.AU files are an audio compression standard implemented first on Sun Workstations. It compresses 8 or 16 bit audio data in either lossless or lossy modes. It compresses better than the .wav format that is more common on IBM compatible PCs. It is also more readily available on many more platforms and operating systems.
Macintosh
Note: Up until recently Netscape for Windows would automatically play .au files. Unfortunately it seems that Netscape has broken this in their last version.
To set up Netscape to use one of these programs, go to Options --> General Preferences... --> Helpers and then set audio/basic to launch one of the programs which will play .au files.
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