Microsoft HD Photo: substitution for JPEG format

9th August 2007

The other day Microsoft has officially announced that its standard Microsoft HD Photo was taken into consideration by the Organization of JPEG (Joint Photographic Expert Group), for its further standardization. The format was previously named "JPEG XR".
It is noticeable that at the Photo Marketing Association exhibition in Las Vegas, Microsoft introduced its new image format HD Photo, which is positioned as a substitute to JPEG. The new format, previously known as Windows Media Photo, has a high degree of compression, good quality and advanced functions.
The developers of the new format allege that having compression degree twice more than that of JPEG, image in HD Photo has fewer artifacts. The image is fully saved into a file, so that photographers can modify the color and exposure. In addition, when working with HD Photo one can only decode the information needed for a particular piece.
This news was received with joy by leading manufacturers of matrices for digital cameras, including Foveon and Hasselblad. JPEG leaders also do not worry to hide their optimism with regard to the new format.
The product will be available no sooner than in a year.