Chrome 56 Shakes Up Internet Audio with In-Browser FLAC Support

The anticipated Chrome 56 is set to take the digital world by storm with its in-browser support for the high-quality FLAC audio codec. Currently in beta, this much-awaited browser edition is close to its official release. As reported by 9to5 Google, this upgrade has been eagerly anticipated since 2011, with the momentum for the project only really building from 2015 onwards.

The development, however, only commenced last September and its final release date now synchronizes with Firefox 51, which is also targeting to embed the FLAC feature later this month.

The upgrade will significantly streamline the process of accessing files in FLAC format. Mac users, particularly, stands to benefit immensely due to their operating system’s lack of native FLAC support. The Android ecosystem had embraced FLAC beginning with version 3.1 Honeycomb, while Windows users have always enjoyed applications equipped with FLAC-playback capabilities.

The innovation in this change is noteworthy, as the task of playing FLAC files will no longer demand specialized third-party applications. The Chrome browser will independently provide this functionality, making it considerably more efficient and user-friendly for audio enthusiasts across the globe.

The Chrome 56 update follows the successful launch of Chrome 55 in late 2016, which aimed at combating the issue of memory consumption. Google has projected that this upgrade would curtail memory usage by a remarkable 35 percent. Furthermore, the version 55 for Android integrated the ‘Downloads’ feature, enabling users to save web pages, videos, music, and other content, bolstering its offline usability.

Clearly, with the incorporation of the FLAC audio codec functionality, Chrome 56 is poised to offer a more comprehensive browsing experience, keeping in line with Google’s commitment to facilitate cutting-edge technology to its users.