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NVIDIA Releases New Video API For Linux

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the finally-starting-to-play-ball dept.

Ashmash writes "Phoronix is reporting on a new Linux driver nVidia is about to release that brings PureVideo features to Linux. This video API will reportedly be in nVidia's 180 series driver for Linux, Solaris, and *BSD. PureVideo has been around for several nVidia product generations, but it's the first time they're bringing this feature to these non-Windows operating systems to provide an improved multimedia experience. This new API is named VDPAU, and is described as: 'The Video Decode and Presentation API for Unix (VDPAU) provides a complete solution for decoding, post-processing, compositing, and displaying compressed or uncompressed video streams. These video streams may be combined (composited) with bitmap content, to implement OSDs and other application user interfaces.'"

7 of 176 comments (clear)

  1. Re:ATI by mrsteveman1 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It is not yet the year of the linux desktop, we have time.

  2. Why? by MobyDisk · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Why would anyone use a proprietary video API provided by a closed source driver tied to a particular piece of hardware... on an open source platform? Huh?

    1. Re:Why? by arevos · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Maybe because there isn't a better open source alternative.

    2. Re:Why? by MobyDisk · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I use whatever works. For me, the nVidia closed source driver works better than any open source driver.

      I use it too. But the question wasn't about who will use the driver. The question is who will use the API. APIs are used by developers, and Linux developers don't like closed APIs or closed drivers. So I don't see them being big supporters of this.

  3. Re:Cure for Venereal Disease by Kjella · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Meanwhile, it is interesting that after many years, Nvidia finally starts to support video decode/playback acceleration just days after ATI ships a driver with similar hardware acceleration support. Of course neither vendor uses any sort of common standard - although ATI claims their stuff is almost identical to the Direct X Video Acceleration (DXVA) API that MS has enforced on Windows.

    What standard would that be? VA-API that has a few headers and zero implementations? Intel doesn't even follow the DXVA specification, and won't publish the interface or support video acceleration on XP. ATI is as you say a DXVA -> XvBA search&replace job, which might be good or just bring plenty DirectX luggage. If nVidia put some job into making a good public video acceleration interface for Linux, it might be the best of the bunch. Their implementation may be closed source but if it works well... let's just say I can live very well with a 98% open source system.

    --
    Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
  4. Re:Cure for Venereal Disease by Jherek+Carnelian · · Score: 2, Insightful

    What standard? Well, they could have done it the way the internet was built - with an RFC like approach. Coopetition and all that.

    let's just say I can live very well with a 98% open source system.

    Yeah, people always say that, until a show-stopper bug comes along in the 2% that's closed and they can't do a thing about it.

  5. Re:ATI by Jherek+Carnelian · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Sorry, I don't know of any tech company that has decent support. My own experience with all companies, including AMD and ATi is similar.

    Precisely. If the vendor can't fix it, they should not get in the way of you fixing it yourself, or of that smart guy who always posts to your favorite web forum.