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Apple's Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC) Now Open Source

Posted by samzenpus on from the free-music dept.

Revotron writes "Apple has released the full source to their Apple Lossless Audio Codec under the Apache license. ALAC was developed by Apple and deployed on all of its platforms and devices over the last 10 years. Could the release of the ALAC source code mark a possible first step in opening up more of the iOS platform?"

10 of 526 comments (clear)

  1. Why not... by Lanteran · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...just use FLAC?

    --
    "People don't want to learn linux" hasn't been a valid excuse since '03.
    1. Re:Why not... by Moridineas · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Honestly, who gives a shit if the connector on one end isn't a mini-usb. iPhones/iPods/iPads support USB bus connections. Every hotel I've stayed at in the last 2-3 years just about has had an alarm clock with an Apple dock connector, so, I'm actually getting more utility out of the proprietary connector than you are with a standard (I've never even seen an alarm clock that has a USB plug). But again, who really gives a shit? You can get a new cable for like $3. I can see getting one's panties in a twist over DRM (though gone for years from music) or what not, but a cord--that is probably for most people even more ubiquitous than mini/micro-USB? Sheesh.

    2. Re:Why not... by Moridineas · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You're right, I think a lot of the whining done here is bizarre.

      The Microsoft tax doesn't affect me; I choose to no longer use Microsoft products.

      The Apple tax and Apple walled garden affects me; I choose to use Apple products.

      Nobody is MAKING me do either thing. I, as an individual, can make decisions. It's obvious that a very large percentage of the human race doesn't like it when other people make contrary decisions.

      Why does someone--in this case "nashv"--care what product I use ("Ok , ok, I couldn't resist showing my distaste for those infernal locked down devices.")? Why does he care what type of cord a product he doesn't like uses? It's just mere human tribalism and partisanship. It's an "if you're not with me, you're against me" mentality. Beyond my that, just how unbelievably minor and petty, that so many people seem to need to come online and bash somebody's choice of cell phone or music device.

    3. Re:Why not... by bemymonkey · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Isn't that a reason NOT to use an iPod? Jeeze, stop buying crippled crap.

    4. Re:Why not... by GameboyRMH · · Score: 1, Insightful

      True it's a cat-and-mouse game, Apple doesn't want you to use anything but iTunes to sync the device and issues updates to break compatibility with any 3rd-party clients.

      I don't know why people defend the use of these toys on Slashdot. They should be ashamed to admit they bought them.

      --
      "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
  2. Useful for Airplay by Drakino · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Keep in mind any Airplay compatible device can use ALAC, but can't use FLAC. This includes the Airport Express units that have been out since ~2004 or so, and the newer non Apple devices with Airplay compatibility. This is likely a move to assist with 3rd parties wanting to integrate more with Airplay, as the relevant network pieces (Bonjour) are already out there in source form.

    Sadly I'm sure most people here will go on and on about how it's not FLAC, and whatever. For once, just at least appreciate that Apple is continuing to throw some interesting things out to the OSS crowd instead of deciding to nitpick it to death. If you don't want to use it, thats fine. Just really tired of the nitpickery and general negative outlook geeks around here tend to have. Cheer up for once :-)

    1. Re:Useful for Airplay by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Geeks don't tend to just get negative for no reason whatsoever.

      LOL thanks I needed that laugh. Please do go on believing your opinions are objectively better, though. It's lovely to see that level of arrogance justified.

    2. Re:Useful for Airplay by schnikies79 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Geeks are biggest fanboys on the planet. They get mad and everything, reason or not.

      --
      Gone!
    3. Re:Useful for Airplay by bonch · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Geeks don't tend to just get negative for no reason whatsoever.

      Dumbest comment I've seen on Slashdot in years? Could be.

      Geeks have a "general negative outlook" towards Apple because they think everything should be a nerd playground with dozens of impressive-sounding technical specs. Slashdot thought the original iPod would fail, it thought the iPod mini would fail, and it thought the iPad would fail. When those didn't fail, they adopted their usual cross-armed, grumbling position in the corner of the room, talking spitefully about the "sheeple" happy with their shiny Apple products. They think they're too cool for the room to use such things.

      I love how you end your post with an ominous statement about Apple's motives without posting any supporting evidence. How is open sourcing ALAC a profit-driven decision? Competing music players can now adopt ALAC. You're going to have write something a little more persuasive.

  3. Re:This patent grant protects Apple,. not you by Farmer+Tim · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Two questions:

    1- Who but a knuckle dragging moron would accept a software license and then try to sue the software's creator?

    2- Why is this clause evil when it's software from Apple, but not a problem when it's from the Apache Foundation?

    --
    Blank until /. makes another boneheaded UI decision.