Hi, This definitely good news!!
The M5603C is able to handle audio too through an AC97 interface over USB. In most products that functionality is disabled. For some time, the original project leader, Willem, tried to get the JPEG encoding functionality working (but without any success so far, due to lack of information). Both chips should be able to handle the various color formats natively, but we still don't have the information on how to configure the h/w registers to get that working. As Erik mentioned, we need the full datasheets of the two USB bridges (that's the M5602 and M5603C) to get the registers addresses/functions and how the registers are related to each other (sometimes, for a given functionality, you need to setup a bunch of registers properly). Concerning the pros of giving up the datasheets, you can tell them that it's for the benefit of the customers, to help them sell their chips since it will enable people running Linux based and MacOS desktops to buy computer peripherals without asking the question if it's going to work or not on their hardware, so here the point is "a better marketshare". Tell them that the community is going to support their products for *free*, so that they don't need to put resources on it. You can cite other vendors who went open with their datasheets such as AMD/ATI, Intel, etc. You can also mention (gently) that both bridges are kind of old technology and that there is no major risk from competitors. Finally, ask them if there is any problem with IP licensing (and patent fees) that would inhibit them from distributing the datasheets and if Is it possible for them to provide us with an open-source friendly datasheets, i.e future open source driver wouldn't support parts that require exploitation fees (such as JPEG encoding?). It's really nice to have someone who can speak to ALi directly! Keep trying to get in touch with the Product Manager, he's the key person. Good luck! Don't hesitate to report any news/feedback! :) BR, Ilyes Gouta. 2008/5/28 Erik Andrén <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > Hi, > Wow, this is great news! > > 2008/5/28 Accord Tsai <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: >> >> Hello everyone. I am a Taiwanese, and I own an Asus A3N, which also >> uses the ALi Corp webcam. >> >> I just called ALi Corp today asking if we could have the datasheets or >> product specs. She responded that due to company policy, they were >> only available to their direct customers (e.g. Asus). No support for >> end-users are provided on their part. I inquired about the possibility >> of releasing this information to benefit the F/OSS community. The >> product manager was absent, and the person on the phone was not >> qualified to release the information. >> >> However, I have acquired: >> 1. The email of the person who shall handle this affair. This actual >> email address is less likely to go into the void than >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> 2. The phone extension of the product manager, who I am willing to >> talk and negotiate with (with my fluent Chinese due to the fact that >> we are both Taiwanese) >> >> Therefore, it would be of much help to let me know: >> Exactly what information do we need to develop a driver? > > A datasheet of the m5602 and the m5603c containing a register map and > describing the different bitfields. > Some guide in how to set up different resolutions and what capabilities the > chipsets have. > > Right now the relationship between the m5602 and m5603 is a bit unclear. Is > it two totally different chips? > Or is the m5602 a budget variant of the m5603, only containing a subset of > its features? > >> >> If it should come up, do we agree to sign an NDA? > > If there's no other choice I would be willing to sign a NDA. Naturally open > documents would be preferred. > >> >> That I have the support of the community, perhaps the endorsement of >> the project admin. >> >> The next step of action, I believe, is to send a well-phrased email to >> our contact person at ALi Corp, describing how releasing the >> datasheets will not do harm to their business, but rather help the >> widespread of their webcam. If such a letter were to emerge, I also >> volunteer to offer a Chinese translation to encourage communication. > > That's great! I do believe that handling the contact in Chinese is a great > way to avoid misunderstandings and show our intent with clarity. >> >> >> Hopefully this will help the developers! > > Thanks a bunch Accord. > >> >> P.S. I actually said that "I represent the Linux community..." >> I had no idea how to describe myself! > > I belive that would be a correct description. :) > > Thanks again, > Erik > >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> This SF.net email is sponsored by: Microsoft >> Defy all challenges. Microsoft(R) Visual Studio 2008. >> http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/vse0120000070mrt/direct/01/ >> _______________________________________________ >> M560x-driver-devel mailing list >> [email protected] >> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/m560x-driver-devel > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > This SF.net email is sponsored by: Microsoft > Defy all challenges. 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