"Lewis" wrote

| HEIF is an excellent format with many modern advantages.
|

I'm guessing you're saying that because you use Apple
and Apple told you so, because Apple is switching to
it in iPhones.

First, it's a container format, not an image format.
Something like docx or like various compound
storage formats.

Second, the compression used seems to be very good, but
is it totally non-lossy? That's not clear from what I've read.

Third, and this is a biggie, the compression is patented:
https://www.hevcadvance.com/licensin...ng-information

Apple is using a system that allows for flexibility like storing
different copies of the same image in one container. And
presumably they're paying the patent fees. But that's not
needed for a basic file format. All that's needed is to develop
the best possible compression for bitmaps and then make
that format widely supported. Add a clear metadata storage
system and it does everything that anyone could want, at
least within the range of 24-bit color raster images.
But it needs to be a non-patented compression. Otherwise
it can't be used by most of the people who would want to
use it, like webmasters.

| No one can force MS to make that public or standardize the structure.
|
| Well, that is certainly not true.
|

No? A company doesn't have a right to
keep proprietary technologies secret?
Perhaps you'd like to tell us the Coke recipe.