Microsoft HD Photo Format to Become JPEG Successor

[malware]

The multinational Joint Photographic Experts Group, responsible for the JPEG standard used in virtually all mainstream imaging, has decided that the next iteration of its standard will be based on Microsoft's HD Photo format. HD Photo is built into Windows Vista, and was originally dubbed Windows Media Photo, hoped to offer some degree of proprietary control for the company; in its new incarnation however it will be called JPEG XR, and remain neutral as with the current JPEG technology. The "XR" addition stands for Extended Range, and like HD Photo, should allow a wider and subtler range of tones, as well as an expanded color palette, better compression and support for in-camera image processing.

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[OnBoard]

JPEG XR has to be something really special to conquer years and years of JPEG reign. Hope that better compression mean less compression artifacts and not smaller size. Well if the pictures is over 3000 pixels, then the size starts to matter too

I just fear this being like MP3 Pro, too little too late. btw, anyone used HD Photo in Vista, is it really better?

 

[Kreij]

I'm not sure how you would do that. Most cameras by default save in JPEG format.
I suppose you would have to set the camera for RAW format, import, and then convert to MS HD format, then compare that with a JPEG conversion of the same image.

Another thought is, will printed images look any better or will you need some kind of HD printer?

I wasn't even aware that it was built into Vista. That's what I get for spending all my free time playing games and surfing TPU. DOH!

 

[WarEagleAU]

actually, you do want smaller size from the photos. Jpegs biggest advantage is its small footprint for files. I expect and from what I read, that this new compression means higher quality and less size.

 

[Helvetica]

Just like WMVs, they are much higher quality, and much smaller size. WTG jpegHD

 

[EastCoasthandle]

I'm not sure how you would do that. Most cameras by default save in JPEG format.
I suppose you would have to set the camera for RAW format, import, and then convert to MS HD format, then compare that with a JPEG conversion of the same image.

Another thought is, will printed images look any better or will you need some kind of HD printer?

I wasn't even aware that it was built into Vista. That's what I get for spending all my free time playing games and surfing TPU. DOH!

I was thinking the same thing however, an update is not to far fetched though. The idea of having something better then jpg should allow for better photography without the need to go to raw.