[maemo-developers] Xsp pixel-doubling solutions for Nokia 770?

[From: Frantisek Dufka]

Daniel Stone wrote:
>>> On Mon, Apr 30, 2007 at 09:34:38AM +0200, ext Frantisek Dufka wrote:
>>> You mean, modify every single drawing X request in the X protocol so it
>>> contains flags, meaning that we have to change every drawing-related
>>> function in -- on average -- ten (at least) places in the server
>>> codebase, rendering us incompatible with the standard X server codebase,
>>> as well as the X protocol?

Well, what I meant is instead of having XSPSetPixelDoubling call in Xsp 
we would have XSPBlitRectangle with addition flags - i.e. something 
still non-standard but easier to use. If this cannot be done then it is 
bad luck. If hardware has useful feature which does not fit the design, 
using extension is not that bad.


> The entire concept is a hack around games not running quickly enough in
> full resolution. 

Yes, if you think different lower resolutions implemented in graphics 
cards are hacks around games not running quickly then yes. Why not run 
everything in highest resolution and true color. That will solve all 
those problems. Well, except the speed. But this is temporary until 
hardware catches up :-)

> Specifying that pixels must be exactly _doubled_ is a
> hack around both the performance issues and a lack of resolution
> independence.  Apparently an important one, if you happen to like SDL
> games, but a hack nonetheless.

Yes limiting ourselves to doubling is bad. Why not to add custom ratio 
if N800 can do that.

This all leads to request to have some more advanced gaming API. Sadly 
this is probably not what internet tablets are currently designed for. 
Gamers are big target group and this device is meant for entertainment 
so maybe extending target audience to gamers in not that bad idea. 
Gaming devices are moving online too so this is direct competition. Why 
to buy internet tablet if better Sony or Nintendo device in future will 
do this too plus gaming. Unfortunately gaming business has complicated 
rules similar in complexity to devices with GSM radio. BTW are internet 
tablets in same Nokia multimedia division as N-Gage?

Frantisek