VIA Announces Open Source Driver Initiative

Aron Schatz writes "VIA has announced that they will start a new site (http://linux.via.com.tw — doesn't exist yet) specifically for the development of open source drivers. From their press release: 'Over the following months, VIA will work with the community to enable 2D, 3D and video playback acceleration to ensure the best possible Open Source experience on VIA Processor Platforms. 'To further improve cooperation with the community, VIA will also adhere to a regular quarterly release schedule that is aligned with kernel changes and release of major Linux distributions. In addition, beta releases will be issued on the site as needed, and a bug report and tracking feature will also be integrated.' Nvidia should be next."

Comments

I like VIA's strategy

[$random_var]

They go out of their way to encourage the growth of an ecosystem in which their products can compete. Not too long ago I hadn't heard of any PC/laptop processors besides AMD/Intel, but thanks to VIA's encouragement of the Ultra-mobile PC market (or 'netbooks' as Intel likes to call them) they have suddenly become a player.

VIA created the nanobook reference design for mini-laptops that use their low-cost, low-power chips. Already the CloudBook has come out based on that design, and in other countries various similar laptops have been released from different distributors. Now they're stimulating essential linux development, which will continue to increase the value of their low-cost platform. This has "win" written all over it; we're all going to come out ahead thanks to their strategy.

Extend It To Crypto

[SlashdotOgre]

I hope they consider extending it to their crypto accelerator. Even low end Via boards (like the C3 I bought two years ago for $60 from newegg) include a hardware RNG and low level AES routines, and it would be cool to get some proper support. I've used Sun's crypto accelerators on their T2000's and the difference on certain algorithms is stunning.

Re:Year of the Linux.... portable?

[malevolentjelly]

That's total BS. Once more, it is not the year of the Linux Desktop- OR portable.

It is the year of the rat:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat_(zodiac)

Learn your lunar calendars, Slashdot.

Re:Nvidia have already open sourced what they can

[pc486]

> Intel can do it. ATI has promised to do it and now so does VIA. Why is NVidia different?

ATI hasn't just promised, they did:

http://ati.amd.com/developer/open_gpu_documentation.html
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=842&num=1

Re:Nvidia have already open sourced what they can

[dotancohen]

Intel can do it. ATI has promised to do it and now so does VIA. Why is NVidia different? Since September, ATI is really far along, to the point where the free drivers are already improving with the published specs. ATI isn't only promising, they are delivering.