Microsoft has just introduced a new digital image format that offers better quality than the JPEG format while occupying only half the size.
The developers announced that the new Windows Media Photo (WMP) digital image format will be integrated into the next version of Windows, Vista.
“One of the top motivators for people to upgrade their computers is digital photos. Therefore, everything we do to improve digital photos is good for Windows,” said Bill Crow, Microsoft’s product manager for WMP.
Crow officially demonstrated the new Windows Media Photo digital imaging technology at the Windows Hardware Manufacturers Conference that opened yesterday (May 24).
For more than four years, Microsoft has been conducting research and development on the new digital image format in collaboration with an undisclosed partner.
Windows Media Photo has been developed using a completely different approach compared to the technology used in the JPEG image format, both in terms of space and color conversion. The WMP image format captures more raw information from photos, allowing for better presentation, editing, and compression.
Crow stated that WMP could allow compression ratios of up to 25:1 for most digital images. This ratio is double that of the 12:1 compression ratio currently used by the JPEG format.
To ensure compatibility with existing systems, the WMP format will still utilize TIFF technology, including the application of metadata information technology. However, the choice of TIFF limits file sizes to a maximum of 4GB.
Microsoft announced that it will soon release a tool to support Windows Media Photo for Windows XP, and will provide source code to development partners to help them create products that support WMP.
Hoàng Dũng
