WinZip 12 supports lossless JPG compression

Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Shareware

WinZip 12 supports lossless JPG compression

by Brad Linder Sep 11th 2008

WinZip is sort of the Xerox/Kleenex of the compression world. While many geeks prefer alternate file compression utilities like 7-zip, TUGZip, or WinRar, you're more likely to find WinZip installed on any given office computer. And with the launch of WinZip 12, the developers have shown that they still have a few tricks up their sleeves.

Probably the biggest changes in WinZip 12 have to do with its handling of image files. WinZip now has the ability to compress JPEG files by up to 25% without any quality loss. There's also a new Zip from Camera Wizard that makes it easier to grab files directly from your digital camera without copying them to your hard drive first.

You can also edit images using the WinZip explorer window and send selected files via email or FTP with a click.

WinZip 12 also supports additional file formats. Users can now extract 7z files as well as CD and DVD ISO and IMG disk images.

[via CNet]

Tags: 7-zip, 7z, compression, jpeg, jpg, winzip, zip

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Mythor said 1:45PM on 9-11-2008

Isn't zip compression always lossless? Isn't that kind of the point? If you lost data why would anyone ever use it for anything important?
I just selected a random folder full of JPGs to compress with (an old version of) WinRAR and - surprise - the rar file was smaller than the individual JPGs.

That they're getting a 25% compression rate on an already compressed format does seem impressive, but I fail to see what's exciting in general about it being lossless.
Marketing is their job, not yours. And that's what the lossless shtick is about - marketing.

Stuart Halliday said 9:43AM on 9-12-2008

The review said JPG not ZIP.

This is the JPG2000 format IIRC.

Not many graphic programs support it.

Jonathan Harford said 3:56PM on 9-11-2008

Download Squad covering WinZip? Yikes. I look forward to your pieces on Weatherbug, AOL, and RealPlayer.

(I tease. Forgive me.)

Matias Korhonen said 3:56PM on 9-11-2008

I still don't understand why people are paying for archive compression programs when there are perfectly good (read 'better') free alternatives out there.

Stuart Halliday said 9:43AM on 9-12-2008

Infozip is the industry standard open source free program.

It uses Wiz as a GUI.

http://www.info-zip.org/

BoxOfSnoo said 10:04AM on 9-12-2008

Because people don't pay for WinZip. With the "default" install of WinZip on every computer you find, you also find the "default" pre-registration nag screen.

I love 7-Zip!

Todd said 4:14PM on 9-11-2008

Download Squad covering WinZip? I look forward to your pieces on...5" inch floppy disks, the latest Wang mainframe and that new, insanely fast 2400 baud modem.

Why, in 2008, would anyone be zipping files? Ummm drop.io? S3? Hello?

Mysterius said 12:15AM on 9-13-2008

Why would people compress their files? Seriously? What world do you live in?

Demodave said 8:36PM on 9-11-2008

Because ZIPping files is the standard that everyone else uses...That's why. When I need to send a big number of files, I zip them. And I know that, without a doubt, the person on the other end will be able to open the file and access all the files inside.

Why is MP3 stil the standard when there are most certainly better sounding audio codecs ou there? Same reason. It is...and will be....the standard for a long time.

Todd said 11:36PM on 9-11-2008

Use drop.io or just push it to S3 and send the automatically generated URL - u r clogging teh intertubez wiff ur zippingz.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html?node=16427261

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