Developer Newsletter: Issue #3

NVIDIA Introduces Cg

Earlier today, we announced Cg -- a new high-level language for graphics programming. With Cg, it is finally easy to put the power of graphics hardware to work for you. Just as high-level programming languages like C facilitated CPU programming, Cg allows you to program GPUs intuitively, using familiar language constructs instead of arduous assembly code and output right to DirectX or OpenGL.

Our goal is to help you get started with Cg as quickly as possible. To that end, we've released a public beta of version 1.0 of our Cg Toolkit, which contains the NVIDIA Cg Compiler, NVIDIA Cg Browser 4.0, the Cg User's Manual, and sample shaders (including Fresnel effects, refraction, dispersion, source code, anisotropic lighting, and more), all in one easy package. We also have these components available separately for your convenience.

We invite you to visit our Cg web site to get all the latest Cg-related information and downloads. Don't miss out on the future of interactive graphics!

CgShaders.org Launched

www.CgShaders.org, launched today, is an excellent resource for Cg programmers. It has News, Articles, Forums, Shaders, and Tools sections, all devoted to Cg! If you want to discuss Cg programming with other developers, this is an excellent place to do so. In addition, as more and more people write Cg shaders, the shader repository at www.CgShaders.org will be a great place to quickly download cool new effects. In fact, CgShaders.org is already running a Cg shader contest, with GeForce4 Ti 4600s going to the winners. Don't forget to check it out!

NVIDIA-U Registration

NVIDIA is pleased to announce its second NVIDIA-U workshop for university educators and researchers. This year's focus will be on NVIDIA's next generation GPUs and associated real-time rendering technologies. Since we'll be discussing unannounced products, participants must sign a non-disclosure agreement. Though the agenda is necessarily sketchy, we promise to deliver the goods on various cutting edge graphics research topics such as shadows, transparency, high dynamic range rendering and many others. To help offset participant expenses, this event will be held in San Antonio, Texas, immediately prior to SIGGRAPH, and all meals will be covered.

Quest3D Contest

Don't miss a chance to win an NVIDIA nForce-based PC with an AMD 1700+ processor and a GeForce4 Ti 4600 graphics board! There are still several days to submit 3D models to the Quest3D contest. The 3D art contest is open to anyone who is interested and runs from April 25 to June 18.