Fedora giving FOSS graphics driver “nouveau” a try
Publiziert: 27. March 2009, Verfasst von: rschuster,
The free and open-source graphics driver for Nvidia graphics cards “nouveau” is going to be tested in the Fedora distribution. I have to say that, as a user, I have some troubles with Fedora right now but this move makes me happy. Even of I do not have this kind of graphics boards in use any more. 
Yeah, you heard right: I don’t use Nvidia hardware and I find it great that Fedora is trying ‘nouveau’. I even read the development’ teams status updates and was anticipating the day some distribution would make their support official (I know it is in Debian as well).
Let me use this nice news to point to a big adversity that is coming to the embedded Linux world (or is already there). The PowerVR SGX is a graphics chip for embedded use. It is very powerfull but requires not much power to run. It is also contained in many of the new embedded CPUs like OMAP3/4, i.MX51 etc. Soon many consumer devices running a Linux-based OS will be delivered to users (e.g. the new Nokia internet tablet and the Touch Book). If you own an Intel Atom-based system with a ‘Poulsbo’ graphics chipset you already have an SGX implementation. The new Qt version already has a GL widget which can be driven by the SGX.
And this is where the shit hits the fan: At this time the OpenGL ES drivers for the SGX are proprietary and can only be distributed through your particular vendor. It is also like when asking about Jazelle things. Everyone is extremely close-lipped. I doubt that this has something to do with a possible move towards free software (*curses NDAs*).
I can’t do anything about this but I can utter my discontent. If you are affected by the above situation you may do so, too.
My BeagleBoard also contains an SGX. 
hi,
Did you know that there was a plan about reverse engeenering the SGX?
http://forum.openpandora.org/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=341
I was also told that you can use the Pandora(and maybe the beagle board as they are very similar) without the 3d.
Sure I can use the Beagleboard’s graphics with touching the SGX (X11 via framebuffer).
I am not so concerned about the technical things. What bothers me is that although the FOSS community makes many advancements in regard to free drivers there are still some companies that insist on delivering only their non-free proprietary stuff to us.
I simply want that people know this when they talk about how cool the upcoming generation of devices is.