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.
Advertisements:
• Amazon.com: Switching to the Mac: The Missing Manual, Tiger Edition by David Pogue
• Introducing the super-fast, blogging, podcasting, do-everything-out-of-the-box MacBook. Starting at just $1099
• Get the new iMac with Intel Core Duo for as low as $31 A MONTH with Free shipping!
• Get the MacBook Pro with Intel Core Duo for as low as $47 A MONTH with Free Shipping!
• Apple’s new Mac mini. Intel Core, up to 4 times faster. Starting at just $599. Free shipping.
• iPod. 15,000 songs. 25,000 photos. 150 hours of video. The new iPod. 30GB and 60GB models start at just $299. Free shipping.
• iPod Radio Remote. Listen to FM radio on your iPod and control everything with a convenient wired remote. Just $49.
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
emax –
I might add that this enslaves users to their dull boxes because people’s personal media (pics) are near and dear to them. Once they find out that their pics won’t work on a mac they will not switch. (I know about bootcamp and parallels etc. . )
Microsoft: when you want to commit suicide but cant find a reason.
dogfriend-
You forgot to add “pipeline”. As in “this is an example of a product in our pipeline that is built on innovation and contributes to the richness of the user experience because it is so rich”.
Gates
Ballmer
et al
MW: Record. For the record.
WiMP will join ATRAC.
MW: <b>tried> and failed
Oh yeah…
Like Adobe, Corel and everybody else is going to dump free JPEG just for the opportunity to pay MS a royalty.
Balmer and Gates are really blind to the problems MS is having. It’s like a whole “Emperor’s new clothes” thing is happening there.
Okay let me try…..Uh, Mr. Balmer and Mr. Gates. I am just a lowly computer user. Your company’s operating system is way out of date when compared to your competition’s. You don’t even run in native 64-bit mode. You current offering is plagued viruses and malware which is written using the technical prowess needed to run a PlaySchool lawn mower. I mean, the weeble wobble crowd can crash your OS! Wouldn’t it be a better use of your time to improve the OS first then chase all the pie in the sky media projects. As a Mac user the only software I own that crashes and is incompatible with itself has a Microsoft logo on the splash screen. I know quality is one of those side projects that brilliant guys like yourself can’t bother with but, maybe you will keep more customers if you work harder on quality.
This is sure to cause them to rename Vista.
Ampar,
Stop! I had to shut the door to my office I was laughing so hard.
I’m not exactly sure why Microsoft believes we needed another digital image format.
Well, if you read the MS release on this you’d know. WMPhoto significantly reduces the file size while increasing the amount of photo detail retained as compared to JPEG while also allowing for simple transformations (such as rotation) without the need for re-encoding of the file.
I know MS bashing around here is like a reflex, and I admit I wouldn’t touch this format if it came with twenty dollar bill attached to it, but it’s not like they don’t have a few reasonable points as to “why Microsoft believes we needed another digital image format.”
Another dumb program that nobody can use the data unless it is a Microsoft application. Why would anyone want this?
What’s next, Microsoft to patent ones and zeros!? Oh wait a minute – didn’t they already try that?
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/29130
“Microsoft calls the overall functionality ‘digital memories…”
Digital memories are exactly all that’ll be left when thousands of loved images suddenly, and inexplicably, disappear from the hard drive. Sheesh.
Hey AMPAR!
I missed the thing on the History channel last
night(I assume you were talking about Modern
Marvels: 80’s Tech). How was it?
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”rolleyes” style=”border:0;” />
“Microsoft has spent their time and money creating something “useless,”
I can’t believe no one has touched that line. It’s too easy!
Their claim is that the new format produces better quality photos with smaller file sizes. A really good replacement for jpeg IS overdue. The question is, do you want someone like Microsoft or Apple controlling the next standard?
BTW – I didn’t read anything about the new format supporting 16-bits-per-channel or layers. Something lacking in jpeg.
All I have to say is GOOD LUCK SCUMBAGS!
Pretty cool, Thorin. They had an interview with Woz, lots of info. about Apple, Jobs and Nolan Bushnell. Beta vs. VHS, brick cell phones, etc. Good stuff!
We don’t need another format…we need Microsoft to support the formats that are out there. IE6 does not currently know how to render a PNG image with transparency. This is very annoying. Images with some transarency would be great for making a webpage. If you’re on IE6, check out this page and you will see the difference. If you’re on ANY other browser, it should show up fine.
http://homepage.mac.com/reedkb/shadow/
I know exactly why MS wants a new image format – Because people with power always want more power. The sad thing is that, it could very well get a foothold simply because of the installed user base.
If you think its far fetched take a good look at .wav. There’s a digital media format that just kind of silenty took over the world because it became an integral part of the OS. Now even professionals take about .wav as if it were an “industry standard”, especially with regard to audio formats. Its taken the better part of two years at the company I work for to dispel the mythg that .wav is an industry standard for audio. In reality its only a very prolific artifact of Windows OS, and has never been sanctioned or recognized by the Audio Engineering Society, Society of Motion Picture Technologists and Engineers, or any other group that officially sets “industry standards”.
So be on the lookout for .wmp in an image file coming soon. You know what MS is up to – just like the stunt they pulled with Office and Media Player, they’ll start out with most everybody on board, then dump everyone that doesn’t use Windows.
Finally, please everybody – STOP BUYING WINDOWS, STOP INSTALLING IT ON YOUR MACS – NOW!
Peace
Why dosn’t M$ just run away and hide?
I thought jpg had issued a newer jp2 format, and that jp2’s lossless was being used for iPhoto when you make edits. I know I read that somewhere. Perhaps Derek Story’s blog on O’Reilly.
Anyhow, jp2 does what WMP does. It compresses images more efficiently into a smaller file, with less image degradation. It even has a lossless setting, like TIFF.
uh…why don’t they just focus on um…vista.
MacDaddy:
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />
While I am cynical about both the new file type and MS’s motives for foisting it upon a justifiably suspicious world, you have to admit it isn’t ALL bad. Supposedly it can compress files to half the size of a typical JPEG while retaining better image quality when uncompressed. At 4X the standard JPEG compression the image obviously suffers, so maybe folks should be satisfied with that 2X boost. That’s a LOT of pictures on a typical card.
There … I’ve said something nice about Microsoft and don’t even feel particularly … unclean.
Now back to your regularly scheduled rant.
Say NO to WMP (Windows Media Photo)!
It’s probably nothing more than a tool to lock consumers and businesses into a proprietary technology via the Web!
PNG is the way to go people
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />
Check out more on WMPhoto at Wikipedia… someone needs to add a criticism section.
they will force it on people, like they do with their microsoft document format as an “alternative” to PDF. For example, after some system updates, my computer is defaulting to “microsoft document image” format. go figure. remember MS also screwed up HTML back in the day. They don’t like standards unless they create them.
For my fellow Brits:
Oy! Microsoft! NO!
“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! “
This would be my first reaction as well. Reading a news story that has a compelling image in it? – can’t save it because there will be a digital flag in it. It’s owned by the news service. Look, I’m all for protecting intellectual property, but, this is taking it too far (if indeed there is DRM in the WMP format). DRM only works to a point, and when you reach that point people won’t use the format because of it.
I would say yes, it would be good to have a better compression format for images – but it better be an open source standard. I am SICK of proprietary standards for video and audio – we don’t need one for photo compression as well.
Now we can have purdy pictures of viruses and worms!
Microsoft wants a lot of things…everything probably, notice they’re not getting much of anything these days but the bad press they deserve.
Don’t forget PNG!
“Windows Media Photo”
And the internal development project code name is:
SCREWU – System-wide Compression Reduction Enslaves Windows Users
It was Ballmer’s idea.
MW: audience, as in captive
It seems that Microsoft is the one that now doesn’t want to play in the universal sandbox. The wmv photo is the first brick in the wall. And as history shows us those that wall themselves in, eventually die. To be sure, at first it will seem so nice, people clammoring to get in, people pleading for a new edition, but then the silence will become defending as the crowds thin, and by the time it dawns on Bill, even giving it away for free won’t bring the masses back.
But more importantly, do you think Michelle Wie will promote the new Nintendo Wii?
Windows Media Photo-see it for sure.
What a farce.