Apple Lossless data is stored within an MP4 container with the filename extension.m4a. Contrary to popular belief, Apple Lossless is not a variant of AAC, but a totally new codec. iPods with a dock connector and recent firmware can play Apple Lossless encoded files. It does not utilize any DRM scheme.
Apple claims that audio files compressed with its lossless codec will use up "about half the storage space" that the uncompressed data would require.
The Apple Lossless Encoder was introduced as a component of QuickTime 6.5.1 on April 28, 2004 and thus as a feature of iTunes 4.5.
AppleLossless (also known as AppleLossless Encoder, ALE, or AppleLossless Audio Codec, ALAC) is an audio codec developed by Apple Computer for losslessencoding of digital music.
AppleLossless data is stored within an MP4 container with the filename extension.m4a.
The AppleLossless Encoder was introduced as a component of QuickTime 6.5.1 on April 28, 2004 and thus as a feature of iTunes 4.5.