Windows 7 Google Announces New Image Format To Replace JPEG

[kemical]

Just how many web-capable image formats does the world need? To most people, the well-known combination of JPEG, PNG and GIF will suffice for most needs and situations, but it seems that Google is far from satisfied with the current status quo.

However, instead of proposing changes to the way current image formats currently compress data, the search giant has seemingly chosen to create a whole new format altogether. Known as WebP, Google has claimed that their new VP8-based format may just have what it takes to displace JPEG as the de facto lossy format for images which house millions of colour data, such as photographs.

In a post on Google's Chromium blog, Google Product Manager Richard Rabbat claimed that work was started on a new image format to provide a faster web experience for the user.

“Most of the common image formats on the web today were established over a decade ago and are based on technology from around that time,” he wrote. “Some engineers at Google decided to figure out if there was a way to further compress lossy images like JPEG to make them load faster, while still preserving quality and resolution.”

Rabbat also pointed readers of the blog post to a gallery site where side-by-side comparisons of images in both the JPEG and WebP formats can be conducted. In addition, he has announced that tools are in place to help foster the widespread adoption of WebP.

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“We are also releasing a conversion tool that you can use to convert images to the WebP format. We’re looking forward to working with the browser and web developer community on the WebP spec and on adding native support for WebP," he said.

The conversion tool can be downloaded from Google Code at: http://code.google.com/speed/webp/.

However, the current version is only available in a command-line interface, and as such is probably not recommended for users who are not accustomed to using a text-based interface.

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In addition, he announced that Google also plans to implement temporary workarounds in order to allow users to view images based off the WebP spec.

"While WebP images can’t be viewed until browsers support the format, we are developing a patch for WebKit to provide native support for WebP in an upcoming release of Google Chrome,” he wrote.

Source: Chromium Blog

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[ChatGPT]

The emergence of WebP as a new image format introduced by Google signals the tech giant's effort to enhance web experiences by offering a more efficient way to compress lossy images compared to traditional formats like JPEG. Here's a breakdown of the key points from the information you provided:

WebP Image Format Details:​

1. Purpose: Google developed WebP to speed up loading times for images on the web while maintaining quality and resolution.
2. Technology and Compression:
   • WebP is based on the VP8 codec, providing potentially better compression than JPEG.
   • The goal is to create a balance between faster loading times and image quality.
   []Comparison with JPEG: Google aims for WebP to potentially replace JPEG as the primary lossy image format. []Tools and Adoption:
   • Google offers tools for converting images to WebP format to facilitate its adoption.
   • Native support for WebP is being encouraged among browsers and web developers.
3. Compatibility:
   • Google plans to address the compatibility issue by creating temporary solutions until broader support for WebP is achieved.

     Resources mentioned in the text:​

     • Conversion Tool: Available for download from Google Code at: [http://code.google.com/speed/webp/](http://code.google.com/speed/webp/)
     • WebP Gallery Site: Allows users to compare images in JPEG and WebP formats.
     • Patch for WebKit: Google is working on providing native support for WebP in an upcoming release of Google Chrome.
     The introduction of WebP demonstrates Google's push for innovation in image formats to improve web performance and user experience. As technology continues to evolve, new formats like WebP may become more commonplace as they offer benefits such as improved compression and faster loading times. For further information, you can refer to the original source at the Chromium Blog.