Mozilla has introduced an updated version of its JPEG compression tool that reduces the image file sizes by 5 percent, significant for sites hosting images such as Facebook.
Mozilla is looking to improve user-experience with faster and responsive web pages. Usually web pages with images take longer to load compared to text-only pages. But it is extremely rare to find pages without images. To combat the slow-load problem on almost all web pages, Mozilla upgraded its JPEG compression tool that trims down the file sizes by 5 percent, a small figure but significant for image hosting websites such as Facebook.
As a token of appreciation and support to the new move by Mozilla, Facebook donated $60,000 for further development of the tool to its next version. The tool, known as mozjpeg 2.0, is being tested by the social networking giant as it can help reduce page load times for a rich user experience.
"Facebook supports the work Mozilla has done in building a JPEG encoder that can create smaller JPEGs without compromising the visual quality of photos," Stacy Kerkela, software engineering manager at Facebook, said in a press statement. "We look forward to seeing the potential benefits mozjpeg 2.0 might bring in optimizing images and creating an improved experience for people to share and connect on Facebook."
Mozilla also noted the highlight of mozjpeg 2.0 is trellis quantization, which keeps the integrity of the photo intact while reducing the file size. The upgraded tool improves compression for both baseline and progressive JPEGs, which were inclined to just progressive JPEGs in the previous version, Josh Aas, senior technology strategist for Mozilla, wrote on the company's official blog, Tuesday.
The JPEG is the most popular format and has been in use for more than 20 years. Most images on the Internet are saved in this format. It uses a standard method of "lossy" compression that reduces file size while maintaining the photo's integrity to a maximum extent. The original mozjpeg tool reduced the file size by 10 percent without affecting the quality. The mozjpeg 2.0 is an upgrade that shaves additional 5 percent.
Services like Facebook can take advantage of the encoder as social media sites are image-centric. Last month, Facebook explored ways to reduce its Android app's size and data consumption with an aim to bolster its reach in emerging markets. The app itself was tested in Africa on low and mid-range smartphones to get real-time results. So it is not surprising to see the social network's interest in Mozilla's JPEG encoder tool and investments for further development.
