Apple Working on High Definition Audio File Format With “Adaptive Streaming” Capabilities

The Guardian reports that Apple is working on a new "high-definition" audio file format, which will offer adoptive streaming capabilities. 

It means that iOS devices will be able to download music from iCloud and iTunes Match based on the bandwidth or storage constraints.

The Guardian reports:

Apple is working on a new audio file format that will offer "adaptive streaming" to provide high- or low-quality files to users of its iCloud service.

The new format could mean that users can get "high-definition" audio by downloading to an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. Alternatively, it could offer a streaming service – like that of Lala.com, the music streaming and online storage company, which Apple acquired late in 2009.

The new system would adjust itself to the bandwidth and storage available on the receiving device.

It is believed that Apple will use the new file type to upgrade its iTunes Match service, which allows users to re-download music from iCloud to their Apple devices.

The Guardian also reports that according to their source, Apple is working with a London based studio and has asked it to prepare audio files based on the new streaming file format.

They are not sure if Apple will maintain several versions of the audio file or Apple will transcode the master copy of the audio file real-time based on bandwidth and storage constraints.

The Guardian speculates that based on the timing, it is quite possible that Apple will demonstrate this new audio file format at the iPad 3 media event next week.