1638 Real Networks has announced that it will switch from Sony's ATRAC III compression codec to the Advance Audio Compression (AAC) for the Real Audio 10 upgrade. The announcement was made in Las Vegas at the 2004 Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

AAC is the compression format used for the Apple Music Store, and one of the criticism leveled at AAC (usually by Microsoft) is that it isn't widely adopted. The move by Real Networks, a major force in streaming media, is especially good new for Mac users because Real also states that users will also use to "access a vast online library of digital music from the new RealPlayer Music Store in high fidelity 192Kbps RealAudio 10 with AAC." The Real Music Store is currently only available for Windows, and lists its portability "with compatible devices from Palm."

You can read the press release here, but EE times has a nice overview, as well as industry reaction to the decision.

Bill's been using Macs since the late 80s. When he's not making smartass remarks to amuse Kirk Hiner, he enjoys fighting for the user.

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