Microsoft woos digital-photography enthusiasts

By Caroline McCarthy
Staff writer, CNET News.com
Published: June 29, 2006, 12:17 PM PDT

Microsoft has recently been attempting to appeal to a crowd it traditionally hasn't focused on: digital photographers.

The software behemoth has never been known as a leader in the creative side of software manufacturing; that title arguably goes to Apple Computer or Adobe Systems. But Microsoft is trying to change that image in anticipation of the eventual release of its Vista operating system, particularly in the field of digital photography.

Thursday marked its first Pro Photo Summit, featuring the launch of a program called Icons of Imaging, designed to showcase the work of leaders and innovators in photography; and the announcement of the winners of a Future Pro Photographer Contest.

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Earlier this week, the software company purchased iView Multimedia, a British start-up that specializes in digital photo organization, as a potential rival to Adobe's Lightroom and Apple's Aperture.

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Microsoft is also working on Windows Media Photo, a format designed to rival the popular JPEG digital-photo format.

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