Microsoft is comming up with a new image format called the Windows Media Photo (WMP). WMP will be an addition to the resident picture formats like JPG, PNG, BMP etc. Its said to be compressed as in smaller size for pictures. The website gives a .doc on the advanced specs. for the file format so if anyone of you techies need to have a look >> HERE << is the site.

I guess this new file format has a little time to catch up with the present, maybe after vista comes out, this file format would be widely used.

Regards
Dhanesh.

This is just another attemp to rule the world - and they won't make it. I don't see the poing of making a new format when there are so many others, and probably better. Micro$oft should just stick to making programmes and stop messing with other things which are to be left to the professionals.

I think that, technically, WMP is indeed better than JPG and GIF. The range of technical specifications is seriously larger, and it's highly in favour of the WMP format.

As for its success, I believe it's far too early to judge. After all, WMP is practically just an idea, a part of the XPS specification. There's still no word about its support by cameras, printers, or even Web browsers other than Internet Explorer. The JPEG2000, which was a standard with very comparable merits to WMP's and was planned to replace the JPG format, has vanished without a trace.

But if we were to judge depending on the WMP counterparts, WMA and WMV, we'd have to say it won't be such a huge success. After all, even though WMA and WMV were indeed very nice, they're not that popular.

So I'd say that WMP has a fair chance of being an alternative to JPG. But if Microsoft is hoping for replacing JPG, I think they might be in over their heads.

Either way, we'd have to wait and see. At least until results of Vista Beta-2 are out, as a primary indicator.

Right, because introducing a new image format with very useful application would be a plot to conquer the world! Oh my gosh my potatoes in my garden now obey almighty Microsoft. If only the communists knew of this method.


On a more serious note, I think it's good news. It seems like a better format than .JPG for sure (I don't like the loss of data at all, yet size reduction is inevitable necessity in many cases).
Definitely hope it will be supported on *all* machines so I can start using it right away.

Personally, I think the WMP format is just Microsoft's attempt to monopolize yet something else. Let me guess... it can only be supported on Vista and newer versions, the format is going to come with an EULA and won't be cross-platform?

Just like VBScript... it can only be used on Windows systems, it can only be used in IE and it is another attempt to monopolize something else...

As a Linux user, the PNG format is excellent for most things. However, in case you don't know, Internet Explorer is PNG challenged. It doesn't like transparent PNGs and won't display them properly. Also, Windows in general has problems with the PNG suppport. Ever right click > copy image then paste into photoshop or other application? The transparency turns black!!

Trust me, this is just another failed attempt to monoplolize something else in the industry...

[N]F

A new file format by a company, not a standardizing body, is always an attempt to monopolize or at least to make competitors life harder.

In case of images... we'll they won't pull through. But if people are stupid enough to start using it (I can imagine people on MSN trying to send me wmp photos...) and if MS gets a digital camera manufacturer or Nokia to directly support the format then they can cause of lot of damage.

But like I said this will be too much for Microsoft. Granted, people use WMV, but that's mainly because the video codec field had been a bit of loose as no dominant standard has risen. And also, granted that people use WMA, but that's just because they're dumb.

anyways, what features does it give that others don't?

xboxrulz

I reckon no other image format is currently windows-only.

lol, then seriously, what the hell is the point to have WMP, I don't think it'll go too far. This is because 99% of everyone uses JPG as the storage for cameras!

xboxrulz

So, now Microsoft makes their own file format instead of actually getting PNG to work in IE?