What’s the Dif Between JPG and GIF?
Q What’s the difference between
a GIF and a JPG file?
A Graphics in their natural state are often too large
to be quickly downloaded and displayed, so they need to be compressed
(reduced) in size. The most popular compression formats are .GIF and
.JPG. Compressing graphics with either format does not reduce the
dimensions of a given image, it just reduces the overall size of a
graphics file.
GIF stands for Graphics Interchange Format. Most people pronounce it
with a soft "g" as in “jiff.” Years ago, when CompuServe first
introduced the GIF format and people started pronouncing it that way,
the Jif peanut butter folks took exception to the pronunciation.
Technically, the format should be pronounced with a hard “g” as in
“gift” or (duh) “graphics,” but nutty objections notwithstanding, most
people still refer to items in the GIF file format as “jiff” files.
JPG or JPEG (pronounced JAY-peg) stands for Joint Photographic Experts
Group. The JPG format can reduce files to approximately five percent of
their uncompressed size.
Photographs and graphics with lots of colors that blend and fade into
one another are best served by the JPG format. This format enables users
to save images with millions of colors, while the GIF format is limited
to 256 colors.
If given the choice between the two formats, you can’t go wrong if you
select JPG. It’s evolved into an industry standard and today is far more
prevalent than its GIF counterpart.
Q When I use Add/Remove Programs
on the Control Panel to remove a program, should I answer “Yes” or “No”
to the question, “Do you want to remove a shared file?”
A In a word, “No.” Shared files display the file
extension .DLL or Dynamic Linked Library file. What that high-falootin’
technobabble means is that the file in question may be used by more than
one program. A word processor and a spreadsheet, for example, may share
a DLL file, so removing it could cause one or more programs to
malfunction.
On a related note, you may on occasion encounter a message advising that
a certain DLL file cannot be found. That means that the missing file is
needed in order to open the program you’re trying to use. Why is it
missing? The most frequent cause is because it was removed when you
uninstalled another program. Oh, the humanity!
So whenever you’re asked if you would like to remove a shared file, I’d
suggest that you politely decline the invitation. It’s just not worth
the risk of derailing another program. I don’t know why Windows even
bothers to ask. In fact, the next time Mr. Gates stops by to mooch a cup
of coffee, I’ll be sure to offer that suggestion.
Mr. Modem’s Sites of the Month
Flight Aware
This live flight tracker allows you to view current U.S. air traffic
with the click of a mouse. Search for planes by tail number, airline and
flight number. You can also search flight activity at various domestic
airports or browse the unfriendly skies by aircraft type to determine
how many Boeing 737s are currently overhead.
www.flightaware.com
Heckle Depot
If offering heartfelt words of encouragement isn’t your cup of non-fat,
cinnamon mocha frappaspresso, perhaps lobbing sarcastic, jaded, caustic
comments to others is right up your alley. If so, the Heckle Depot
provides a treasure trove of heckles for all sports, including golf. You
don’t hear many golf hecklers because they tend to whisper, but if you
ever get within earshot, you’ll probably hear, “Take all the shots you
need!” “Try aiming out of bounds!” or the always popular, “Nice drive,
Alice.”
http://heckledepot.com
Retrographix
Most communities in the 1950s had hometown print shops that doubled as
printers of local news and advertising posters and flyers. These small
printers (usually under 5’4") generally could not afford to hire graphic
artists, so they used clip art supplied by various companies. This
now-nostalgic clip art is available for viewing, so click this site’s
index to begin your scroll down memory lane.
www.retrographix.com
Archives:
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