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I wish apple supported FLAC. There’s an amazing free tool to convert to/from ALAC (https://tmkk.undo.jp/xld/index_e.html https://tmkk.undo.jp/xld/index_e.html),

I wish apple supported FLAC. There’s an amazing free tool to convert to/from ALAC (https://tmkk.undo.jp/xld/index_e.html https://tmkk.undo.jp/xld/index_e.html), but still: some players only support FLAC and some ALAC and sometimes you can’t transfer songs in either format because of the no overlap between source/target.

esperent 4y ago
I'm always mystified when someone says they wish their general purpose computing device running a Unix based OS supported X feature. How can an Apple device not support FLAC? Are they really that locked down that you can't do something basic like install a codec?
- CharlesW 4y ago
  > How can an Apple device not support FLAC? Are they really that locked down that you can't do something basic like install a codec? You can't install a codec globally on iOS, but there are many, many player apps that support FLAC: https://www.igeeksblog.com/best-music-player-apps-for-iphone-ipad/ https://www.igeeksblog.com/best-music-player-apps-for-iphone... For folks who think Apple Music is the best music app for iOS, it's not difficult to convert songs, albums, or whole music libraries to ALAC.
  - brewdad 4y ago
    I've been happy with Flacbox. Obviously it supports FLAC but it also supports OPUS which is great for the portability/sound quality tradeoff.
- savoytruffle 4y ago
  ALAC (Apple Lossless …) is not much newer than FLAC — it started in mid 2004 as the audio transport to AirPlay (previously called AirTunes) to AirPort Express. I think they prefer it because it's in a MPEG4 container, it can be DRM encumbered with their "FairPlay" technology that they hadn't used for a while, but now use again for subscription Apple Music.
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astrange 4y ago
iOS does support FLAC, it’s just the Music app doesn’t. It works in Files and Safari.
hilyen 4y ago
Even with Apple's Lossless format, it doesn't matter much because most people are listening through Bluetooth, which does not support lossless transmission.

esperent 4y ago

I'm always mystified when someone says they wish their general purpose computing device running a Unix based OS supported X feature. How can an Apple device not support FLAC? Are they really that locked down that you can't do something basic like install a codec?

CharlesW 4y ago
> How can an Apple device not support FLAC? Are they really that locked down that you can't do something basic like install a codec? You can't install a codec globally on iOS, but there are many, many player apps that support FLAC: https://www.igeeksblog.com/best-music-player-apps-for-iphone-ipad/ https://www.igeeksblog.com/best-music-player-apps-for-iphone... For folks who think Apple Music is the best music app for iOS, it's not difficult to convert songs, albums, or whole music libraries to ALAC.
- brewdad 4y ago
  I've been happy with Flacbox. Obviously it supports FLAC but it also supports OPUS which is great for the portability/sound quality tradeoff.
savoytruffle 4y ago
ALAC (Apple Lossless …) is not much newer than FLAC — it started in mid 2004 as the audio transport to AirPlay (previously called AirTunes) to AirPort Express. I think they prefer it because it's in a MPEG4 container, it can be DRM encumbered with their "FairPlay" technology that they hadn't used for a while, but now use again for subscription Apple Music.

deleted 4y ago

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astrange 4y ago

iOS does support FLAC, it’s just the Music app doesn’t. It works in Files and Safari.

hilyen 4y ago

Even with Apple's Lossless format, it doesn't matter much because most people are listening through Bluetooth, which does not support lossless transmission.