Pentax powered by Microsoft..

jeffkrol · 05-12-2008, 10:59 PM

Are we going to see a "BOB" DSLR?
Microsoft Bob - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pixel mapping powered by Vista????
What does it all mean??? Pentax teaming w/ the evil empire is a bit scarey...
Microsoft and HOYA Enter Into Patent Cross-Licensing Agreement Covering Digital Cameras and Other Consumer Products
Microsoft Corp. and HOYA CORPORATION PENTAX Imaging Systems Division have signed a patent cross-licensing agreement to further the development of each
company's current and future product lines, which will expand technological
innovation and enhance the overall customer and consumer experience.
The agreement covers digital cameras made by PENTAX as well as a broad
range of other consumer products each company manufactures and sells.
Although the contents of the agreement, including the specific financial
terms, have not been disclosed, the parties indicated that Microsoft is
being compensated by PENTAX.
Just for fun. MS has a few in the top 25:
PC World - The 25 Worst Tech Products of All Time

Last edited by jeffkrol; 05-12-2008 at 11:10 PM.

Maxington · 05-13-2008, 02:29 AM

What's wrong with Microsoft helping develop technologies to further digital imagery? I see this as a good thing, Microsoft has a lot of R&D power.

falconeye · 05-13-2008, 03:22 AM

Good find!

The press release contains the sentence:

"the parties indicated that Microsoft is being compensated by PENTAX."

The Microsoft IP website states:

License protocols, standards, file formats and other technology from our Interoperability IP Licensing Program

License component technologies for a wide variety of applications through our Component IP Licensing Program

Technologies created by Microsoft Research scientists are available for exclusive licensing or spin-out

So, Pentax probably just bought a software license from MS

Ishpuini · 05-13-2008, 03:26 AM

Perhaps this just means that there will be a codec soon to show Pentax RAW files in Windows... as is already the case with the bIg two.

Wim

MrApollinax · 05-13-2008, 03:42 AM

RUMOR ALERT!!! RUMOR ALERT!!!!!

Complete speculation on my part.... Just a fair warning....

I think this would make sense with all the "full frame"/20+MP stuff floating around. Microsoft's HD-JPEG replacement is called JPEG-XR. A single format that supposedly has better compression than JPEG but without the inherent loss? Also same file format can be used for "lossless" image capture from digital sensors? Here are the main highlights from MS:

• It can store 16 or 32 bits of data for each color, compared with JPEG's 8 bits, making it easier to discern shadow details or the subtle tonal variations of snow in sunlight.

• It compresses data twice as efficiently as JPEG, with either twice the quality at a given file size or half the file size at a given quality.

• It's designed to work well in camera image-processing chips, and to reduce memory requirements, it encodes images chunk by chunk without having to store the complete image at one time.

PEF? DNG? JPEG-XR? Guess which one of these is already supported in Vista?

**NaClH2O** · 05-13-2008, 03:44 AM

Originally posted by Ishpuini

Perhaps this just means that there will be a codec soon to show Pentax RAW files in Windows... as is already the case with the bIg two.

Wim

I didn't think of that Wim, but that seems like a good bet, especially since MS is being paid by Pentax.

NaCl(I don't see it as bad news)H2O

cpopham · 05-13-2008, 03:44 AM

Originally posted by Ishpuini

Perhaps this just means that there will be a codec soon to show Pentax RAW files in Windows... as is already the case with the bIg two.

You know that there already is, right?

See this page http://www.microsoft.com/prophoto/downloads/codecs.aspx and follow the link to Pentax imaging. The codec is Vista only and doesn't support the K20.

mattdm · 05-13-2008, 04:09 AM

Originally posted by MrApollinax

I think this would make sense with all the "full frame"/20+MP stuff floating around. Microsoft's HD-JPEG replacement is called JPEG-XR.

Presuming Microsoft makes good on their stated intention to make this a real open standard, this would be awesome news.

Busiko · 05-13-2008, 04:23 AM

Originally posted by jeffkrol

Are we going to see a "BOB" DSLR?
Microsoft Bob - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pixel mapping powered by Vista????
What does it all mean??? Pentax teaming w/ the evil empire is a bit scarey...
Microsoft and HOYA Enter Into Patent Cross-Licensing Agreement Covering Digital Cameras and Other Consumer Products
Microsoft Corp. and HOYA CORPORATION PENTAX Imaging Systems Division have signed a patent cross-licensing agreement to further the development of each
company's current and future product lines, which will expand technological
innovation and enhance the overall customer and consumer experience.
The agreement covers digital cameras made by PENTAX as well as a broad
range of other consumer products each company manufactures and sells.
Although the contents of the agreement, including the specific financial
terms, have not been disclosed, the parties indicated that Microsoft is
being compensated by PENTAX.
Just for fun. MS has a few in the top 25:
PC World - The 25 Worst Tech Products of All Time

That's very good news. After all we are well used to those nice blue screens.

jeffkrol · 05-13-2008, 05:03 AM

Originally posted by cpopham

You know that there already is, right?

See this page Microsoft Pro Photo: Codecs and follow the link to Pentax imaging. The codec is Vista only and doesn't support the K20.

One of the bothersome things is why not port these backwards? Why the refusal to add this to XP, or other OS iterations (OK a Codec for Win 98SE is silly to some).
Is it technological or marketing decision???? My guess, just marketing.

Originally posted by mattdm

Presuming Microsoft makes good on their stated intention to make this a real open standard, this would be awesome news.

Hmm..... like DNG, which by it's very nature makes itself not so universal. Allowing manufacturers to "hide things" or "un-standardize" the standard is counter productive to the cause. Unfortunately there is no "easy" solution except to end up w/ a pseudo-standard.........
Microsoft... open standard, I'll believe that when I see it.. And if this is what Pentax is paying for, then there buying what, rights to something that would eventually be free, and open???
Waste of money in my book.

tdb · 05-13-2008, 05:04 AM

Everyone who's ever been in bed with Miscrosoft now regrets it. I wouldn't touch anything they offer with a bare pole, only true standards. That's why I shoot/store DNG, use 16bit TIFF for processing, print JPEG and all of it under Linux (python script using dcraw, imagemagick & hugin).

séamuis · 05-13-2008, 05:14 AM

I think its way to early to be assuming that it has anything to do with file formats.

RBellavance · 05-13-2008, 05:18 AM

I'll wait and see what actually comes out of this, but my initial reaction is a visceral "aw, crap!"

I dislike Microsoft *very* strongly.

Jonson PL · 05-13-2008, 05:19 AM

Thanks for the info. Too bad Pentax is doomed, when Hoya and Microsoft go belly up.
Kidding aside, this seems like a strong alliance. And Microsoft putting more fuel on the DSLR train, can only help us consumers.

“the overall IT ecosystem”, this is a new one for me

Ko Torigoe, general manager of HOYA CORPORATION PENTAX Imaging Systems Division. "We also expect that it will bring considerable benefits to consumers in the near future, as we should be able to shorten the time required for product development because of technological advancement by both companies, and therefore deliver higher-quality products to the market."

This sounds good to me, something that would be welcome.

Microsoft is already in a similar agreement with Samsung Electronics
America Inc.

MrApollinax · 05-13-2008, 05:20 AM

Which is why I said it was pure speculation on my part. FWIW Microsoft is actually working on JPEG-XR with the JPEG group.

05-12-2008, 10:59 PM	#1
jeffkrol Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wisconsin USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,434	Pentax powered by Microsoft.. Are we going to see a "BOB" DSLR? Microsoft Bob - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Pixel mapping powered by Vista???? What does it all mean??? Pentax teaming w/ the evil empire is a bit scarey... Microsoft and HOYA Enter Into Patent Cross-Licensing Agreement Covering Digital Cameras and Other Consumer Products Microsoft Corp. and HOYA CORPORATION PENTAX Imaging Systems Division have signed a patent cross-licensing agreement to further the development of each company's current and future product lines, which will expand technological innovation and enhance the overall customer and consumer experience. The agreement covers digital cameras made by PENTAX as well as a broad range of other consumer products each company manufactures and sells. Although the contents of the agreement, including the specific financial terms, have not been disclosed, the parties indicated that Microsoft is being compensated by PENTAX. Just for fun. MS has a few in the top 25: PC World - The 25 Worst Tech Products of All Time Last edited by jeffkrol; 05-12-2008 at 11:10 PM.

05-13-2008, 03:22 AM	#3
falconeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Munich, Alps, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,871	Good find! The press release contains the sentence: "the parties indicated that Microsoft is being compensated by PENTAX." The Microsoft IP website states: License protocols, standards, file formats and other technology from our Interoperability IP Licensing Program License component technologies for a wide variety of applications through our Component IP Licensing Program Technologies created by Microsoft Research scientists are available for exclusive licensing or spin-out So, Pentax probably just bought a software license from MS

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05-13-2008, 02:29 AM	#2
Maxington Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 255	What's wrong with Microsoft helping develop technologies to further digital imagery? I see this as a good thing, Microsoft has a lot of R&D power.

05-13-2008, 03:26 AM	#4
Ishpuini Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Antwerp, Belgium Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,727	Perhaps this just means that there will be a codec soon to show Pentax RAW files in Windows... as is already the case with the bIg two. Wim

05-13-2008, 03:42 AM	#5
MrApollinax Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Minnesota Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,529	RUMOR ALERT!!! RUMOR ALERT!!!!! Complete speculation on my part.... Just a fair warning.... I think this would make sense with all the "full frame"/20+MP stuff floating around. Microsoft's HD-JPEG replacement is called JPEG-XR. A single format that supposedly has better compression than JPEG but without the inherent loss? Also same file format can be used for "lossless" image capture from digital sensors? Here are the main highlights from MS: • It can store 16 or 32 bits of data for each color, compared with JPEG's 8 bits, making it easier to discern shadow details or the subtle tonal variations of snow in sunlight. • It compresses data twice as efficiently as JPEG, with either twice the quality at a given file size or half the file size at a given quality. • It's designed to work well in camera image-processing chips, and to reduce memory requirements, it encodes images chunk by chunk without having to store the complete image at one time. PEF? DNG? JPEG-XR? Guess which one of these is already supported in Vista?

05-13-2008, 03:44 AM	#6
NaClH2O Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bronx NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,631	Originally posted by Ishpuini Perhaps this just means that there will be a codec soon to show Pentax RAW files in Windows... as is already the case with the bIg two. Wim I didn't think of that Wim, but that seems like a good bet, especially since MS is being paid by Pentax. NaCl(I don't see it as bad news)H2O

05-13-2008, 03:44 AM	#7
cpopham Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Auckland Posts: 553	Originally posted by Ishpuini Perhaps this just means that there will be a codec soon to show Pentax RAW files in Windows... as is already the case with the bIg two. You know that there already is, right? See this page http://www.microsoft.com/prophoto/downloads/codecs.aspx and follow the link to Pentax imaging. The codec is Vista only and doesn't support the K20.

05-13-2008, 04:09 AM	#8
mattdm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,948	Originally posted by MrApollinax I think this would make sense with all the "full frame"/20+MP stuff floating around. Microsoft's HD-JPEG replacement is called JPEG-XR. Presuming Microsoft makes good on their stated intention to make this a real open standard, this would be awesome news.

05-13-2008, 04:23 AM	#9
Busiko Guest	Originally posted by jeffkrol Are we going to see a "BOB" DSLR? Microsoft Bob - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Pixel mapping powered by Vista???? What does it all mean??? Pentax teaming w/ the evil empire is a bit scarey... Microsoft and HOYA Enter Into Patent Cross-Licensing Agreement Covering Digital Cameras and Other Consumer Products Microsoft Corp. and HOYA CORPORATION PENTAX Imaging Systems Division have signed a patent cross-licensing agreement to further the development of each company's current and future product lines, which will expand technological innovation and enhance the overall customer and consumer experience. The agreement covers digital cameras made by PENTAX as well as a broad range of other consumer products each company manufactures and sells. Although the contents of the agreement, including the specific financial terms, have not been disclosed, the parties indicated that Microsoft is being compensated by PENTAX. Just for fun. MS has a few in the top 25: PC World - The 25 Worst Tech Products of All Time That's very good news. After all we are well used to those nice blue screens.

05-13-2008, 05:03 AM	#10
jeffkrol Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wisconsin USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,434 Original Poster	Originally posted by cpopham You know that there already is, right? See this page Microsoft Pro Photo: Codecs and follow the link to Pentax imaging. The codec is Vista only and doesn't support the K20. One of the bothersome things is why not port these backwards? Why the refusal to add this to XP, or other OS iterations (OK a Codec for Win 98SE is silly to some). Is it technological or marketing decision???? My guess, just marketing. Originally posted by mattdm Presuming Microsoft makes good on their stated intention to make this a real open standard, this would be awesome news. Hmm..... like DNG, which by it's very nature makes itself not so universal. Allowing manufacturers to "hide things" or "un-standardize" the standard is counter productive to the cause. Unfortunately there is no "easy" solution except to end up w/ a pseudo-standard......... Microsoft... open standard, I'll believe that when I see it.. And if this is what Pentax is paying for, then there buying what, rights to something that would eventually be free, and open??? Waste of money in my book.

05-13-2008, 05:04 AM	#11
tdb Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Ottawa, ON Posts: 33	Everyone who's ever been in bed with Miscrosoft now regrets it. I wouldn't touch anything they offer with a bare pole, only true standards. That's why I shoot/store DNG, use 16bit TIFF for processing, print JPEG and all of it under Linux (python script using dcraw, imagemagick & hugin).

05-13-2008, 05:14 AM	#12
séamuis Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Savannah, U.S./Baguio City, P.H. Posts: 5,979	I think its way to early to be assuming that it has anything to do with file formats.

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05-13-2008, 05:18 AM	#13
RBellavance Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Near Montréal, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,716	I'll wait and see what actually comes out of this, but my initial reaction is a visceral "aw, crap!" I dislike Microsoft very strongly.

05-13-2008, 05:19 AM	#14
Jonson PL Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Copenhagen Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,842	Thanks for the info. Too bad Pentax is doomed, when Hoya and Microsoft go belly up. Kidding aside, this seems like a strong alliance. And Microsoft putting more fuel on the DSLR train, can only help us consumers. “the overall IT ecosystem”, this is a new one for me Ko Torigoe, general manager of HOYA CORPORATION PENTAX Imaging Systems Division. "We also expect that it will bring considerable benefits to consumers in the near future, as we should be able to shorten the time required for product development because of technological advancement by both companies, and therefore deliver higher-quality products to the market." This sounds good to me, something that would be welcome. Microsoft is already in a similar agreement with Samsung Electronics America Inc.

05-13-2008, 05:20 AM	#15
MrApollinax Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Minnesota Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,529	Which is why I said it was pure speculation on my part. FWIW Microsoft is actually working on JPEG-XR with the JPEG group.