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| Version 14 | Version 15 |
|---|---|
| Xbox Music: Microsoft launches challenger to Apple's iTunes | Xbox Music: Microsoft launches challenger to Apple's iTunes |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Zune failed to take on the might of the iTunes music service, but now Microsoft is back for another bite at the cherry or, more accurately, the Apple. The software company has announced Xbox Music, an all-in-one digital music service that will make 30m tracks available to users via Xbox 360, as well as PCs, tablets and smartphones running Windows 8 or Windows RT. | Zune failed to take on the might of the iTunes music service, but now Microsoft is back for another bite at the cherry or, more accurately, the Apple. The software company has announced Xbox Music, an all-in-one digital music service that will make 30m tracks available to users via Xbox 360, as well as PCs, tablets and smartphones running Windows 8 or Windows RT. |
| The new platform is split into three strands. A free streaming service will provide ad-supported access to the library, but this will be limited to a certain number of hours after six months. Alternatively, a premium, unlimited, ad-free streaming option is available for £8.99 a month. Customers will also be able to purchase and download any track from the catalogue. | The new platform is split into three strands. A free streaming service will provide ad-supported access to the library, but this will be limited to a certain number of hours after six months. Alternatively, a premium, unlimited, ad-free streaming option is available for £8.99 a month. Customers will also be able to purchase and download any track from the catalogue. |
| Launching on Xbox 360 on Tuesday and other platforms later in the month, the cloud-based service will allow users to synchronise their music across multiple devices. A Smart DJ feature will provide users with recommendations, as well as personalised playlists and instant mixes, while the display shows artist information and discographies – all reminiscent of the successful Spotify digital music service. Microsoft says it will also be offering a cloud-storage option later in the year so customers can "scan and match" tracks they already own, opening them up for free use on the Xbox Music platform. | Launching on Xbox 360 on Tuesday and other platforms later in the month, the cloud-based service will allow users to synchronise their music across multiple devices. A Smart DJ feature will provide users with recommendations, as well as personalised playlists and instant mixes, while the display shows artist information and discographies – all reminiscent of the successful Spotify digital music service. Microsoft says it will also be offering a cloud-storage option later in the year so customers can "scan and match" tracks they already own, opening them up for free use on the Xbox Music platform. |
| Although Microsoft's Zune music service failed to challenge in the digital music sector, its media player axed in late 2011, the company may be in a stronger position this time. Xbox Music will be made the default music service on Windows 8 PCs when the OS launches on 26 October, giving the corporation a huge potential audience. It will also be an integral part of the redesigned Xbox 360 dashboard when it updates this autumn. Microsoft has noticed that console owners are increasingly using their machines for other forms of entertainment rather than just games. Last year, the company revealed that more than 42% of Xbox owners watched more than an hour of video content a day on their machines. | Although Microsoft's Zune music service failed to challenge in the digital music sector, its media player axed in late 2011, the company may be in a stronger position this time. Xbox Music will be made the default music service on Windows 8 PCs when the OS launches on 26 October, giving the corporation a huge potential audience. It will also be an integral part of the redesigned Xbox 360 dashboard when it updates this autumn. Microsoft has noticed that console owners are increasingly using their machines for other forms of entertainment rather than just games. Last year, the company revealed that more than 42% of Xbox owners watched more than an hour of video content a day on their machines. |
| The key proposition with Xbox Music is its pervasive design. With free, subscription and purchase options, as well as artist-based playlist features, it is effectively taking on iTunes and Spotify simultaneously, while also challenging other emerging cloud-based music services such as Google Music and the Amazon Cloud Player. With social sharing features also set to arrive in early 2013, Microsoft is determined to leverage every feature of digital music consumption into the service. | The key proposition with Xbox Music is its pervasive design. With free, subscription and purchase options, as well as artist-based playlist features, it is effectively taking on iTunes and Spotify simultaneously, while also challenging other emerging cloud-based music services such as Google Music and the Amazon Cloud Player. With social sharing features also set to arrive in early 2013, Microsoft is determined to leverage every feature of digital music consumption into the service. |
| "The launch of Xbox Music is a milestone in simplifying digital music on every type of device, and on a global scale," said Microsoft's president of interactive entertainment business, Don Mattrick. And if the future of entertainment consumption is all about seamless cross-platform functionality, it's certainly a step in the right direction. The weakness in the chain, however, is the Windows smartphone platform, still dwindling in a distant third place behind Apple and Android devices. However, at a press event to mark the launch on Sunday night, Microsoft executives were promising Xbox Music apps for Android and iOS devices early next year. That will make it a much more powerful proposition in a marketplace where fragmentation and incompatibility continue to disorientate music fans. | "The launch of Xbox Music is a milestone in simplifying digital music on every type of device, and on a global scale," said Microsoft's president of interactive entertainment business, Don Mattrick. And if the future of entertainment consumption is all about seamless cross-platform functionality, it's certainly a step in the right direction. The weakness in the chain, however, is the Windows smartphone platform, still dwindling in a distant third place behind Apple and Android devices. However, at a press event to mark the launch on Sunday night, Microsoft executives were promising Xbox Music apps for Android and iOS devices early next year. That will make it a much more powerful proposition in a marketplace where fragmentation and incompatibility continue to disorientate music fans. |
| Comments | Comments |
| 77 comments, displaying first | 77 comments, displaying first |
| 15 October 2012 11:19AM | 15 October 2012 11:19AM |
| Will I need Xbox Gold to access the 'free' music ? | Will I need Xbox Gold to access the 'free' music ? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 11:20AM | 15 October 2012 11:20AM |
| Hmm, could be good. I hate iTunes | Hmm, could be good. I hate iTunes |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 11:24AM | 15 October 2012 11:24AM |
| Almost certainly; Microsoft hate letting Silver accounts do anything, in the hope that we'll give them £40 a year to get any use out of machines, rather than just moving nearly all our stuff to PC or PS3, like I've done. | Almost certainly; Microsoft hate letting Silver accounts do anything, in the hope that we'll give them £40 a year to get any use out of machines, rather than just moving nearly all our stuff to PC or PS3, like I've done. |
| I don't get the point of why you'd want a streaming music service on an XBox 360 anyway - mine sounds like a bloody jet engine when it's on, so you can hardly hear music anyway. | I don't get the point of why you'd want a streaming music service on an XBox 360 anyway - mine sounds like a bloody jet engine when it's on, so you can hardly hear music anyway. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 11:27AM | 15 October 2012 11:27AM |
| That Microsoft can still get this so wrong either exposes them as amazingly egotistical or truly inept..Or both. | That Microsoft can still get this so wrong either exposes them as amazingly egotistical or truly inept..Or both. |
| I like the idea of playing tunes through my TV. My laptop has s**t speakers and I don't have a HIFI. It sounds even better with Smart Glass. | I like the idea of playing tunes through my TV. My laptop has s**t speakers and I don't have a HIFI. It sounds even better with Smart Glass. |
| BUT for this price I can run Spotify. Sure, it doesn't run on Xbox but it runs on my iPad, Android Phone and PC at home and at work. All my friends use it so I can share stuff and see what they're listening to. | BUT for this price I can run Spotify. Sure, it doesn't run on Xbox but it runs on my iPad, Android Phone and PC at home and at work. All my friends use it so I can share stuff and see what they're listening to. |
| All MS has going for it with this is that you can it through your Xbox and that really won't be enough - especially when they have no Android or iOS app. If you can't win or price or have first mover advantage then you need a real big USP. | All MS has going for it with this is that you can it through your Xbox and that really won't be enough - especially when they have no Android or iOS app. If you can't win or price or have first mover advantage then you need a real big USP. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 11:27AM | 15 October 2012 11:27AM |
| The killer feature of the £8.99 add-free subscription service is that you can download as well as stream music for offline use. Streaming services are a pain when you don`t have coverage. | The killer feature of the £8.99 add-free subscription service is that you can download as well as stream music for offline use. Streaming services are a pain when you don`t have coverage. |
| Been using it for 10 months and its brilliant. | Been using it for 10 months and its brilliant. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 11:28AM | 15 October 2012 11:28AM |
| You don't get free music on consoles, which makes it even more of a rip-off. Mind you Spotify do similar, allowing free streaming on PCs and paid-only on mobile devices. | You don't get free music on consoles, which makes it even more of a rip-off. Mind you Spotify do similar, allowing free streaming on PCs and paid-only on mobile devices. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 11:29AM | 15 October 2012 11:29AM |
| That Microsoft can still get this so wrong either exposes them as amazingly egotistical or truly inept..Or both. | That Microsoft can still get this so wrong either exposes them as amazingly egotistical or truly inept..Or both. |
| Just out of interest, what do you think is "so wrong" with this? | Just out of interest, what do you think is "so wrong" with this? |
| From my experience, it knocks spotify into a cocked hat. | From my experience, it knocks spotify into a cocked hat. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 11:37AM | 15 October 2012 11:37AM |
| Been using the Zune Pass for a couple of years and the song catalogue I've found to be heaps better than Spotify. Unlimited downloads, offline streaming, it's a really superb and underrated service. | Been using the Zune Pass for a couple of years and the song catalogue I've found to be heaps better than Spotify. Unlimited downloads, offline streaming, it's a really superb and underrated service. |
| What happens to my Zune Pass though if I upgrade to Windows Phone 8? Will it automatically transfer across? Or will I have to take out a new subscription, requiring me to pply for a refund for however many months of my annual pass remain? | What happens to my Zune Pass though if I upgrade to Windows Phone 8? Will it automatically transfer across? Or will I have to take out a new subscription, requiring me to pply for a refund for however many months of my annual pass remain? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 11:40AM | 15 October 2012 11:40AM |
| Maybe I'm missing something but how is it better than Spotify? Everything it does Spotify already does, aside from playing through my Xbox and the sexy looking Smart Glass. | Maybe I'm missing something but how is it better than Spotify? Everything it does Spotify already does, aside from playing through my Xbox and the sexy looking Smart Glass. |
| Spotify does everything else and more and will run on non-Windows devices. | Spotify does everything else and more and will run on non-Windows devices. |
| It's the lack of Android, Mac, iOS apps that surprise me the most. | It's the lack of Android, Mac, iOS apps that surprise me the most. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 11:40AM | 15 October 2012 11:40AM |
| Fair enough, I might have a gander but for me the 360 uses too much power to do anything apart from play games on it, especially when there are other devices that play music, films, look at photos etc just as well if not better without using as much juice. Plus it's all quite controlled and proprietary in my (quite limited) experience of looking at that stuff. Downloaded the IGN app the other day and there's an ad before every single video, the Youtube app seems nice but I found it too slow, video will play only certain formats etc. | Fair enough, I might have a gander but for me the 360 uses too much power to do anything apart from play games on it, especially when there are other devices that play music, films, look at photos etc just as well if not better without using as much juice. Plus it's all quite controlled and proprietary in my (quite limited) experience of looking at that stuff. Downloaded the IGN app the other day and there's an ad before every single video, the Youtube app seems nice but I found it too slow, video will play only certain formats etc. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 11:40AM | 15 October 2012 11:40AM |
| Spotify does offline too. Right? | Spotify does offline too. Right? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 11:41AM | 15 October 2012 11:41AM |
| probably. microsoft are a joke in my view. I have an xbox and this two tier thing is ridiculous originally it only applied to online gaming but now it's demos and whatever else. I also have an ipad and think that whilst they're not perfect apples appstore and itunes works much better than anything microsoft will ever do. microsoft need to get rid of those stupid points too. just tell us how much stuff costs instead, we're grown ups we can take it. | probably. microsoft are a joke in my view. I have an xbox and this two tier thing is ridiculous originally it only applied to online gaming but now it's demos and whatever else. I also have an ipad and think that whilst they're not perfect apples appstore and itunes works much better than anything microsoft will ever do. microsoft need to get rid of those stupid points too. just tell us how much stuff costs instead, we're grown ups we can take it. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 11:49AM | 15 October 2012 11:49AM |
| I like it more than Spotify for a couple of reason: | I like it more than Spotify for a couple of reason: |
| -the selection of House, techno & various Jamaican musics I found way better via Zune Pass -I get 10 drm-free downloads per month that, should I cancel the service, remain on my hard drive -purchases are made direct from my credit card and not via MS points | -the selection of House, techno & various Jamaican musics I found way better via Zune Pass -I get 10 drm-free downloads per month that, should I cancel the service, remain on my hard drive -purchases are made direct from my credit card and not via MS points |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 11:57AM | 15 October 2012 11:57AM |
| Maybe I'm missing something but how is it better than Spotify? Everything it does Spotify already does, aside from playing through my Xbox and the sexy looking Smart Glass. | Maybe I'm missing something but how is it better than Spotify? Everything it does Spotify already does, aside from playing through my Xbox and the sexy looking Smart Glass. |
| The cloud service is an improvement on Spotify (where you can store your own music in the cloud, as opposed to just being able to access their tracks). | The cloud service is an improvement on Spotify (where you can store your own music in the cloud, as opposed to just being able to access their tracks). |
| Spotify is still pretty clunky when it comes to dealing with your own music, so there's definitely room for improvement there. | Spotify is still pretty clunky when it comes to dealing with your own music, so there's definitely room for improvement there. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 12:01PM | 15 October 2012 12:01PM |
| As far as I can tell, Spotify doesn`t allow you to sync the downloaded music files onto other devices. Zune does. | As far as I can tell, Spotify doesn`t allow you to sync the downloaded music files onto other devices. Zune does. |
| Zune also allows you to download music on a PC and sync the files to a second phone - so my Mrs can enjoy the music she wants all using my account. | Zune also allows you to download music on a PC and sync the files to a second phone - so my Mrs can enjoy the music she wants all using my account. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 12:05PM | 15 October 2012 12:05PM |
| The killer feature of the £8.99 add-free subscription service is that you can download as well as stream music for offline use. Streaming services are a pain when you don`t have coverage | The killer feature of the £8.99 add-free subscription service is that you can download as well as stream music for offline use. Streaming services are a pain when you don`t have coverage |
| Offline content is available with Spotify too - provided you're a premium subscriber. | Offline content is available with Spotify too - provided you're a premium subscriber. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 12:06PM | 15 October 2012 12:06PM |
| I'm quite enamoured with Zune at the moment, mainly because they offer 320kbps DRM free downloads at cheaper prices than Amazon. | I'm quite enamoured with Zune at the moment, mainly because they offer 320kbps DRM free downloads at cheaper prices than Amazon. |
| However I've heard that the download quality for Xbox Music is now 256kbps .. This really sucks. | However I've heard that the download quality for Xbox Music is now 256kbps .. This really sucks. |
| I really hope there is still a way to download in 320. Even if it means keeping the Zune client around and just using that for the purchasing/downloading. | I really hope there is still a way to download in 320. Even if it means keeping the Zune client around and just using that for the purchasing/downloading. |
| Otherwise looking forward to seeing how this develops. | Otherwise looking forward to seeing how this develops. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 12:10PM | 15 October 2012 12:10PM |
| Spotify does everything else and more and will run on non-Windows devices. | Spotify does everything else and more and will run on non-Windows devices. |
| Not for me it doesn`t. | Not for me it doesn`t. |
| I wanted a music subscription service that allows me to play the music on all my devices, in the home and in the car and on my phone. | I wanted a music subscription service that allows me to play the music on all my devices, in the home and in the car and on my phone. |
| I can do that with zune. | I can do that with zune. |
| I can`t do that with spotify. | I can`t do that with spotify. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 12:14PM | 15 October 2012 12:14PM |
| All of which you can do on Spotify, Deezer etc. I see nothing new, except limited platform coverage, here. | All of which you can do on Spotify, Deezer etc. I see nothing new, except limited platform coverage, here. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 12:16PM | 15 October 2012 12:16PM |
| Not for me it doesn`t. | Not for me it doesn`t. |
| Then you're doing it wrong. | Then you're doing it wrong. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 12:21PM | 15 October 2012 12:21PM |
| Hmm, sounds like the free PS3 Vidzone, or Music Unlimited.... You can bet this isn't actually free, but hidden behind Microsoft subscription paywall. | Hmm, sounds like the free PS3 Vidzone, or Music Unlimited.... You can bet this isn't actually free, but hidden behind Microsoft subscription paywall. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 12:22PM | 15 October 2012 12:22PM |
| Larger catalogue of music, 'in-app' purchases, video, software that doesn't look like a spreadsheet? | Larger catalogue of music, 'in-app' purchases, video, software that doesn't look like a spreadsheet? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 12:26PM | 15 October 2012 12:26PM |
| This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our community standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs. | This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our community standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs. |
| 15 October 2012 12:27PM | 15 October 2012 12:27PM |
| Thats a pretty huge assumption, and an incorrect one at that. | Thats a pretty huge assumption, and an incorrect one at that. |
| Spotify will not integrate with my devices and music collection the way zune allows me to. Period. | Spotify will not integrate with my devices and music collection the way zune allows me to. Period. |
| If spotify works better for you, then thats great - But I`m afraid it doesn`t for me. Perhaps if I had different devices, or different needs, then spotify may be a better choice, but I don`t. | If spotify works better for you, then thats great - But I`m afraid it doesn`t for me. Perhaps if I had different devices, or different needs, then spotify may be a better choice, but I don`t. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 12:34PM | 15 October 2012 12:34PM |
| What devices do you have? | What devices do you have? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 12:38PM | 15 October 2012 12:38PM |
| Let's hope that Sony brings back 'Connect / Sonic Stage' for Playstation. That was a laugh. | Let's hope that Sony brings back 'Connect / Sonic Stage' for Playstation. That was a laugh. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 12:45PM | 15 October 2012 12:45PM |
| Has nobody heard. | Has nobody heard. |
| MS are going to make Windows Phone, iOS and Android apps for this service. | MS are going to make Windows Phone, iOS and Android apps for this service. |
| If they play it right - this will be the next big music wave - Streaming - Downloads - and already built into your next windows upgrade or next windows computer - built into XBOX so you can play all you tracks and even use them as custom playlists within games - apps for every major phone OS where you will be able to access and play your music on the move. | If they play it right - this will be the next big music wave - Streaming - Downloads - and already built into your next windows upgrade or next windows computer - built into XBOX so you can play all you tracks and even use them as custom playlists within games - apps for every major phone OS where you will be able to access and play your music on the move. |
| The only downside I see is MS making a mess out of it. | The only downside I see is MS making a mess out of it. |
| Lets wait and see. | Lets wait and see. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 12:47PM | 15 October 2012 12:47PM |
| Check out this link | Check out this link |
| Tells you about the iOS and android apps | Tells you about the iOS and android apps |
| http://gigaom.com/2012/10/14/xbox-music-android-ios/ | http://gigaom.com/2012/10/14/xbox-music-android-ios/ |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 12:50PM | 15 October 2012 12:50PM |
| The missing element as far I'm concerned is some sort of 'Airplay' This transforms the listening experience for IOS devices, Macs and Windows PCs and almost makes the behemoth, iTunes bearable | The missing element as far I'm concerned is some sort of 'Airplay' This transforms the listening experience for IOS devices, Macs and Windows PCs and almost makes the behemoth, iTunes bearable |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 12:51PM | 15 October 2012 12:51PM |
| Sounds like Microsoft are coming to the party too late with this one. Spotify streams to almost any device with offline mode too; I've got it on my Android phone, iPod Touch, Macbook and WD Media player connected to my telly. If you're restricted to the Windows-only ecosystem I think you'll find that's just too narrow these days - the world really is no longer PC centric. Online services have to be available on almost any device (within sensible limits) as the "cloud" is meant to be an abstraction from hardware. Having to own an Xbox or Windows PC (or any other monolithic environment) for access to a cloud base service seems a bit old hat to me. | Sounds like Microsoft are coming to the party too late with this one. Spotify streams to almost any device with offline mode too; I've got it on my Android phone, iPod Touch, Macbook and WD Media player connected to my telly. If you're restricted to the Windows-only ecosystem I think you'll find that's just too narrow these days - the world really is no longer PC centric. Online services have to be available on almost any device (within sensible limits) as the "cloud" is meant to be an abstraction from hardware. Having to own an Xbox or Windows PC (or any other monolithic environment) for access to a cloud base service seems a bit old hat to me. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 12:52PM | 15 October 2012 12:52PM |
| Will it work on Squeezebox and Sonos? | Will it work on Squeezebox and Sonos? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 1:01PM | 15 October 2012 1:01PM |
| Having to own an Xbox or Windows PC (or any other monolithic environment) for access to a cloud base service seems a bit old hat to me | Having to own an Xbox or Windows PC (or any other monolithic environment) for access to a cloud base service seems a bit old hat to me |
| Its a reasonable comment to make, but conversley isn`t this exactly what Apple are doing? | Its a reasonable comment to make, but conversley isn`t this exactly what Apple are doing? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 1:03PM | 15 October 2012 1:03PM |
| Someone mentioned free downloads. I know Zune offered 10 free DRM downloads for payers, pretty much an album a month which is a good deal. I've not heard this with Xbox Music. If it had it then I'd be well up for it. | Someone mentioned free downloads. I know Zune offered 10 free DRM downloads for payers, pretty much an album a month which is a good deal. I've not heard this with Xbox Music. If it had it then I'd be well up for it. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 1:11PM | 15 October 2012 1:11PM |
| Its a reasonable comment to make, but conversley isn`t this exactly what Apple are doing? | Its a reasonable comment to make, but conversley isn`t this exactly what Apple are doing? |
| I would say it is - it's the reason my Apple TV has been relegated to the attic. There's too much temptation for lock-in when one company owns both the content and the hardware, I mean Compact Disc would have died on its arse if only Philips CDs could only be played in their own CD players. I think now we're surely in the position of greater hardware agnosticism for streaming services - to end up in a ecosystem lock-in, whether Windows, Mac or whatever is never good news for the consumer. | I would say it is - it's the reason my Apple TV has been relegated to the attic. There's too much temptation for lock-in when one company owns both the content and the hardware, I mean Compact Disc would have died on its arse if only Philips CDs could only be played in their own CD players. I think now we're surely in the position of greater hardware agnosticism for streaming services - to end up in a ecosystem lock-in, whether Windows, Mac or whatever is never good news for the consumer. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 1:12PM | 15 October 2012 1:12PM |
| I can already stream my music wirelessly from my Windows PC to my Xbox. You just need The latest Windows media player on your PC. | I can already stream my music wirelessly from my Windows PC to my Xbox. You just need The latest Windows media player on your PC. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 1:13PM | 15 October 2012 1:13PM |
| 1.- its on w8, wp8, and will be on android and ios. So clearly you wont need subscription... | 1.- its on w8, wp8, and will be on android and ios. So clearly you wont need subscription... |
| 2.- the not so new xbox doesnt make noise, you are using 2005 hardware.... | 2.- the not so new xbox doesnt make noise, you are using 2005 hardware.... |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 1:23PM | 15 October 2012 1:23PM |
| I think you just have to have a Microsoft Account to use xbox music, I use Windows 8 And Xbox 360, And I have all the smartglass options on. and I can say it is the best thing Microsoft has ever come up with, Call me a Microsoft fanboy, but I had a iphone for 3 years and it never left my sight until I saw windows phone 8. | I think you just have to have a Microsoft Account to use xbox music, I use Windows 8 And Xbox 360, And I have all the smartglass options on. and I can say it is the best thing Microsoft has ever come up with, Call me a Microsoft fanboy, but I had a iphone for 3 years and it never left my sight until I saw windows phone 8. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 1:41PM | 15 October 2012 1:41PM |
| So it's Spotify then. | So it's Spotify then. |
| Only on an XBox. | Only on an XBox. |
| Yawwwnnnn. | Yawwwnnnn. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 1:44PM | 15 October 2012 1:44PM |
| give them £40 a year to get any use out of machines, | give them £40 a year to get any use out of machines, |
| It's worth shopping around. I paid £26 last time. | It's worth shopping around. I paid £26 last time. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 1:47PM | 15 October 2012 1:47PM |
| From the sound of these comments it turns out that more than 3 people bought a zune, amazing | From the sound of these comments it turns out that more than 3 people bought a zune, amazing |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 1:59PM | 15 October 2012 1:59PM |
| I love the people moaning about how you need an Xbox to use Xbox Music. | I love the people moaning about how you need an Xbox to use Xbox Music. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 2:05PM | 15 October 2012 2:05PM |
| Microsoft's problem is the infrastructure isn't ready yet. Live! (on PC anyway) is still a mess. I'll probably buy in when it's working properly, but at the moment I'd be too worried about problems with accounts. See also EA. | Microsoft's problem is the infrastructure isn't ready yet. Live! (on PC anyway) is still a mess. I'll probably buy in when it's working properly, but at the moment I'd be too worried about problems with accounts. See also EA. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 2:06PM | 15 October 2012 2:06PM |
| Only with videos, and podcasts and a much larger catalogue. And purchasing options. Etc. | Only with videos, and podcasts and a much larger catalogue. And purchasing options. Etc. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 2:22PM | 15 October 2012 2:22PM |
| You can bet your top dollar that if Google or Apple had launched it everyone would be fawning over it like it had re-invented the wheel. I reckon it looks great, MS have confirmed supporting apps for Android and Apple so it will work across all platforms. I would also be very surprised if we do not see W8 smart Tv's sometime next year which would remove the need for an Xbox too. | You can bet your top dollar that if Google or Apple had launched it everyone would be fawning over it like it had re-invented the wheel. I reckon it looks great, MS have confirmed supporting apps for Android and Apple so it will work across all platforms. I would also be very surprised if we do not see W8 smart Tv's sometime next year which would remove the need for an Xbox too. |
| They may well have cracked it here. Especially as you can sync other existing content you own too. | They may well have cracked it here. Especially as you can sync other existing content you own too. |
| I pay the xbox gold membership and it gives me a lot more value (even with added on Lovefilm etc) than Sky ever did. So much that Sky is now gone (bye rupert). | I pay the xbox gold membership and it gives me a lot more value (even with added on Lovefilm etc) than Sky ever did. So much that Sky is now gone (bye rupert). |
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| 15 October 2012 2:23PM | 15 October 2012 2:23PM |
| The 2005 hardware died years ago. As did the replacement. This is more like 2009 hardware. Even the latest is louder than either a PS3, an AppleTV, a TiVo, my TV, an iPod or a Blu-ray player that can stream music from the PC. | The 2005 hardware died years ago. As did the replacement. This is more like 2009 hardware. Even the latest is louder than either a PS3, an AppleTV, a TiVo, my TV, an iPod or a Blu-ray player that can stream music from the PC. |
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| 15 October 2012 2:25PM | 15 October 2012 2:25PM |
| Never once had a problem with my Live or XBox account. And my Zune Pass has worked faultlessly in a country in which it absolutely should not for 2 years now. | Never once had a problem with my Live or XBox account. And my Zune Pass has worked faultlessly in a country in which it absolutely should not for 2 years now. |
| So... | So... |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 2:26PM | 15 October 2012 2:26PM |
| I did too, admittedly. But that's up for renewal in a few weeks, and I don't even get £26 worth of use out of Gold, so I won't bother. My 360 is only used for exclusives now, everything else is bought on PC. And I don't play many multiplayer games in any case. | I did too, admittedly. But that's up for renewal in a few weeks, and I don't even get £26 worth of use out of Gold, so I won't bother. My 360 is only used for exclusives now, everything else is bought on PC. And I don't play many multiplayer games in any case. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 2:47PM | 15 October 2012 2:47PM |
| You know for a fact had Apple announced a music and movie subscription service across mobile, desktop & video game platforms it would be sung from the rafters. MS don't have the apparent 'cool' but what they've announced over the last 6 months looks really interesting for a company castigated as slow, monlithic and old-fashioned. | You know for a fact had Apple announced a music and movie subscription service across mobile, desktop & video game platforms it would be sung from the rafters. MS don't have the apparent 'cool' but what they've announced over the last 6 months looks really interesting for a company castigated as slow, monlithic and old-fashioned. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 2:49PM | 15 October 2012 2:49PM |
| I wanted a music subscription service that allows me to play the music on all my devices, in the home and in the car and on my phone. | I wanted a music subscription service that allows me to play the music on all my devices, in the home and in the car and on my phone. |
| I can do that with zune. | I can do that with zune. |
| I can`t do that with spotify. | I can`t do that with spotify. |
| Which devices? | Which devices? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 15 October 2012 2:51PM | 15 October 2012 2:51PM |
| I have a PC hooked up to my TV. I have a decent soundcard and you can get good surround speakers very cheap. This setup lets me play music and films at high quality and loud. I can also sync my PC music my samsung galaxy s2. No need for Itunes or any similar service. | I have a PC hooked up to my TV. I have a decent soundcard and you can get good surround speakers very cheap. This setup lets me play music and films at high quality and loud. I can also sync my PC music my samsung galaxy s2. No need for Itunes or any similar service. |
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| Cloud-based offering will allow users to synchronise across multiple devices including PCs, tablets and smartphones | Cloud-based offering will allow users to synchronise across multiple devices including PCs, tablets and smartphones |
| Zune failed to take on the might of the iTunes music service, but now Microsoft is back for another bite at the cherry or, more accurately, the Apple. The software company has announced Xbox Music, an all-in-one digital music service that will make 30m tracks available to users via Xbox 360, as well as PCs, tablets and smartphones running Windows 8 or Windows RT. | Zune failed to take on the might of the iTunes music service, but now Microsoft is back for another bite at the cherry or, more accurately, the Apple. The software company has announced Xbox Music, an all-in-one digital music service that will make 30m tracks available to users via Xbox 360, as well as PCs, tablets and smartphones running Windows 8 or Windows RT. |
| The new platform is split into three strands. A free streaming service will provide ad-supported access to the library, but this will be limited to a certain number of hours after six months. Alternatively, a premium, unlimited, ad-free streaming option is available for £8.99 a month. Customers will also be able to purchase and download any track from the catalogue. | The new platform is split into three strands. A free streaming service will provide ad-supported access to the library, but this will be limited to a certain number of hours after six months. Alternatively, a premium, unlimited, ad-free streaming option is available for £8.99 a month. Customers will also be able to purchase and download any track from the catalogue. |
| Launching on Xbox 360 on Tuesday and other platforms later in the month, the cloud-based service will allow users to synchronise their music across multiple devices. A Smart DJ feature will provide users with recommendations, as well as personalised playlists and instant mixes, while the display shows artist information and discographies – all reminiscent of the successful Spotify digital music service. Microsoft says it will also be offering a cloud-storage option later in the year so customers can "scan and match" tracks they already own, opening them up for free use on the Xbox Music platform. | Launching on Xbox 360 on Tuesday and other platforms later in the month, the cloud-based service will allow users to synchronise their music across multiple devices. A Smart DJ feature will provide users with recommendations, as well as personalised playlists and instant mixes, while the display shows artist information and discographies – all reminiscent of the successful Spotify digital music service. Microsoft says it will also be offering a cloud-storage option later in the year so customers can "scan and match" tracks they already own, opening them up for free use on the Xbox Music platform. |
| Although Microsoft's Zune music service failed to challenge in the digital music sector, its media player axed in late 2011, the company may be in a stronger position this time. Xbox Music will be made the default music service on Windows 8 PCs when the OS launches on 26 October, giving the corporation a huge potential audience. It will also be an integral part of the redesigned Xbox 360 dashboard when it updates this autumn. Microsoft has noticed that console owners are increasingly using their machines for other forms of entertainment rather than just games. Last year, the company revealed that more than 42% of Xbox owners watched more than an hour of video content a day on their machines. | Although Microsoft's Zune music service failed to challenge in the digital music sector, its media player axed in late 2011, the company may be in a stronger position this time. Xbox Music will be made the default music service on Windows 8 PCs when the OS launches on 26 October, giving the corporation a huge potential audience. It will also be an integral part of the redesigned Xbox 360 dashboard when it updates this autumn. Microsoft has noticed that console owners are increasingly using their machines for other forms of entertainment rather than just games. Last year, the company revealed that more than 42% of Xbox owners watched more than an hour of video content a day on their machines. |
| The key proposition with Xbox Music is its pervasive design. With free, subscription and purchase options, as well as artist-based playlist features, it is effectively taking on iTunes and Spotify simultaneously, while also challenging other emerging cloud-based music services such as Google Music and the Amazon Cloud Player. With social sharing features also set to arrive in early 2013, Microsoft is determined to leverage every feature of digital music consumption into the service. | The key proposition with Xbox Music is its pervasive design. With free, subscription and purchase options, as well as artist-based playlist features, it is effectively taking on iTunes and Spotify simultaneously, while also challenging other emerging cloud-based music services such as Google Music and the Amazon Cloud Player. With social sharing features also set to arrive in early 2013, Microsoft is determined to leverage every feature of digital music consumption into the service. |
| "The launch of Xbox Music is a milestone in simplifying digital music on every type of device, and on a global scale," said Microsoft's president of interactive entertainment business, Don Mattrick. And if the future of entertainment consumption is all about seamless cross-platform functionality, it's certainly a step in the right direction. The weakness in the chain, however, is the Windows smartphone platform, still dwindling in a distant third place behind Apple and Android devices. However, at a press event to mark the launch on Sunday night, Microsoft executives were promising Xbox Music apps for Android and iOS devices early next year. That will make it a much more powerful proposition in a marketplace where fragmentation and incompatibility continue to disorientate music fans. | "The launch of Xbox Music is a milestone in simplifying digital music on every type of device, and on a global scale," said Microsoft's president of interactive entertainment business, Don Mattrick. And if the future of entertainment consumption is all about seamless cross-platform functionality, it's certainly a step in the right direction. The weakness in the chain, however, is the Windows smartphone platform, still dwindling in a distant third place behind Apple and Android devices. However, at a press event to mark the launch on Sunday night, Microsoft executives were promising Xbox Music apps for Android and iOS devices early next year. That will make it a much more powerful proposition in a marketplace where fragmentation and incompatibility continue to disorientate music fans. |