JPEG XR – one step closer to reality

JPEG XR, an image format created by Microsoft that promises a number of advantages over JPEG, has cleared a key standardization hurdle. The Joint Photographic Experts Group, which standardized the original and still ubiquitous JPEG format, sent JPEG XR to the “final phases of standardization” after a vote at a January meeting, the group said Thursday. That means the standard’s future is more certain.

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What do you think? A good thing, or a bad thing?

Date: 31 January 2009
Author: Russ Weakley
Category: News, Web, Web standards
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Comments so far

  1. Jonas says:
    February 1, 2009 at 12:34 am

    I wonder, will the format be free or are there any kind of fees involved? I mean, it’s a MS product. Makes me suspicious.

    Does anybody remember the .gif ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.gif#Unisys_and_LZW_patent_enforcement ) and .jpg ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.jpg#Patent_issues ) discussions?

    I hope I’m not off-topic with this, but it should concern people when Microsoft develops standard-formats. :(

  2. Russ says:
    February 1, 2009 at 5:42 am

    @Jonas, I agree. Microsoft does not have a good track record in this department! ;)

  3. Ken Miller says:
    February 4, 2009 at 3:20 am

    I too am a bit nervous in learning that Microsoft is feeling the need to improve a fairly rock-solid format.

  4. Russ says:
    February 4, 2009 at 5:11 am

    @Ken, yes, it will be interesting to watch the progress. We may end up with a jpeg format like Vista – sluggish, regularly crashes and hard to use ;)

  5. Rene Saarsoo says:
    February 12, 2009 at 12:22 am

    “HD Photo to become JPEG XR” link seems to be not working. An alternative one: http://www.cnet.com.au/software/imaging/0,239035345,339283503,00.htm