On 8 February 2012 10:37, Reuben Thomas <[email protected]> wrote:

> You can't drive it directly because its specs aren't public. If you
> use its closed-source Linux driver, you can of course use OpenGL.
>

The list might be interested in recent developments on another mailing list
I follow, http://lists.phcomp.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/arm-netbook, a list
for discussing a completely free-software-compatible modular hardware
design. In particular, I'm thinking of this recent message
http://lists.phcomp.co.uk/pipermail/arm-netbook/2012-February/002278.htmlin
which the project's leader Luke Leighton writes about the possibility
of
building a SoC including such features as...

<blockquote>

[...] create a new (entirely software-based) SoC that would be entirely
FSF-Endorseable as it would be entirely software-programmable. [...]

the company that i've found that has an alternative 32-bit RISC core not
only has SMP cache coherency already done, but also they have an absolutely
amazing set of Instruction extensions, including DSP, Audio, Video,
Base-band (for RF handset processing) and much more. the plan is,
therefore, to target this CPU at a very very wide range of markets, based
on it having:

* 8 CPUs at 1.2ghz or above
* SMP Cache Coherency
* 32-bit DDR3 1333mhz RAM (with a 2nd version having 2 DDR3 interfaces)
* virtually everything software-programmable (with the exception of
CABAC decode)

meaning that it will do 3D graphics _and_ 1080p Video entirely in
software. the interfaces i've selected so far will include:

* HDMI Out _and_ In
* 24-pin RGB/TTL
* 2-channel LVDS
* 2 PCIe (2-lane each)
* USB-OTG, USB-2 and USB-3
* SATA-3
* NAND controller (8-bit with 4-way CS)
* 3 SD/MMC interfaces
* 3 SPI interfaces
* 3 UARTs, 3 IIC interfaces, CAN-Bus, 2 PS/2, Touchscreen, 3 PWMs
* 2 MPEG Transport Stream Interfaces
* Smartcard Interface

that means that it could be used in at least the following products:

* Laptops, Netbooks, Tablets, Desktops, PCs, NAS-Boxes
* PVRs, TVs, Set-Top Boxes, Satellite Decoders
* Smartphones, Base Stations, GNU/Radio SDR Products

bearing in mind that this will be out some time in middle of 2013, if
it's started soon, i could reallly do with some help reviewing the
interfaces and capabilities, to make sure i've got it right.

</blockquote>

If anyone here is interested in the possible intersection of Frank with
this hardware project, please do get in touch with Luke, either directly or
via the list.

Jecel, perhaps you could critique the idea, given your experience with
alternative (for want of a better term) architectures?

Regards,
  Tony
-- 
Tony Garnock-Jones
[email protected]
http://homepages.kcbbs.gen.nz/tonyg/
_______________________________________________
fonc mailing list
[email protected]
http://vpri.org/mailman/listinfo/fonc

Reply via email to