ad info




CNN.com
 MAIN PAGE
 WORLD
 ASIANOW
 U.S.
 LOCAL
 POLITICS
 WEATHER
 BUSINESS
 SPORTS
 TECHNOLOGY
   computing
   personal technology
   space
 NATURE
 ENTERTAINMENT
 BOOKS
 TRAVEL
 FOOD
 HEALTH
 STYLE
 IN-DEPTH

 custom news
 Headline News brief
 daily almanac
 CNN networks
 CNN programs
 on-air transcripts
 news quiz

  CNN WEB SITES:
CNN Websites
 TIME INC. SITES:
 MORE SERVICES:
 video on demand
 video archive
 audio on demand
 news email services
 free email accounts
 desktop headlines
 pointcast
 pagenet

 DISCUSSION:
 message boards
 chat
 feedback

 SITE GUIDES:
 help
 contents
 search

 FASTER ACCESS:
 europe
 japan

 WEB SERVICES:
COMPUTING

ATI to release open source drivers for Linux

October 21, 1999
Web posted at: 12:35 p.m. EDT (1635 GMT)

by Douglas F. Gray

From...
IDG.net
image
 
  MESSAGE BOARD
Linux
  QUICKVOTE
Do you use a Linux machine to play games?

Yes
No
View Results

 

(IDG) -- ATI Technologies on Wednesday said it will release more programming specifications for its Rage line of graphics chips, a move designed to encourage Linux developers to create more drivers that can be used with the operating system.

ATI supplies graphics components and multimedia technology for PCs, set-top boxes and other consumer electronics devices. The graphics chip maker, which already supports open source drivers for its two-dimensional products, is seeking to expand support for 3D and multimedia products by releasing development information relating to its 3D and multimedia Rage Pro and Rage 128 graphics chips, the company said in a statement.

A device driver allows the operating system to recognize peripherals, including modems, external drives and many others. Linux users and developers frequently end up writing their own drivers because hardware companies have been slow to adopt the operating system. When a developer does create a driver for a new device, he then releases it back into the open-source software community, allowing others to use and improve it.

ATI said it will also release video capture information and TV-tuner development information for the Rage II, Rage Pro and Rage 128 product families, allowing Linux developers to take advantage of those capabilities as well, according to a statement.

In its quest to become "the graphics company of choice among Linux users," ATI has contracted development company Precision Insight to develop 2D and 3D open source drivers for the Rage 128. The source code is expected to be freely available in the second quarter of next year.


RELATED STORIES:
Java, Linux to link arms
October 20, 1999
Corel's desktop Linux to take a bow at Comdex
October 20, 1999
Corel and Inprise band together in support of Linux
September 30, 1999
Corel reps try to clear up open source controversy
September 24, 1999
Caldera OpenLinux 2.3 even better than its predecessor
October 18, 1999

RELATED IDG.net STORIES:
Rage Fury Maxx promises serious fun
(PC World Online)
Power gamers get Rage Fury Maxx graphics card
(IDG.net)
LinuxWorld: 3D vendors and the path to open source
(LinuxWorld)
Loki releases three more games for Linux
(IDG.net)
Image is everything: Graphics on Linux
(LinuxWorld)
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.

RELATED SITES:
ATI
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
 LATEST HEADLINES:
SEARCH CNN.com
Enter keyword(s)   go    help

Back to the top   © 2001 Cable News Network. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.