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Microsoft XPS might open up soon

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CIOL Bureau
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PUNE: XPS, the new print and document format by Microsoft, which is a standard part of Windows Vista, could be soon open for all.

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It is being discussed and worked upon for being converted from a proprietary format to open standards one, hinted its joint developer Global Graphics.

Jim Freidah, COO, Global Graphics told that the company has been asked to be part of ECMA team to decide on the open standards route. While Microsoft owns XPS specifications, the technology and support is the IP of Global Graphics.

“We have provided consultation on specs, developed a XPS RIP (Raster Image Processor) prototype and provided a reference RIP for Microsoft, besides being part of the product implementations,” Freidah explained.

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XPS is a portable format with fixed layout and high-fidelity and is Microsoft’s attempt at weaning away the desktop space currently led by Adobe’s PDF. It is also available on Windows XP and 2003. In December 2006, Microsoft's Office OpenXML has been approved as an ECMA standard and was also on its way to being submitted for consideration as an ISO international standard. ECMA is a Switzerland-based standardization body.

Rostam Siamak, director, R&D, Global Graphics opined that open standards are key from both research and market perspectives. “It allows for additional enhancements and generates more interest. On the business side, open standards lead to wider acceptance. Many organizations, for instance, government agencies, would not accept a format unless it is in open form and thus amenable to archiving and varied print creations.”

Incidentally, PDF has also entered the open-format spectrum now. “Earlier native RIPing was not possible in Adobe PDF as the PDF has to be converted to Postscript and vice verse for prints,” Siamak pointed out.

Global Graphics Software, a developer and supplier of RIPs (Raster Image Processors), workflow, electronic document and color solutions, has inaugurated its Pune center today. The center would be doubling its current headcount of 25 people by end of 2007, shared Arun Bhardwaj, director of Pune center. The Pune center will contribute in development and testing of RIP and EDL. Its customers cover OEMs, System Integrators, software developers, printing, document and electronic solution companies like HP, Microsoft, Kodak, Quark and Fuji Xerox.

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