Not = Now.

Obviously.

RE: And yet...
Wollombi @ 3/23/2004 12:59:59 PM #
Perhaps. I haven't tried with the native Photos app, as I am using AcidImage, which is head and shoulders above the native app to begin with.

AcidImage will pull just about any image format off the card and display it, and do it quickly.

_________________
Sean

Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else.

RE: And yet...
alanh @ 3/23/2004 3:00:28 PM #
Mikecane:

Sounds like your complaint is about the Photos app, not PalmOS. If you're dealing with cards, I currently have at least 6 different applications installed on my Palm T|T that can deal with multiple, arbitrarily specified directories on external media....

Now what was it about PalmOS lacking a Filesystem?

-alan

RE: And yet...
JKingGrim @ 3/23/2004 7:24:05 PM #
I don't think we need a file system. Just the ability to store arbitrary file types on the device.

Just my opinion.

RE: And yet...
bjh @ 3/23/2004 9:11:36 PM #
What am i missing? I have a T3 and use the built-in Photos app all the time to view jpgs that were stored on my SD card from my digital camera... I've also used other viewers to do the same (RescoView, etc...)


RE: And yet...
mikecane @ 3/24/2004 1:15:20 AM #
Perhaps my complaint is half with Palm apps and half with the lack of a filesystem.

What you are missing -- read my instructions again. Use *only* the T3 Photo app. You'll see.

When you plop in an SD from a camera, the *folder* and path has already been created. If you just drop JPEGs on an SD, the Photo app can't find them -- and it doesn't give you any way to find them. Nor does an out-of-the-box T3 give you any way to find them, either.

RE: And yet...
bjh @ 3/24/2004 2:18:42 AM #
wow, that really bothers you? i wish i had the luxury of being bothered by such things. As a user, all i know is that i'm able to take my card from my camera and view the images on my T3 (and even copy the ones that i want into RAM). The fact that the camera put the images in a place that the photo app could find (without me having to think about it) seems like a plus to me, not a minus.

RE: And yet...
rsc1000 @ 3/24/2004 2:52:49 AM #
>>If you just drop JPEGs on an SD, the Photo app can't find them -- and it doesn't give you any way to find them. Nor does an out-of-the-box T3 give you any way to find them, either.

That has nothing to so with the OS - it does its part fine except that the OS doesn't come bundled a file explorer app - though licensees can very easily add one. Sounds like your main beef is with the Photo app - they should have allowed users to browse the filesystem (the SD card) to find their photo.

Filesystem in PalmOS -- again!
mikecane @ 3/26/2004 12:38:27 AM #
>pulling my hair out<

For crying out loud! "Licensees can add ..." -- if I hear/read that term one more fekkin time, I will scream. I'm going to, with the following words, at least shout -- again!

Look, how far would desktop computing have gotten if CP/M, AppleDOS or MS-DOS had *not* had filesystems and depended on third-parties to *add* them?

As foolish as that idea sounds, that's *exactly* what you lot are arguing every time you use that ridiculous "a licensee can add a filesystem" argument. It should be part of the damned OS to begin with, period!

That your camera can create a folder that the T3 Photo app can see is beside the point -- how the fek can a *user* tell what that folder is, its name, and where it should be on an SD card? They *can't*. And there's no way to even *list* the photos on an SD card so a folder could be created and they could be moved into it. This is not The Zen of Palm. This is the MADNESS of Palm. Simplicity turned into Stupidity.

Just check any damned forum and you will *always* come across questions about how to display photos on a T3 or how to get the Movie Player or Audio Player on a CLIE to find and play video/.audio files. What makes it even worse is that there isn't even such foldername/pathname info included in Help. Sony has put a CLIE FAQ on their latest units -- and it is just about worthless because it doesn't even include such basic information.

For crying out loud, people have been using filesystems on their desktops for close to THIRTY YEARS! This is not something intimidating! The bloody *iPod* has a filesystem! It's time a filesystem was integrated into PalmOS and this "licensees can add it" nonsense was put not just to rest -- but put to DEATH!

Let's see how loud all of you start screaming -- joining my chorus -- when *hard drives* are finally put into PDAs.

Features, Feautures, Features.... but no Battery-Life

T.W.G @ 3/22/2004 3:44:58 PM #
Hi,

It's nice to see that we got even more powerful PDAs all the time.
But why should I buy a PDA that doesn't last as long as my Notebook??

It's a shame. Sonys Handheld-Engine is slow, ok, but they DO concentrate on battery-life, too!


Thomas

T.W.G www.twgmusic.de

Palm Powered Handheld Reviews from T.W.G at: www.pdaforum.de

RE: Features, Feautures, Features.... but no Battery-Life
orol @ 3/22/2004 3:55:13 PM #
not to mention HHE already supports Open GL!

RE: Features, Feautures, Features.... but no Battery-Life
rsc1000 @ 3/22/2004 4:27:25 PM #
>>not to mention HHE already supports Open GL!

What????

RE: Features, Feautures, Features.... but no Battery-Life
Dural @ 3/22/2004 4:45:29 PM #
> "Sonys Handheld-Engine is slow, ok, but they DO concentrate on battery-life, too!"

I don't get it, you complain, but you give the solution yourself. It's available for you in a Sony. Have fun with you SLOW PDA! :D

RE: Features, Feautures, Features.... but no Battery-Life
just_little_me @ 3/22/2004 5:34:26 PM #
Do you know something we dont? When did you test the battery life of a Cobalt device? Last time I looked they were pretty hard to come by...


JLM.

RE: Features, Feautures, Features.... but no Battery-Life
hotpaw4 @ 3/22/2004 5:53:00 PM #
The HHE may be slower in MHz, but how do you know it isn't faster in 3D/GL-like graphics rendering when the Cobalt graphics port is finished?

RE: Features, Feautures, Features.... but no Battery-Life
benixau @ 3/22/2004 11:25:55 PM #
>>What!!!

The HHE already supports OpenGL - look at the UX50, its launcher uses it for the spinning wheel effect that can be varied and for the little balls, that go arround the currently selected icon, in 3 dimensions (they go behind the icon and pop out again).

OpenGL is good but until there is an API for it - no one cares or even hears about it.

RE: Features, Feautures, Features.... but no Battery-Life
abosco @ 3/23/2004 12:35:29 AM #
>>The HHE may be slower in MHz, but how do you know it isn't faster in 3D/GL-like graphics rendering when the Cobalt graphics port is finished?

It has a video DSP for high FPS, not 3D rendering. You'll need a graphics engine like that, and preferably one more higher end than the 2D one in the Zodiac.

-Bosco
NX80v + Wifi + BT + T616

RE: Features, Feautures, Features.... but no Battery-Life
orol @ 3/23/2004 4:10:49 AM #
bosco, UX50 does have 3D rendering engine ... look some sony UX50 press release. the thing is, sony, as alaways, didn't release the API :-/

Cube

Galley_SimRacer @ 3/23/2004 1:34:38 AM #
When are we gonna be able to drop a different movie on each side of a cube, and then spin it in real-time, just like we could in BeOS on a 300MHz machine? ;-)

--
"I'm not a cool person in real life, but I play one on the Internet".
Galley
RE: Cube
just_little_me @ 3/23/2004 4:19:15 PM #

Yeah, when can we do that? I really really really need that for my business. Watching one movie ain't enough for my guys, they are so productive they can watch 6 and even keep up with them as they tumble across the screen... it really is the killer app for mobile devices.

If that's the telling of what made Be so great then it's no wonder they went nowhere so quickly and went arse-up even quicker.


JLM.

RE: Cube
rsc1000 @ 3/24/2004 12:44:54 AM #
>>When are we gonna be able to drop a different movie on each side of a cube, and then spin it in real-time, just like we could in BeOS on a 300MHz machine? ;-)

Im assuming yr joking here because that is apparently what they were in fact demoing on Cobolt at PalmSource in february.

>>If that's the telling of what made Be so great then it's no wonder they went nowhere so quickly and went arse-up even quicker.

Everybody has seen a 2 ghz system running Windows choke - so a demo such as this on the old BEOS (or Cobolt) shows off how real multi-tasking should be architected on modern PCs.

RE: Cube
mikecane @ 3/26/2004 12:52:12 AM #
The reports I read stated it was *one* movie playing on the sides of that cube. He asked for *4*.

I'll up the ante -- a cube actually has *six* sides.

But I won't be impressed until the movie is playing on a spinning *draydel*.

3-D, Schmeee-D!

Midknyte @ 3/23/2004 10:51:32 AM #
3-D, Schmeee-D! Build us a Tungsten with a harddrive!

I want my iPod killer...

RE: 3-D, Schmeee-D!
mikecane @ 3/23/2004 11:46:30 AM #
>>>I want my iPod killer...

Then don't look for it to run PalmSource's OS. The iPod *has* a fekkin *filesystem*.

Are you listening, Slotnick?

RE: 3-D, Schmeee-D!
just_little_me @ 3/23/2004 4:23:56 PM #
If mikecane mentions "filesystem" once more I'm going to scream...

Change the record mike... it's getting a bit tedious...

Are you listening mike?

JLM.

RE: 3-D, Schmeee-D!
hotpaw4 @ 3/23/2004 7:32:18 PM #
The PalmOS already has a file system. VFS. Just use a Tapwave, Sony UX, or any other model with a memory card in the slot. A completely orthogonal issue from any graphics API.
RE: 3-D, Schmeee-D!
mikecane @ 3/24/2004 1:19:15 AM #
>>>If mikecane mentions "filesystem" once more I'm going to scream...

I've got this horse I'm riding and I'm not going to stop until its hooves have made proper dents in the thick skulls of Nagel and Slotnick at PalmSource.

Hey, Nagel -- neat trick: PalmOS on a notebook -- and *NO* filesystem! Have you forgotten what Mac was like pre-HFS?

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