The Joint Photographic Experts Group - namesake of the JPEG file - announced today that they would consider adopting Microsoft’s HD Photo Technology into a new format, tentatively titled JPEG XR.

The new JPEG format promises to offer improvements in the way digital cameras record date, according to Microsoft representatives. These benefits would have the most effect in the low-end camera market, with budget digital cameras and picture phones able to take better photos without requiring heavier or more expensive hardware.

“Higher compression efficiency offers faster wireless uploads for longer battery life and an enhanced dynamic range that will help improve photographs taken in low-light conditions with a mobile phone or digital camera that does not offer sufficient flash assistance,” said Lance Howarth, general manager of the Media Processing Division at ARM Holdings PLC, a group which designs many of the processing components inside camera phones and lower-end digital cameras.

It doesn’t seem like the effects will be felt as much in the digital-SLR market, although better dynamic range would be a plus. But it would be nice to get better results from budget digital cameras. JPEG will vote on the new standard by October 2007, with implementation coming at least a year later.

Click here for the full press release and be prepared for some Microsoft hype. Think the new JPEG standard will make any difference or is this all just smoke and mirrors?

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