JPEG XR: Microsoft's HD Photo format is endorsed by JPEG

The Joint Photographic Experts Group decided earlier this week to officially endorse the Microsoft HD Photo file format as the eventual heir apparent to the JPEG standard. In order to be adopted, the format has lost its vendor-specific name and other Microsoft proprietary controls to ensure universal compatibility. The new format will hence be known as JPEG XR whereby XR stands for eXtended Range.

Microsoft believes that wide-spread use of this file format could begin in about a year.

Key features include:

• wider colour palette
• finer gradations
• in-camera imaging processing support
• faster burst-mode photography
• better compression
• supported by Windows Vista
• support has been pledged by Adobe (a plug-in for Photoshop is already available)