PNG 3.0
By Ian Hollidae, 2025/06/30
The PNG specification is getting an update for the first time in twenty years. The main focus is to simply recognize what the web community is already doing with the format. However, there appears to be a number of conflicts on the horizon regarding the future of image formats on the web.
The biggest issue is Google pushing its own WebP format, to become the defacto web standard, which some people aren't happy about. I've run across this problem myself (uploading a JPEG image but having it download as a WebP) while image testing. I admit, I'm not thrilled with this development.
There's also the matter of JPEG XL, the official successor to JPEG, which already does what the new PNG spec wants to achieve. All the major browsers seem to support it except for Chrome. And of course, JPEG itself will be difficult to replace, having been entrenched for so long. It makes me wonder if we might be at a point where any sort of friction between format stakeholders, mainly browsers and graphic toolsmakers, will lead to larger problems down the line.
In the long run, the more formats and tools that are available, the better. Let designers and developers sort things out. Hopefully this PNG update keeps things on that path.
Tags: Graphics
Some Legal Clarity For Copyright And AI
By Ian Hollidae, 2025/06/24
So we finally have some sort of legal direction regarding LLM's training on public material.
The tech industry will call this a win. The content industry, not so much. From the court summary (full PDF at the link above):
The copies used to train specific LLMs were justified as a fair use. Every factor but the nature of the copyrighted work favors this result. The technology at issue was among the most transformative many of us will see in our lifetimes.
The copies used to convert purchased print library copies into digital library copies were justified, too, though for a different fair use. The first factor strongly favors this result, and the third favors it, too. The fourth is neutral. Only the second slightly disfavors it. On balance, as the purchased print copy was destroyed and its digital replacement not redistributed, this was a fair use.
The downloaded pirated copies used to build a central library were not justified by a fair use. Every factor points against fair use. Anthropic employees said copies of works (pirated ones, too) would be retained forever for general purpose even after Anthropic determined they would never be used for training LLMs. A separate justification was required for each use. None is even offered here except for Anthropic's pocketbook and convenience.
And, as for any copies made from central library copies but not used for training, this order does not grant summary judgment for Anthropic. On this record in this posture, the central library copies were retained even when no longer serving as sources for training copies, hundreds of engineers could access them to make copies for other uses, and engineers did make other copies. Anthropic has dodged discovery on these points. We cannot determine the right answer concerning such copies because the record is too poorly developed as to them. Anthropic is not entitled to an order blessing all copying that Anthropic has ever made after obtaining the data, to use its words
As someone who spends time on both the tech and the content side of things, I think the content side will eventually come out just fine after this. I'm not sure I could say that before now.
First, it appears that copyright precedence was followed. If you download/obtain something legally, it falls into fair use. This seems pretty straight forward. Some part of what Anthropic did cleared the established legal hurdles.
Secondly, storing copyrighted material in a permanent database without compensating the owner is considered piracy. This part of what Anthropic did fell short of the established legal hurdles and will go to trial later this year. I think it was this aspect of LLM training that really cause a lot of angst. The idea of web crawlers scouring the web without restraint and with no regard for ownership seemed inevitable. I'm glad to see some rational lines being drawn.
In some ways, this ruling is a bit of a relief. Enough of the talk and speculation and the start of rubber-meets-the-road action. Looks like the results are off to a good start.
Tags: AI
The Age Of Streaming Has Officially Arrived
By Ian Hollidae, 2025/06/17
For the first time ever, streaming has outperformed cable and broadcast TV combined:
"It's a credit to media companies, who have deftly adapted their programming strategies to meet their viewers where they are watching TV - whether it's on streaming or linear platforms."
Karthik Rao, Nielsen CEO
Countless media sites have all the endlessly crunched statistics so no need to rehash them here.
Of course, none of this is surprising. I would say the announcement is anti-climatic. Still, it's worthwhile to officially mark what always seemed inevitable.
Tags: Streaming
An Apple Photos Feature Request
By Ian Hollidae, 2025/06/11
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Apple is holding its annual developers conference and there have been plenty of announcements, including updates to the Camera and Photos apps.
However, there's one feature I've long thought should be included in Photos but remains missing. It's the ability to view individual bracket exposures within a shot. Several months into my photography project, it became increasingly apparent this feature could be useful. Since the Camera app can shoot HDR, it clearly makes sense that Photos should be able to edit each individual exposure. This just seems straight forward.
I realize there are editors that have this feature, mostly pro-level apps. But from a simplicity standpoint Apple, who prides itself in having all of its software and services work seemlessly together, this seems like a basic miss on the company's part.
Tags: Photography
The Nicheness Of 3D
By Ian Hollidae, 2025/06/05
There are moments when I wonder why 3D on the web remains a niche. Whether youre using X3D, WebGL or three.js, one would think that a technology that can provide so much isnt more accepted. The common answer as to why 3D isn't used more is that it simply lacks a use case. But I think it's too easy to say theres no use without offering some reason as to why. So I'll share a thought I've been wrestling with recently. Just some thinking out loud really.
If you look at how we use the web today, it's basically a content delivery system. It serves up text, images, audio and video for a variety of purposes. In order to fit in, 3D content needs to work along side the established content mediums. But if you give some thought to what 3D does, you could say it's also a content delivery system, serving up rendered meshes composed of shapes and images. If the delivery purpose of 3D is the same as the web, then 3D doesn't suffer from lack of use cases, it's simply redundant. and clearly, redundancy isn't needed.
I think this is where 3D on the web breaks down. The use of 3d content highlights an odd dynamic: a technology that can deliver much more than standard web media but can't find much of a place on the web itself.
Of course, a lot of 3D developers will point out the purpose of what 3D delivers is to display immersive worlds or some sort of interactive presentation. But the question of how 3D fits in still remains fuzzy.
I don't think there's a single answer that will solve the issue. I'm sure it'll come down to designers and developers as it always does in the case of web technologies. For now, the nicheness of 3D is still a step above being unused and ignored.
Tags: Web 3D
Back Alley Door
By Ian Hollidae, 2025/05/28
One thing I've enjoyed during my photography project is taking pictures of old or rundown buildings. I never really expected old items to become a topic of interest in the first place which makes it even more enjoyable. Alleyways, when I can find them, are a favorite. That's where this photo was taken.
I'm not sure if this building is completely abandoned but I never see anyone go in or out and there's never any lights on at night.
Anyway, there's plenty of peeled paint and a bit of wall decay which made this a nice subject.
This post is a continuation of the Beginners Photography Project.
Tags: Feature Photos
Is AI Video Generation Moving Forward?
By Ian Hollidae, 2025/05/23
If you need any more evidence that the AI video generation age is being pushed forward, look no further than the steady stream of announcements. Googles recent event was full of the normal demos and the web was full of the normal end of the world comments.
But if you watch closely, there is something else that seems to be emerging. Has anyone noticed that none of these products promise *better* video/film creation than what's available through traditional means? Was there anything done in "Freelancers" (one of the demos) that can't be done today? For all the technological advances suposedly being made, I would think these announcements would present more than the predictable platitudes of "new chapters in creativity".
Now I get that video AI might settle down as a tool, and these tools need to be in the right hands, but these services don't seem to be offering better video even on a purely technical level. I find this odd mainly because all one has to do is dig up a video from decades ago to see just how much video, technically, has improved without the use of AI. Higher resolution screens, better means of video recording, a whole slew of new codecs, the list goes on. Even in the old days, there was never any question about the quality of video improving moving forward.
I think regardless of what happens next, it's clear the only value video generation has is to cut production costs. And that's only if the model somehow manages to create what you want before reaching your monthly service limit. Don't get me wrong, costs do matter. But if AI isn't really improving creativity, and the cost savings aren't realized under real world situations, then none of this will move forward for very long.
Tags: AI
Stones Throw
By Ian Hollidae, 2025/05/02
Like so many of the textures I've captured to this point, this is one I found walking down a street. It's a large decorative boulder, just over a foot in height, used in landscaping. Unfortunately, there's no look-up-rock feature in Apple Photos so I'm not sure what type of stone this is. But the chiseled/weathered sides and various colors looked interesting.
Select a thumbnail to see a preview.
Download the Stones Throw texture set under Creative Commons (CC BY 4.0).
Tags: Textures
Three.js At 15!
By Ian Hollidae, 2025/04/28
While a most of the tech press was covering YouTube anniversary, three.js was quietly celebrating 15 years of existence.
With all of my current projects running full speed, three.js is one topic I track but don't have time for. From my point of view, three.js a deeper level 3D package than X3D and projects requires far more involvement to complete. Since I refuse to short-change my effort, I'll have to remain on the outside looking in.
Tags: Web 3D
YouTube At 20!
By Ian Hollidae, 2025/04/23
Has it really been 20 years for YouTube? I remember first visiting the site in early 2006 just to see what it was. I don't remember which video I watched. In fact, it was several years before I watched anything regularly on YouTube at all.
Looking back, given YouTube's wide spread acceptance, it's amazing they haven't faced any serious competition during their existence. I guess as long as streaming video at scale remains expensive, YouTube will have quite a few more happy birthdays.
Tags: Streaming