Microsoft shows off JPEG rival

Posted on May 26, 2006
Filed Under Innovation |

This article about Microsoft’s new graphics format offers an interesting lesson in the pitfalls of looking backwards to build a technology adoption plan. When I was reading it I immediately thought “will Photoshop support it” and only at the end did I realize that is the wrong question to ask… “will camera phones and Myspace support it?” is a much better one.

Graphics professionals don’t need another compression format, hell photographers don’t use JPEG to begin with as they primarily use RAW so why bother obsessing about whether or not Photoshop supports the format.

Rob Theis at DCM uttered the phrase “death from below” during a panel we spoke on together a few weeks ago and it’s been stuck in my head ever since. In this case, Microsoft’s route to market through Myspace and their ilk would be death from below for JPEG, as would camera phones.

You gotta love the insightful “success will depend on adoption” statement! Gee, ya think?

Microsoft shows off JPEG rival | CNET News.com: Yet, success will depend on adoption, Wells said. 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. “Licensing can kill this,” Wells said.

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