MS offers HD Photo plug-in for Photoshop
updated 02:30 am EDT, Wed August 22, 2007
HD Photo plugin ships
Microsoft has released a new beta plug-in for Photoshop CS2 and CS3 that adds support for the HD Photo (formerly known as Windows Media Photo) format, which the company touts as a superior alternative to and possible replacement for the well-entrenched JPEG format. Microsoft says "The HD Photo plug-in supports a wide range of pixel formats (including high dynamic range, wide gamut formats) and numerous advanced HD Photo features." The plug-in requires Mac OS X 10.4. The Mac version is functionally identical to the Windows version and supports all the same pixel formats, encoder options and file format features as the Windows version. The encoder options dialog is functionally identical to the Windows versions, with all the same options and controls.
A Mac-exclusive feature included in this release is support for thumbnails in the Mac OS X Finder. A posting to the Microsot HD blog states "OS X doesn't currently HD Photo as a native format. However, whenever Photoshop writes and HD Photo file, it also creates a thumbnail on the resource fork in a compatible format for OS X. The result is great looking thumbnails for HD Photo files in Finder. Very cool!"
With the name change from Windows Media Photo to HD Photo, the spec now adds support for a new file extension - .hdp, though it is suggested that current implementers stick with the current .wdp extension. Microsoft says you can "future-proof" your application by also adding support for the new .hdp extension.
excellent news
08/22, 04:24am reply
I'm really excited about this. We need far more of these proprietary monopoly-controlled formats replacing existing open ones. Go M$!
Frogmella
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2001
cool
08/22, 07:47am reply
how may bugs will this new M$ plug-in bring to harm my computer?
Herod
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Joined: Jun 2007
They just can't stop.
08/22, 07:51am reply
I agree just what we need one more - proprietary monopoly-controlled formats.
It's over Johnny---It's over.
guzzi
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Joined: Jun 2006
Trying to nail more users
08/22, 11:39am reply
Step 1: trick unknown users and force windows corporate users into saving photos in proprietary and buggy M$ format
Step 2: create "great looking thumbnails" but lock down the image
Step 3: charge people to access their own photos.
Require yearly fee for M$ HD photo viewer, additional fee for M$ HD photo editor, plus extra fee for M$ HD photo printing program, etc.
Example viewer pricing: $259: HD photo Home Basic $299: HD photo Home premium $379: HD photo Business $499: HD photo Ultimate Not including upgrade pricing
=)
dliup
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Joined: Jan 2006
"$499: HD photo Ultimate"
08/22, 02:54pm reply
i just spit my beverage all over my screen.
Herod
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Joined: Jun 2007
updated
08/22, 04:41pm reply
MS has already released 2 security updates for this.
robttwo
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Joined: Nov 2005