Question: OpenGL & iPhones

[jtg618]

This new feature that was announced with the new iPod touch, OpenGL ES Version 2.0, what exactly is it? Like it is a hardware upgrade? The reason I was wondering is because I'm curious if existing iPhone 3G & 3GS users (own a 3G myself) will benefit from the new wave of games that'll be taking advantage of the OpenGL.

 

[themoonisdown09]

The iPhone 3GS that was released in June supports OpenGL ES Version 2.0, the original iPhone and iPhone 3G does not. It is not hardware, it is an API, but it depends on hardware.

Here is a link that will help you find out what it is: http://www.khronos.org/opengles/

OpenGL® ES is a royalty-free, cross-platform API for full-function 2D and 3D graphics on embedded systems - including consoles, phones, appliances and vehicles. It consists of well-defined subsets of desktop OpenGL, creating a flexible and powerful low-level interface between software and graphics acceleration. OpenGL ES includes profiles for floating-point and fixed-point systems and the EGL™ specification for portably binding to native windowing systems. OpenGL ES 1.X is for fixed function hardware and offers acceleration, image quality and performance. OpenGL ES 2.X enables full programmable 3D graphics. OpenGL SC is tuned for the safety critical market.