Google and Mozilla-led alliance push AV1 image compression

Many new picture formats have come and gone, but the reality is that JPEG is still one of the most commonly used photo compression methods in the world. This is not because it's the best, JPEG was invented in the 1990s and there are better alternatives these days.

That may change in the near future as some are trying to change things for the better. Google, Mozilla and others in the Alliance for Open Media are pushing a photo technology based on the new AV1 video compression technology. The AV1 photo format project promises to be even better than Apple's new HEIC photo format, by offering 15 percent smaller file sizes.

JPEG isn't just limited by needlessly large file sizes. It's also weak when it comes to supporting a wider range of bright and dark tones, a broader spectrum of colors, and graphic elements like text and logos. On top of that, photos these days are bursting beyond the rectangle-of-pixels limits, but JPEG can't handle new photo technology like bursts of shots, panoramas, live photos and 3D scene data.

The main benefits of AV1 will include lossless compression and high dynamic range support. In comparison with JPEG, the new format will also be much better suited for logos, text and charts. More at CNET.