Microsoft has spent their time and money creating something “useless,” Justin Powell writes for The NET Results Blog. It’s a new digital photo format called “Windows Media Photo.”
“In case the folks in Redmond weren’t aware, we already have JPEG for Internet and consumer applications, plus RAW and TIFF for professional applications. Adobe Systems even threw their hat in the ring to create the Digital Negative (DNG) format for digital cameras and professional imaging workflows and lest we forget the essentially defunct PhotoCD format from Kodak. There’s also other raster image formats with varying degrees of usefulness: GIF, BMP, PICT, etc.,” Powell writes.
“I’m not exactly sure why Microsoft believes we needed another digital image format. I haven’t personally heard anyone complaining about the available formats or begging for Microsoft to step in and save them. Could it be that Microsoft didn’t control these other formats and likewise couldn’t make them exclusive to Windows users? Microsoft’s new Windows Media Photo will work in Vista and XP, but there’s no mention of making the format available to older versions of Windows or other operating systems,” Powell writes. “Microsoft calls the overall functionality ‘digital memories,’ but they didn’t mention that you’ll forget everything if you switch to a non-Microsoft product. No thanks, I’ll stick with JPEG and RAW.”
Full article here.
“Microsoft will need to get players such as Adobe Systems and Apple Computer on board to win over the graphics professionals, he noted. A major unknown is licensing, which Microsoft has not yet addressed,” Joris Evers reports for CNET News. “Windows Media Photo was developed by the same people who worked on Windows Media Video and Audio… Microsoft has finished the first official version of the “porting kit” software needed to build support for Windows Media Photo into devices and platforms other than Windows. It should be available soon.”
Full article here.
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uhhh….. Nice try, Microsoft. You Suck.
Too bad they can’t invent a new kind of Air.
sheesh
micro-dicks
Yawn. Another stillborn effort from the folks at Redmond.
Another attempt to control the world.
Stupidest idea ever. Another futile attempt to control the formats. But, will the web accept it?
Even PNG, being better than GIF and JPG is having a hard time being adopted, especially by Microsoft.
No! (smack!) Bad Microsoft! Bad!
I winder if they will have 6 different versions of this format.
Windows Media Photo – Trojan Edition
Windows Media Photo – Corrupt Edition
Windows Media Photo – Greyscale Edition
Windows Media Photo – Color Edition
Windows Media Photo – Pixelated Edition
Windows Media Photo – Ultimate Edition
“”I’m not exactly sure why Microsoft believes we needed another digital image format.”
Because then they can control it. It’s their creedo. They want control of everything.
Shouldn’t they pool the resources into working on Vista and Office instead? What a bunch of morons in their management. The boat is taking in water and all they would do is propose a new item on the dinner menu. Fools!
MDN word=past
MS is past salvageable
Wonder if it will have DRM in it…..I bet it will.
They really need to concentrate on getting their over-bloated screwed up dog of an OS out the door first before they attempt to screw up something else. Seriously, I don’t see a reason for them to do this. What is the purpose behind created yet ANOTHER picture format? I seriously doubt Apple and Adobe will back it, and it will be a failure. However, knowing Microsoft, they may put this into one of their “web apps” like Frontpage, thus guaranteeing web pages will fail to load on systems that don’t use IE for a browser…
.PNG is the new format better than JPEG or GIF. Better luck next time, Microsuck. Please try not to suck so much.
http://www.SmarmyComics.com/
(Reuters) REDMOND, WA:
In other news, next up on the MS project docket is a $452 million makeover of their beloved Office mascot, Clippy. The new version will be available only for the upcoming planet-dominating OS known as Vista. Clippy 2.0 for Vista will sport over 200 wardrobe options and themes, the ability to speak in hundreds of dialects and languages including Klingon and Ballmerese (parental warning). Clippy 2.0 will not only tell you how to work in Office but he’ll also offer love advice, horoscopes, car maintenance tips, virus scans, diabetic blood testing, spinal taps, tarot readings, contract killings, pedicures, termite inspection, carbon monoxide warnings, DNA testing, sperm counts, financial advice, money laundering, and much, much more all in High Def and 5.1 Surround Stereo.
Oh man, a typo in binary! No, Topshot, I’m on a dual 2 Ghz G5 running Tiger at work. That was just me typing to0 quickly and not proofing. Don’t worry though. I’ll blame Windows any time it’s warranted!
Thanks!
It’s all about DRM.
Microsoft will sell this format to content providers as a means to control their images. No more copying of photos for blogs or unauthorized redistribution of stories that include WMP images. Better still, treat all of your content as an image. Instead of PDF, use WMP and control your content! Make sure the people pay for your content.
If this isn’t their intent, it soon will be…
Just one more example of Microsoft’s need to control a proprietary format in order to stiff the competition. And another reason why the settlement with the Justice department over the monopoly suit is a complete joke!
Microsoft’s Ideas provoke: “Why?” as in they are not connecting with people.
Apple’s Ideas Provoke: “Excellent” In a Mr. Burns-ish type of way because a connection is made.
Inovations to complicate your life are perplexing yet usual from Redmond
Ampar, in your list of Clippy features you forgot innoculation against avian flu. It will be a high cost extra, of course, and Symantec will immediately sue.
Will the new format provide an easy method to imbed viruses and spyware? Cause that’s an exclusive feature they can offer that no one else has. Very innovative.
And rich. I forgot to add rich.
Bill and Ballmer will probably lobby Congress into making the use of their formats required by Federal Law. Maybe even amend the Constitution since they insist that they make the standards.
Their street address is One Microsoft Way.
Darkness is 100% right. and its a shame. there wouldnt be a problem with microsoft’s DRM if they would allow it to be used on other platforms instead of windows, but of course they dont. unlike apple which allows anyone with a Windows or apple computer to play content from itunes.
True, Beryllium. Clippy 2.0 will also demand your credit card number before Office can launch. It’s for your own good. They said so.
Un-freakin’ believable. What innovation could they possibly have to add to an image format? In spite of these kind of efforts by MS, you will still have Windows weenies bash Mac for being a “closed” platform. This is an example of extreme arrogance. Darkness is right. In addition, it could eventually be used in trying to affect web-based viewing. Since MS no longer supports IE Mac and there is no IE Linux, couldn’t this cause non IE browsers to not correctly display web pages?
MW- effort=fruitless