The End of .ZIP compression as we know it.

There sure are a lot of 'ifs' and 'coulds' in that article.

I really couldn't care less about security in a zip file, so I don't think it would ever affect me. Besides, I use neither PKzip nor Winzip. I just use the built-in zip function in XP.

So - is this more of a "'secure' zip files would be a Good Thing (tm)" deal or is it more of a "Windows XP's nearly seamless zip file handling is cutting into our profits." type of deal? Notice how they're keeping the existing .zip extension.

Or maybe Winzip's feeling the crunch from faster, more feature packed archives out there such as WinACE? (Love my WinACE.)

Anyway, if I want to encrypt the contents of a zip file, I'll stick to using PGP, thanks. Sure, it's an extra step, but PGP's also never let me down.
[Message Edited]

never thought about security and a zip file.

although I have seen a few zips in my time where I had to use a product code or something like that to open it.

anywhoo...

There are only two types of people in the world that care about .zip file "security": a) paranoid sysops; and digibet managers who listen to group a (who seem to be the target audience of said site). The rest of the world doesn't give a damn about it.

Unfortunately, group b is where the money is at. And so the whole format could get wasted because of it. That is: if people adopt it. I say most won't.

My interpretation of the article was that in the end, a file or group of files compressed with PKware will not be able to be extracted with Winzip, Windows, or anything other than PKware, and vice versa. Note - there is no change in the .zip file extension name taking place. Now that indeed presents a problem as I don't want to have to install multiple programs to unzip a file which doesn't tell me which program I need to use to unzip it in the first place!
So.. Pkware needs to release the information to allow winzip etc to unzip their files, and winzip and ms need to pay license fees to pkware for that ability.

Well, I thought that only if the zip file was encrypted, one would only be able to uncrypt it with the proprietory software (PkZip). If the file wasn't encrypted, I thought that it wasn't a problem. Unless they are automatically encrypted by default, now that could cause a problem.
Nevertheless, I think that it will ultimately fail. People, especially in the business world, want compatibility. If one sends a file to a client or a partner, he wants that recipiant to be able to open the file. If people can't open each others file, you can be sure something is going to be changed.

you can be sure something is going to be changed.

You're right, paxx. If a single standard is not accepted, most likely the biggest, most popular will be used more and more with the others fading into obscurity. (Think VHS and Betamax)

But Windows Media uses ZIP files! And I use command-line PKZIP and PKUNZIP