Microsoft quits OpenGL board

Microsoft has tendered its resignation from the consortium governing the OpenGL standard, signalling an intention to go it alone with its Direct3D graphics platform.

Microsoft was a founding member of the Open GL architecture review board (ARB), and in a letter to ARB members seen by The Register, said it would "focus our energies on improving and evolving our own Windows graphics platform", from mid-February.

The OpenGL ARB website still listed Microsoft as a member today.

This doesn't necessarily mean Microsoft is making a huge break with the OpenGL standard. Microsoft recently posted this vacancy. Microsoft is currently recruiting for a kernel engineer to "the next generation infrastructure for graphics", which calls for OpenGL skills.

The sheer number of applications that require the presence of OpenGL suggests that Microsoft will continue to support it, even though its priorities lie elsewhere.

As a founding member, Microsoft has been a presence since the First meeting of the Board, which began with this cute detail:

"Meeting commenced in parking lot, as Kurt [Akeley] shows us his Lotus automobile with license plates which read 'OpenGL.' Some discussion about whether the Lotus should be added to the GLU."

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Taken from http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/54/29555.html