From: Allan Schaffer (allan++at++sgi.com)
Date: 11/23/2003 22:46:04
Hello Performers!
The announcement you've been waiting for. :-)
As you all know, we've been hard at work on Performer 3.1, due
to release just a short time from now. Our early-access sites
have been testing alpha versions since October and we have just
reached our Beta milestone.
The big news, as announced at SIGGRAPH: We are making the
Early-Access Beta available to everyone! IRIX, Linux, and Windows
versions of Performer 3.1 Beta are ready for you to download RIGHT NOW.
Read on for:
1. Where to download Performer 3.1 Beta
2. General information about Performer 3.1 Beta
3. Late-breaking caveats about Performer 3.1 Beta <<-- IMPORTANT **
Please read through this entire message if you'll be trying the Beta.
And there's *A LOT* more coming in the next few days & weeks.
Keep an eye on info-performer for news & updates.
As always, contact us at performer-feedback++at++sgi.com for any questions,
comments, and feedback..
Enjoy!!
Allan
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1. Where to download Performer 3.1 Beta
OpenGL Performer 3.1 Beta for IRIX:
http://www.sgi.com/products/evaluation/6.5_performer_3.1_EA/
OpenGL Performer 3.1 Beta for Linux:
http://www.sgi.com/products/evaluation/Linux_performer_3.1_EA/
OpenGL Performer 3.1 Beta for Windows:
http://www.sgi.com/products/evaluation/windows_performer_3.1_EA/
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2. General information about Performer 3.1 Beta
OpenGL Performer 3.1 will support IRIX 6.5 and above; Windows
2000 and Windows XP; and (32-bit Intel) Linux distributions
with GCC 3.2 such as Red Hat 8.0 and 9.0.
Along with the Performer 3.1 Beta software, two very important
documents are included in the download site:
README-pf31ea.html : Early-Access documentation.
This contains detailed information about New Features,
data about changes in each alpha build, release notes,
and developer notes.
README-license.html : Early-Access license. Be sure to
review this prior to installation of Performer 3.1 Beta.
Use of Performer 3.1 Beta is subject to the terms of
this license!
Among the highlights of Performer 3.1 are new features for
programming the GPU on Onyx4, including support for Vertex
Programs, Fragment Programs, and the new pfGeoArray object;
a new implementation of cliptexture emulation optimized by
the GPU; new nodes for 2D & 3D parametric curves, parametric
surfaces, and subdivision surfaces; a Maya 4.5 plug-in to
export datasets to PFB; small feature culling; and a lot more.
See README-pf31ea.html in the download site for all the details
and the complete list.
We'll be refreshing the ftp site with updated ("alpha") builds
roughly _each week_ between now and the release of Performer
3.1, as problems you report get fixed. We hope this quick
test->report->fix cycle will spur a lot of EA activity.
Updates will be announced on info-performer and the 3.1
early-access list as they occur.
This beta milestone is intended to give you an opportunity
to do preliminary qualification & testing and to get early
access to the new functionality. Note that Performer 3.1 Beta
is not binary-compatible with Performer 3.0, nor will it be
binary-compatible with the final Performer 3.1 release. You will
need to re-compile your application with Performer 3.1 and should
expect to re-compile your application with each alpha update.
Above all please remember: This is a pre-release version!
It is intended for those who are tolerant of the imperfections
of early-access software. There are problems to be found.
Documentation is short. Features are not completed.
An important file is missing somewhere. Your feedback is
requested, to help us bring Performer 3.1 to completion.
Despite these caveats, we welcome the reporting of ANY error,
bug, typo, or defect not already documented. Any issue of
capability or performance that you detect should be reported to
us, no matter how minor the problem may seem. Also any feedback
or suggestions regarding unfinished functionality is welcome.
Difficulties or confusions you encounter in porting should be
sent to us as well.
Where to send your reports:
performer-feedback++at++sgi.com
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3. Late-Breaking caveats about Performer 3.1 Beta
New items since the most recent README-pf31ea.html update:
- Windows: You must move (or remove) by hand any pre-existing
Performer 3.0 license file __BEFORE__ installing Performer
3.1 Beta, or you'll get licensing errors. If you purchased
a Performer 3.0 license, be absolutely sure to keep a backup
copy. By default, the file is located here:
C:\Program Files\Silicon Graphics\OpenGL Performer\license.dat
- Linux: RH9.0 users may have to force RPM installation to
overcome a dependency on libNoVersion.so.1. Use the --force
and --nodeps arguments, e.g.:
rpm -Uvh --force --nodeps performer*.rpm
- IRIX & Linux: The OpenGL Shader dependency listed on the web
site no longer applies.
- All platforms: Updated release notes and Programming Guide are
not yet included. See the README-pf31ea.html document in
each download location for detailed Beta documentation and
pointers to new features in Performer 3.1.
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More to come.. enjoy,
-- Allan Schaffer allan++at++sgi.com Engr. Manager, Core Rendering 1-650-933-2160 Silicon Graphics http://www.sgi.com
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Sun Nov 23 2003 - 22:46:32 PST