LampreySoft
Developing State-of-the-Art Lossy Disk
Compression Products
Revolutionizing The Field of Disk Compression
© 1998 LampreySoft Technologies
LampreySoft LossySoft Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What’s the difference between lossless and lossy compression?
There are two forms of compression, lossless and lossy. Without getting too far into technical details, here are the key differences between the two:
Lossless compression uses algorithms that compress the data in such a state that when the data is decompressed, the file is 100% identical to the original file, bit-for-bit.
Lossy compression uses algorithms that compress the data into a form that is usable for a specific purpose, but is not bit-for-bit identical to the original file. One of the advantages of lossy compression is that compression ratios can be higher than with lossless compression when applied correctly. One way to think of the resulting compressed data is "a reasonable facsimile" of the original.
Lossless compression has traditionally been used where the data must not be altered, such as disk and software compression, communications, etc. Lossy compression is used to compress images, video, and audio data where a loss of fidelity of the final data still renders the data useful. If fidelity is very important, the amount of compression will be less, if fidelity is not as important as efficiency, higher compression can be achieved.
What’s wrong with lossless disk compression?
Lossless disk compression is a mature technology, but despite all efforts to come up with superior compression algorithms, it’s still not possible to achieve much better than a 2:1 compression ratio for most general use applications, like whole-disk compression.
Why is lossy disk compression so exciting?
Lossy disk compression is crucial to the future of information technology. With lossy compression as implemented in LossySoft products using the patented Herzfeld-Stippelmyer-VanDerMeer (HSV) algorithm, you can achieve impressive compression ratios with a single compression cycle. Compression ratios of 16:1 are average!
What’s really exciting is that with multiple cycles, you can compress further - in essence compressing your already compressed data. With multiple compression cycles, LossySoft products can compress your data to a much greater degree than competing products.
Assuming you compress your disk with LossySoft products and achieve a 16:1 compression ratio, a second compression, under the right circumstances, bring that ratio to 16:1 again, in other words compressing your original data to an amazing 256:1 ratio!
That’s amazing! Do some impressive mathematical stunts, will you?
We aim to please!
Let’s assume you have an extremely large hard drive. By today’s standards, a 9 gigabyte drive fits the bill. Let’s also assume you have it FILLED to capacity with data - your OS, applications, documents, etc.. For brevity’s sake we’ll ignore issues like cluster size. (Note: future LampreySoft products involving eliminating the cluster as we know it are in development)
9 gigabytes = 9,663,676,416 bytes
After a typical LossySoft HSV compression cycle you achieve a 16:1 compression ratio, or
9 gigabytes = approx 600 megabytes. You’ve compressed your data on your very expensive hard drive into a size that will fit on an average 2 gigabyte hard drive with PLENTY of room to spare.
Here’s where the REAL excitement comes in - let’s run the compression cycle TEN TIMES!
Cycle Size in bytes
Current technology can’t split bytes very well, so the minimum you can compress any disk to is 1 bit.
(Note: future LampreySoft products will use advanced features of quantum mathematics to reduce the lowest unit of information measure to sub-bit levels)
This is revolutionary! It calls for a Top Ten List!
Top Ten Advantages of LampreySoft Compression:
10 Renders the floppy drive obsolete.
9 Elminates pesky tape backup storage limitations.
8 Never buy another CD-R.
7 Finally, some ELBOW ROOM for your huge applications!
6 You ALREADY OWN the LAST hard drive you’ll EVER NEED!
5 SPEED SPEED SPEED! (LossySoft’s HSV compression is the fastest on the market)
4 No more storage upgrades when the next version of your OS requires twice as much
space as the last.
3 Frees up UNLIMITED internet bandwidth!
2 It’s EASY TO USE! (no confusing command-line or GUI interface)
1 Compress ANY DATA into ONE BIT: that’s a ONE or a ZERO - you can MEMORIZE it! Easily store TERABYTES of files in your HEAD! Johnny Mnemonic NEVER had it this good!
Wait a minute, this almost sounds too good to be true! Is it?
Nope.
I’m sold! What are the hardware and software requirements?
If your computer WORKS, it’s 100% compatible with LossySoft compression technology. LossySoft compression technology is backward-compatible with calculators, toasters, and even the human brain!
Hold on, if LossySoft compression is lossy, where do the lost bits go?
Lost bytes travel via photonic emissions to a large tank outside our corporate offices where they are scrubbed clean and redistributed to byte-poor regions. In this way, you are being eco-friendly and socially conscious by helping us help the world.
Where can I purchase LossySoft disk compression products?
At all major software outlets.
© 1998 LampreySoft Technologies
All Rights Reserved