Imagination enables developers to use 3D navigation data in new SDK

POWERVR Insider SDK 2.7 includes navigation tutorial, access to NAVTEQ® map data

London, September 22nd 2010: Imagination Technologies, a leading multimedia and communications technologies company, announces that the latest version of its POWERVR Insider software development kit (SDK), version 2.7, includes a new tutorial showing developers how to take full advantage of graphics acceleration using OpenGL ES2 to display map and advanced visual guidance data in graphics-rich applications.

The tutorial includes comprehensive sample code for utilising most forms of available street mapping data in applications and a complementary white paper that explains efficient navigation rendering techniques and tools for how to compile the data. Future versions of this tutorial will include support for the display of all forms of advanced 3D location and other map enhancement data as well as related geotagged objects.

Sample data and extensive engineering input has been provided during the development of this tutorial by NAVTEQ, the leading global provider of maps, traffic and location data enabling navigation, location-based services and mobile advertising around the world. NAVTEQ’s support makes this SDK tutorial relevant to the broad array of developers of location-based services (LBS) and navigation applications. POWERVR Insider members who download the SDK gain access to NAVTEQ sample data for development and testing purposes, and developers can also join the NAVTEQ Network for Developers™ (www.NN4D.com) to gain access to more extensive data sample sets, data for commercial use, mapping application programming interfaces (APIs), geospatial platforms and tools, and to receive technical support.

Says Tony King-Smith, VP marketing, Imagination: “There’s a considerable community of developers using our SDK who have extensive experience in 3D gaming or UI and would like to use that skill set to create navigation apps, too; equally there are developers in NAVTEQ’s community who are experienced with LBS but not 3D graphics. This update to our SDK will help enable each of these groups to cross over into new markets, as will high-quality, sample 2D and 3D map data from an industry leader like NAVTEQ.”

This tutorial is the latest product of the growing strategic business relationship between Imagination and NAVTEQ, through increased collaboration between the two companies’ developer ecosystem programmes. NAVTEQ has developed a broad array of advanced location data, including a rapidly growing portfolio of visual content such as 3D landmarks, to complement their core map data offering. Visual location content can now be incorporated by developers into a broad range of applications to build a realistic 2D/3D representation of complex motorway junctions or city landscapes, helping users more easily orient themselves in unfamiliar or complex situations through visual cues. Through the collaboration with Imagination, NAVTEQ is now helping the developer communities respond to the demands of tomorrow’s graphics-rich, high frame rate applications.

“We have been working closely with Imagination so that developers new to LBS have access to high-quality, realistic data sets and comprehensive tutorials to help support their application development needs,” said Marc Naddell, vice president, partner and developer programs, NAVTEQ. “With this new SDK, vehicle and pedestrian navigation experiences will be enhanced by the growing range of 2D and 3D visual content in the NAVTEQ® map.”

Imagination's POWERVR Insider SDK is the leading SDK and toolset for mobile 3D graphics development. The POWERVR Insider SDK supports all of the Khronos graphics APIs, including the industry standard OpenGL ES 2.0. An established favourite with more than 20,000 developers worldwide, the POWERVR Insider SDK includes tutorials, source code, extensive documentation, platform abstraction frameworks and a highly integrated suite of tools. Developers can join up, download the SDK for free and interact with the community through dynamic online forums at www.powervrinsider.com.

About NAVTEQ

NAVTEQ is the leading global provider of maps, traffic and location data (digital location content) enabling navigation, location-based services and mobile advertising around the world. NAVTEQ was founded in 1985 and now supplies comprehensive digital location content to power automotive navigation systems, portable and wireless devices, Internet-based mapping applications and government and business solutions. The Chicago-based company is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2010, proudly supported by approximately 5,000 employees located in 211 offices in 48 countries.

About Imagination Technologies

Imagination Technologies Group plc (LSE:IMG) – a global leader in multimedia and communication technologies – creates and licenses market-leading processor cores for graphics, video, multi-threaded embedded processing/DSP and multi-standard communications applications. These silicon intellectual property (IP) solutions for systems-on-chip (SoC) are complemented by platform level IP and services, a strong array of software tools and drivers and extensive developer and middleware ecosystems. Target markets include mobile phone, handheld multimedia, home consumer entertainment, mobile and low-power computing, and in-car electronics. Its licensees include many of the leading semiconductor and consumer electronics companies. Imagination has corporate headquarters in the United Kingdom, with sales and R&D offices worldwide. See: www.imgtec.com.