Windows 10 Will Feature FLAC and MKV Support

 

Third-party programs no longer needed

When it comes to Microsoft's upcoming successor to Windows 8/8.1, the company seems to be hitting the right notes in many ways. So the latest bit of news should excite audiophiles everywhere now that it has been revealed that Windows 10 is going to support FLAC straight out of the box, according to Gabriel Aul who is the head of Microsoft’s Operating Systems Group’s Data and Fundamentals Team. 
“Keen eyed #WindowsInsiders will notice something cool about this pic,” said Aul in a tweet that was accompanied by a pitcure. “Something to look forward to in the new year!” A brief glance at the picture was all it took to realize that Microsft’s Windows Media Player was playing FLAC files. 

FLAC, which stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec, is an audio format for those who prefer to listen to high-quality music. Its algorithm is able to reduce digital audio by about 50-60 percent of its original size and decompress into an identical copy of the original audio data. The drawback of FLAC, however, is the size of the files when compared to the more popular MP3 format. 
Currently, the only way to listen to FLAC files is to download a third-party program, such as VLC Media Player. FLAC joins MKV (Matrsoka Video), another format that hasn't been supported by WMP, which will also run on Windows 10 which and was confirmed by Aul on his Twitter account last month. 
What do you think about the upcoming OS finally supporting both FLAC and MKV files? Will you start using WMP to play these files or continue to rely on your third-party program of choice?