Opera Max app reduces data usage streaming audio on Android

Opera has released a new version of its data-saving application Max. A new feature is that data can now also be saved when listening to streaming music. This is done by transcoding the streamed files to AAC+.

Opera explains the functionality on its website. Since the recent update of the Max application, there is support for several streaming music services. These include YouTube Music, Slacker Radio, Pandora and the less well-known Gaana and Saavn. Streamed audio files are converted via transcoding to AAC+, a format that consumes less data than, for example, MP3. The data savings could increase to about 50 percent. Opera wants to support even more streaming services in the future, but which ones are unknown.

To transcode audio files to AAC+, Opera uses the so-called Rocket Optimizer, a technology acquired by the company through its acquisition of Skyfire in 2013. Earlier this year, Opera incorporated this technology into the Max app by using video files from YouTube and downsize Netflix.

Opera Max can be downloaded for free and is currently only available for smartphones that run on the Android operating system. According to Opera, tablets are not yet supported, and neither are other mobile operating systems. It is unknown when support will be expanded.