Benefits of the New API - Learn OpenGL ES: For Mobile Game and Graphics Development - page 3

Figure 1-1 . ADS (Ambient Diffuse Specular) shading in OpenGL ES 2.0
OpenGL ES 2.0 is derived from the larger OpenGL 2.0 API, the programmable
pipeline for rendering 3D graphics on desktops. ES 2.0 is a suitable subset of
OpenGL, optimized for resource constrained display devices, such as mobiles, tab-
lets, and gaming consoles. ES 2.0 contains only the most useful methods from
OpenGL 2.0 API, with redundant techniques removed. This allows OpenGL ES 2.0
on handheld devices to deliver rich game content like its parent API.
Devices Love It
As of October 1, 2012, more than 90% of all Android devices were running version
2.0 of OpenGL ES. Devices running version 2.0 are also capable of emulating ver-
sion 1.1. However, an activity in Android cannot use both versions together, stem-
ming from the fact that OpenGL ES 2.0 API is not backwards compatible with ES
1.x. Note that, although an activity cannot use both versions together, an applica-
tion can still use them together. (Information about OpenGL ES version distribution
across Android devices is available at http://developer.android.com/