Android doesn't use GPU acceleration?

[tommo123]

i'm sure i read that here, due to the different levels of hardware.

wouldn't it be a huge performance booster though? like aero in windows where the gpu does a lot of the work?

if this is true, i wonder (hope) if gingerbread will enable it

i also hope the desire is supported.

 

[MrX8503]

I'm thinking that Android does not use GPU acceleration. I think in Anands review of the Epic 4G he notes that the Epic is the only Android device that enable GPU.

This is why the fastest most smooth phones out right now is the Galaxy and the iPhone4. Anand also mentions that to get similar speed without using a GPU, phones would need a dual core CPU. Obviously dual core cpus aren't out yet, so the GPU is the only option.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Moto blur sucks

 

[Bateluer]

Moto blur sucks

Please forward your opinions to the appropriate parties at Motorola and Verizon. Ranting on an internet forum has minimal effects when people still buy the phones.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

but honestly what kind of GPU acceleration do you need on the home screen? I never understood this. Well maybe some, but this is all 2D no?

 

[Deeko]

but honestly what kind of GPU acceleration do you need on the home screen? I never understood this. Well maybe some, but this is all 2D no?

A GPU can accelerate 2D functions as well as 3D.

I was under the impression the UI started using the GPU in Eclair.

 

[MrX8503]

but honestly what kind of GPU acceleration do you need on the home screen? I never understood this. Well maybe some, but this is all 2D no?

It doesn't matter if its 2D or 3D. Animations are better handled by the GPU. This is how you get realistic transitions and kinetic scrolling. The CPU can handle this as well, but you would need a much more considerable powerful CPU to match the efficiency of the GPU.

 

[tommo123]

there's some judder when scrolling screen to screen, more so with launcherpro than sense IME, especially with tons of shortcuts and widgets on all screens.

the gpu doing the work would lead to it being far, far smoother.

i'd bet, current phones having this enabled would lead to a far more pleasant experience

 

[Bateluer]

i'd bet, current phones having this enabled would lead to a far more pleasant experience

Seems to be a waste of silicon, unless you're in that tiny % of people who use their $100/month smart phone to play games.

 

[MrX8503]

I believe its all on the same die. Plus it would improve overall UI performance.

 

[cbn]

I am assume you are referring to the Smart phone UI?

What about GPU acceleration for smart phone browsers? http://techreport.com/discussions.x/19552

Is this type of acceleration ahead or behind desktop/laptop computers?

 

[MrX8503]

I think its all similar. The GPU would help with web browsing and the smartphone ui.

 

[zerocool84]

Of course GPU acceleration would help. It'd leave the CPU to process everything else the phone has to do.

 

[cbn]

I think its all similar. The GPU would help with web browsing and the smartphone ui.

Oh yeah, I know that extra GPU (to a certain point) helps the UI. (Apparently the Epic 4G phone really benefits from this)

I am just wondering if GPU acceleration for mobile browsers is implemented ahead of the desktop/laptop browsers?

 

[tommo123]

Seems to be a waste of silicon, unless you're in that tiny % of people who use their $100/month smart phone to play games.

i bet a small minority of users play games on android as they're pretty much all crap. space physics is the only one i've really liked

angry birds being out, all new phones having at least a half decent gpu hopefully means more development in this area. in a years time, we could have a heap of decent games to play

 

[Ancalagon44]

As far as I know, most mobile phone CPU packages include a GPU on die. The Hummingbird used in the Samsung Galaxy S does, as does the Snapdragon. So, wouldnt seem out of the ordinary for Android to support generic acceleration where possible.

 

[MrX8503]

I am just wondering if GPU acceleration for mobile browsers is implemented ahead of the desktop/laptop browsers?

That I'm not quite sure about. I know that the new Firefox is trying to implement GPU acceleration.