I have never known Microsoft do anything for the good of the industry before? Yet I know plenty of examples where they try and ruin their competitors. So this made no sense.
You seem to forget while Microsoft is one company, it is made up of many parts. Within this, some almost independent (think of the Xbox and the Microsoft Game Studios) there are research divisions that come up with stuff like this image format. Instead of locking it down (which would be useless for an image format unlike audio or video) they open it up, and get their name kept with it in the process. If it weren't open, more companies like camera manufacturers and photo software suites may not want to pay to implement it, so this way Microsoft gets their name and format out there in a positive way that's more encouraging to the other people using it, like the current JPEG standard before it. If they really want to replace it they have no other choice, otherwise it simply won't work.
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Can someone reply to tell me what the benefit of this is to microsoft? Since can't any company use this format now? Even its competitors.
Does it have to benefit Microsoft?
Can't a company just do something nice these days, like make a format that's really good, and let people use it as they want?
It's funny how people seem apprehensive towards Microsoft. This is 2007. Times have changed if you hadn't noticed.
the irony of his comment combined with his username is hilarious
I have never known Microsoft do anything for the good of the industry before? Yet I know plenty of examples where they try and ruin their competitors. So this made no sense.
I guess MS has a soft side after all.
You seem to forget while Microsoft is one company, it is made up of many parts. Within this, some almost independent (think of the Xbox and the Microsoft Game Studios) there are research divisions that come up with stuff like this image format. Instead of locking it down (which would be useless for an image format unlike audio or video) they open it up, and get their name kept with it in the process. If it weren't open, more companies like camera manufacturers and photo software suites may not want to pay to implement it, so this way Microsoft gets their name and format out there in a positive way that's more encouraging to the other people using it, like the current JPEG standard before it. If they really want to replace it they have no other choice, otherwise it simply won't work.
Yeah I understand that, but they aren't getting any gain from it in this case are they. Except maybe advertising of the MS brand.
Dear Michael.
What've you been smoking?