Filed in archive Companies , DRM , Standards by Marc on April 11, 2007

apple itunes will be selling top music without DRM. But that doesn't mean the files will be MP3. Apple is using AAC (Advanced Audio Coding). AAC uses newer technology that provides similar quality to MP3 but in a smaller, more compressed file. AAC comes in both protected (Apple's FairPlay DRM) and open versions.

Because AAC is open it could be licensed and used by any software or hardware player. However unlike MP3 it is not widely supported. Microsoft Zune plays AAC files, while Creative and SanDisk don't or do only in one model.

EMI is allowing online music stores a choice of formats for open files. While Apple went with AAC, sites can also use WMA and MP3 formats. AAC was developed by Dolby, Fraunhofer, AT&T, Sony and Nokia

Related Entries:

Open iTunes Files are not MP3 - 11 April 2007
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Vote for Open iTunes Files are not MP3:

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Rating: 10.00 out of 3 vote(s) cast.

Response from: sarah (04/17/07 1:21pm)

great post. good idea to see www.elitedl.info

Response from: Online Casino (06/06/07 2:53am)

I think that Open iTunes Files are not MP3 it's wrong but never the less

Response from: Hugo (07/11/07 5:44am)

It is not Apple's fault that other companies are not using the new, *open*, *standard* AAC format. Blame Creative and SanDisk for not supporting this open format, not Apple for not supporting old, lower-quality, MP3.

Response from: Hugo (07/11/07 5:55am)

Otherwise, you could say the same from supporting OGG Audio. Almost nobody cares about that format, and still, it is an open format.

Response from: fifiward (08/23/07 11:59pm)

that's not a problem for me. I use a program called NoteBurner. It acts as a virtual burner in iTunes. I can select the music I need to play on my Zune and burn them on virtual disc, actually my hard drive, in mp3 format. Then just transfer them to my Zune.