Rumor: Apple Working to Ding the Music Universe Again

By Lonnie Lazar (2:19 pm, Aug 10 2009)

Apple is developing a new media file format to deliver digital music along with collateral material such as artwork, lyrics, liner notes, songs, videos, and images all from a centralized album launch page, according to a report Monday at The AppleBlog.

Citing “various whispers and rumbling around the web,” the report said the new file format is code-named “Cocktail” for the variety of ingredients it will bring to the user experience.

Apparently, major music labels including Sony, Warner, Universal, and EMI are also spearheading their own version of an enhanced file format in the hope of not being outdone by what amounts to a significant potential upgrade for iTunes.

Apple is considered by many to have effectively “saved” the music industry by inventing the iPod and iTunes, with the major labels having resented the company’s pricing power and ability to dictate distribution terms ever since.

If true, the rumored new file format could make for nice end-user eye candy while providing entertainment for those amused by the ongoing struggle for world domination among Apple and the major media distributors.

6 comments »

About the author

Lonnie Lazar is a writer-musician-web designer-attorney. He writes about Apple for Cult of Mac and Mac|Life, and about VoIP and telecommunications for Voxilla. Follow Lonnie on Twitter @LonnieLazar, join the Cult of Mac on Facebook, and find Lonnie's photos on Flickr.

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Posted in iTunes, Media, Music, Rumors |

Jeff
So, if it’s called “Cocktail”, is the extension going to be “.cock”?
For instance, the song “So Long” would be “So Long.cock”.
http://deoclicianocgi_aportfolio.blospot.com Deocliciano
Very Apple indeed!
Why i never thought about this?
Wow!
Not that i’ll use it (that much)!
Wait â€¦ or that tablet will make it MUCH capable?!
â€¦
Hey i’m thinking here!
http://www.mr2.org.nz John
Wow, I get all this from my current MP3 collection. Why do I need another format? Oh that’s right, DRM.
mel
The last thing we need is another new music file format. I’m sticking with MP3.
Sean Peters
Right, just what I need is a music format (no doubt infected with DRM) that will lock me into Apple devices forever. I’ll be sticking with MP3, thanks.
NewJohnny
A wrapper format like this is somewhat like Adobe DNG. The basic bits are still in there, plus there’s space for other data types (lyrics, images, etc). I’ll support a new format if it doesn’t come with drm.
What’s not cool is the record labels trying to muscle in first. They don’t stand a chance of creating a new standard, and it just delays the inevitable.