$5000 reward for whoever can deliver drivers
It's a never ending saga for users of the HTC TYTN II mobile handset. Earlier this year, following a barrage of complaints from users, HTC responded to claims of lacklustre 3D performance and missing hardware acceleration on its handsets by issuing the following statement to Engadget:
"HTC does plan to offer software upgrades that will increase feature functionality, over the air wireless speeds, and other enhancements for some of the phones being criticised, but we do not anticipate including any additional support for the video issues cited in customer complaints"
"HTC will utilise hardware video acceleration like the ATI Imageon in many upcoming products. Our users have made it clear that they expect our products to offer an improved visual experience, and we have included this feedback into planning and development of future products."
Grim reading for any HTC TYTN II user as any plans for improved video performance on current handsets were dashed with one fell swoop. Still, that isn't enough to discourage all users.
Readers of the XDA Developers Forum have formed a pact and with it comes hopes of a solution. Aware of HTC's unhelpful stance on the matter, XDA Developer users are contributing a cash incentive for any software know-it-all out there who can provide suitable drivers that enable hardware acceleration on the HTC TYTN II and with it, ease their woes.
As of January 26th, that cash reward is a tidy sum of $5199.51 and is only likely to grow.
XDA user, Chainfire, said:
"Our Kaisers currently lack drivers for hardware accelerated display functionality. A full set of these drivers would significantly speed up ALL drawing operations, including the user interfaces of normal applications, video playback, games and 3D rendering."
"There are different parts to these drivers, namely for 2D (user interfaces, video, images) and 3D graphics (games). It is not yet sure even IF these drivers will be available soon, and if they are, which parts will be accelerated."
"The plan, of course, is to provide a full set. Though this will most likely not include a speed up for the camera."
Good luck to all the XDA Developer users who're contributing and if you fancy your chances at creating the drivers needed, the reward could be yours.