Windows 10 To Include Native Support For MKV and FLAC Files
As time goes on, we continue to learn new things about the Windows 10 operating system, the successor to Windows 8/8.1 that Microsoft is planning to launch next year. The latest tidbit comes from Gabriel Aul, head of Microsoft's Operating Systems Group's Data and Fundamentals team, who took to Twitter to announce that Windows 10 will support FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) from day one. That's good news for audiophiles.
FLAC is an audio format similar to MP3, but with lossless compression, meaning there's no loss in audio quality from the original source. Nevertheless, FLAC's fancy algorithm is capable of reducing a music file by up to 60 percent of its original size -- it's the equivalent of having your cake and eating it, too.
The other upside to FLAC is that it's a non-proprietary, open format with royalty-free licensing -- there are no patents or legal roadblocks to worry about. It also boasts support for metadata tagging, album, cover art, and fast seeking.
There hasn't been much not to like about FLAC, except for the lack of native support in Windows and Windows Media Player. In order to play FLAC files, audio enthusiasts have been forced to seek out third-party programs, such as VLC, MediaMonkey, and WinAmp.
That will no longer be the case in Windows 10, which in addition to boasting support for FLAC, will also play nice with the MKV (Matrsoka Video) container file format, according to an earlier Twitter post by Aul.
FLAC is an audio format similar to MP3, but with lossless compression, meaning there's no loss in audio quality from the original source. Nevertheless, FLAC's fancy algorithm is capable of reducing a music file by up to 60 percent of its original size -- it's the equivalent of having your cake and eating it, too.
The other upside to FLAC is that it's a non-proprietary, open format with royalty-free licensing -- there are no patents or legal roadblocks to worry about. It also boasts support for metadata tagging, album, cover art, and fast seeking.
There hasn't been much not to like about FLAC, except for the lack of native support in Windows and Windows Media Player. In order to play FLAC files, audio enthusiasts have been forced to seek out third-party programs, such as VLC, MediaMonkey, and WinAmp.
That will no longer be the case in Windows 10, which in addition to boasting support for FLAC, will also play nice with the MKV (Matrsoka Video) container file format, according to an earlier Twitter post by Aul.
