Some beginner questions

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22 January, 2010 - 18:41
#1
luca
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Some beginner questions

Hi, I'm completely new to this framework since I just downloaded it today and have just begun taking a look at the example projects. I would like to know something about this framework in order to see if it can fit my needs, so I would be grateful if some of you could answer at least some of the following questions:

1) Does MoSync support OpenGL ES ?

2) Is it possible to create a scene (also a complex one having more than 70000 polygons with textures, lights and lightmaps) inside some 3D modelling tool such as 3DS Max and then export the scene to a format which MoSync can read and then display this scene in a mobile device using some API function call such as Scene::Load("MyScene") ?

3) Once a scene has been displayed (if this is possible), does the framework have an already integrated physics support or does it use some physics libraries such as ODE or PhysX so that one can create a physics character inside the scene with the ability to walk inside the scene and collide with the scene objects ?

4) Does the API have functions to access GPS, electronic compass and accelerometers of a mobile device ? If so, which are these functions and how should I use them ?

5) I've read from the home page that support for iPhone, Android and Maemo will be coming soon. If possible, could you please tell me (even if only approximately) when this will happen ?

Sorry for all these questions but I'm completely new to this framework so I need some infos...

Thanks a lot in advance for your help!

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24 January, 2010 - 23:54
#2
Niklas Nummelin
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1) No not yet. We have done a few successful tests and we'll get to it eventually.

2) The amount of polygons renderable is entirely dependant on the performance of the cpu/gpu. Many phones will most likely not be able to handle 70000 texture mapped polygons. As OpenGL ES is a widespread low-level standard for drawing 3d graphics, you will be able to compile any existing c/c++ 3d engine for that api like for instance: http://es3d.sourceforge.net/.

3) Calculating physics in real-time is a very performance critical task. You won't be able to reach the complexity of physics done on regular PC:s. As ODE is written in pure c++ you could probably compile parts of it for use in MoSync.

4) As of now there is support for accessing the GPS. See maLocationStart() and maLocationStop() for more information. We will add support for more sensors in the near future.

5) Android support is near completion. Maemo and IPhone tests have been done and outputs for those platforms will be released in Q2 2010.

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26 January, 2010 - 17:08
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luca
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Thanks for your help. I downloaded the 3D engine you suggested (ES3D) and started looking at it. Is it possible to move this engine inside the MoSync framework?

Thanks again!

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27 January, 2010 - 16:52
#4
Niklas Nummelin
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No not yet, as the 3d engine is made for the OpenGL|ES API. As previously mentioned, we haven't got support for it yet, but most likely will in the future.

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27 January, 2010 - 18:21
#5
luca
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Thanks again for your answer, now I have another question: is it possible to create a static library inside Visual Studio 2008 (NOT 2005), copy and paste the .lib file generated by Visual Studio into the lib\pipe directory of MoSync and then create a new project inside the MoSync IDE and link that project to this library by adding the .lib file into the Additional Libraries edit box of the project properties? Or Does one have to create the library inside Visual Studio 2005 (I read in the online documentation, inside "Appendix 1 - Using Visual Studio with MoSync", that for the moment it's only possible to use Visual Studio 2005) or does the library have to be created inside Visual Studio as a dynamic library (i.e. dll) and not as a static library?

Thanks again for your help!

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28 January, 2010 - 12:15
#6
Fredrik Eldh
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"luca" wrote:

is it possible to create a static library inside Visual Studio 2008 (NOT 2005), copy and paste the .lib file generated by Visual Studio into the lib\pipe directory of MoSync and then create a new project inside the MoSync IDE and link that project to this library by adding the .lib file into the Additional Libraries edit box of the project properties?

Definitely not. MoSync's PIPE architecture is entirely different from the Intel code that Visual Studio generates, so the libraries are not compatible.

To build a MoSync library, you can use the MoSync IDE. In Build Settings, you'll find the "Library" radio button. Also, in the current version of MoSync, there's a bug you'll have to work around. See this thread.

However, if you use Visual Studio to compile your MoSync application, as shown in Appendix 1, then you can build libraries with Visual Studio. For static libraries, 2005 is needed, but if you build DLLs, you can probably use 2008 too. Put those files in the directory "lib\win32".

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