VMware, NVIDIA and Google unveil future of graphics-rich applications

Showcased as a technology preview, the solution demonstrates the next generation of VMware Blast Performance and NVIDIA GRID™ vGPU™ technology to satisfy customers’ most demanding visual computing needs. The joint effort is expected to expand the hardware options for high-performance virtual desktops, enabling customers to select their system of choice without compromise.

“We are breaking down traditional barriers to adopting virtual desktops and offering new economics for the delivery of graphics-intensive applications through the power of the cloud,” said Sanjay Poonen, executive vice president and general manager, End-User Computing, VMware. “Organisations of all industries and requirements will soon be able to embrace the mobile-cloud using a solution that offers a new way to work from three proven, industry leaders.”

The joint solution optimises the performance of virtual graphics applications at scale. NVIDIA GRID vGPU is the industry’s most advanced technology for sharing GPU acceleration between multiple virtual desktops. Combined with VMware Horizon in the data centre, the solution will optimise graphics and CPU utilisation to allow more desktops and applications to be deployed on a single server.

VMware BLAST Performance technology in the data centre and in firmware residing on Chromebooks will deliver a great end-user experience, graphics-rich applications with high fidelity, and extended battery life by up to 50 percent using exclusive NVIDIA® Tegra® decode technologies. This makes graphically demanding applications, such as Adobe Illustrator CC and Autodesk AutoCAD, and productivity applications like Microsoft Office completely fluid. NVIDIA Tegra K1-powered Chromebooks, such as the Acer Chromebook 13, will be among the first Chromebooks to take advantage of this future technology.

“This collaboration will offer customers all the performance, stability and compatibility of NVIDIA hardware-accelerated graphics, with the added flexibility, mobility and security of a virtual environment,” said Jeff Brown, vice president and general manager, Professional Solutions Business, NVIDIA.

“Chromebooks were designed to bring a new approach to many of the problems with traditional computers,” said Caesar Sengupta, vice president of product management, Google. “We're excited about what this collaboration means for our customers and what it can enable them to do. Imagine manufacturers designing complex 3D models and sharing them with engineers around the globe, or physicians taking medical imaging out into the community, rather than being tethered to high end workstations.”