Xbox Music to launch on October 26 alongside Windows 8

[Jos]

Microsoft is getting ready to launch a new subscription-based music service on October 26 to coincide with Windows 8’s release, according to a report by The Verge. Dubbed Xbox Music, the service is expected to replace Microsoft’s existing Zune Pass offering and will include a free ad-supported tier similar Spotify as well as paid subscriptions that match the current pricing structure at $9.99 per month or $99.90 per year.

The service will be available on Windows Phone, Windows 8, and Xbox 360. On top of that Microsoft reportedly plans to offer Xbox Music apps on third-party platforms, including iOS and Android, as well as SkyDrive integration for users to store their music collection on the cloud and play them on any connected device.

The company is set to release an update to its Xbox 360 dashboard, as well as its Music and Video apps for Windows 8 to support the new features around the October 26 timeframe. Windows Phone 8 is also expected to debut before the end of October so all in all it’s going to be a pretty busy month for the software giant.

Asked about the upcoming service, a Microsoft spokesperson gave the following statement to Cnet:

"What we can say is we're excited for Xbox Music as our definitive music service. It'll bring great new ways to enjoy, share and discover new music on all your Windows 8 devices, Xbox 360 console and Windows Phone 8. We'll let you know when we have more information to share."

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/50390-xbox-music-to-launch-on-october-26-alongside-windows-8.html

 

[howzz1854]

Microsoft, like always, late to the game. when are they going to start being the 1st to the party instead being the last.

 

[Littleczr]

How about they make a top notch operating system. How about that one.

 

[treeski]

Microsoft, like always, late to the game. when are they going to start being the 1st to the party instead being the last.

They were one of the first to the game with a quality music subscription service... unfortunately a piss poor marketing team destined it to be nothing.

 

[Guest]

Windows 7
And if you say win7 isn't a top notch OS then please tell me what is?
Microsoft OS hate is well deserved in certain iterations, but windows 7 got it right.

 

[ReederOnTheRun]

I'm actually starting to get a little worried how fast they are pumping out all of these new services and products. I hope they aren't releasing a bunch of half finished products.

 

[soldier1969]

One severely outdated piece of hardware and one OS I do NOT plan on upgrading to. Next Story.

 

[RH00D]

I really dislike how they are expanding the Xbox branding onto their other products/services. Windows is great, Windows Phone 7 is great, I don't have any issues with Zune. Basically, I want to use Microsoft services and products except for Xbox, I want nothing to do with Xbox and the Xbox ecosystem and the more they tie things like Zune, WP7 into the Xbox ecosystem the more it makes me want to move away from the Microsoft services I actually do like and use.

Xbox/XBL is not the center of my music/gaming/entertainment world and it never will be. It would be a much better idea to make Zune the center of their entertainment ecosystem then integrate Zune into Windows/WP7/Xbox, etc. instead of trying to integrate Xbox into everything else.

 

[howzz1854]

I really dislike how they are expanding the Xbox branding onto their other products/services. Windows is great, Windows Phone 7 is great, I don't have any issues with Zune. Basically, I want to use Microsoft services and products except for Xbox, I want nothing to do with Xbox and the Xbox ecosystem and the more they tie things like Zune, WP7 into the Xbox ecosystem the more it makes me want to move away from the Microsoft services I actually do like and use.

Xbox/XBL is not the center of my music/gaming/entertainment world and it never will be. It would be a much better idea to make Zune the center of their entertainment ecosystem then integrate Zune into Windows/WP7/Xbox, etc. instead of trying to integrate Xbox into everything else.

I totally agree, except I would much rather they tie all the entertainment and subscriptions and features what not to Windows Media Center. Xbox was great when it first came out. but no one is going to go out and buy a game system to be their entertainment hub. but most people already have windows, they're mis-using one of their most valuable asset, and that's media center. with all the people who already have PCs, and window 7, it is a no brainer to tie more into the MC experience. I personally haven't used my Xbox360 for two years now. and I am not going to go out and buy another year of subscription just so I can watch netflix or play games. I can already do all that with the PC that's hooked up in the living room.

 

[Emexrulsier]

Microsoft, like always, late to the game. when are they going to start being the 1st to the party instead being the last.

That's not how MS work ... they have always stole another dev/softwares ideas then patent it then sue the original smaller companies who are faced to shut up shop as they can't afford the legal proceedings. Without this business method Windows wouldn't be what it is today!

 

[Camikazi]

Microsoft, like always, late to the game. when are they going to start being the 1st to the party instead being the last.

That's not how MS work ... they have always stole another dev/softwares ideas then patent it then sue the original smaller companies who are faced to shut up shop as they can't afford the legal proceedings. Without this business method Windows wouldn't be what it is today!

Actually they tend to buy the smaller company and take ownership of the ideas not sue them. It's almost always cheaper to buy a small competing company if you just release a similar program on you big brand first. MS is no angel but they don't just sue companies down they buy them out.

 

[JoshTheIT]

Microsoft, like always, late to the game. when are they going to start being the 1st to the party instead being the last.

They were one of the first to the game with a quality music subscription service... unfortunately a piss poor marketing team destined it to be nothing.

How about they make a top notch operating system. How about that one.

One severely outdated piece of hardware and one OS I do NOT plan on upgrading to. Next Story.

Windows 7
And if you say win7 isn't a top notch OS then please tell me what is?
Microsoft OS hate is well deserved in certain iterations, but windows 7 got it right.

Microsoft, like always, late to the game. when are they going to start being the 1st to the party instead being the last.

I'm actually starting to get a little worried how fast they are pumping out all of these new services and products. I hope they aren't releasing a bunch of half finished products.

I really dislike how they are expanding the Xbox branding onto their other products/services. Windows is great, Windows Phone 7 is great, I don't have any issues with Zune. Basically, I want to use Microsoft services and products except for Xbox, I want nothing to do with Xbox and the Xbox ecosystem and the more they tie things like Zune, WP7 into the Xbox ecosystem the more it makes me want to move away from the Microsoft services I actually do like and use.

Xbox/XBL is not the center of my music/gaming/entertainment world and it never will be. It would be a much better idea to make Zune the center of their entertainment ecosystem then integrate Zune into Windows/WP7/Xbox, etc. instead of trying to integrate Xbox into everything else.

Microsoft, like always, late to the game. when are they going to start being the 1st to the party instead being the last.

That's not how MS work ... they have always stole another dev/softwares ideas then patent it then sue the original smaller companies who are faced to shut up shop as they can't afford the legal proceedings. Without this business method Windows wouldn't be what it is today!

Microsoft, like always, late to the game. when are they going to start being the 1st to the party instead being the last.

That's not how MS work ... they have always stole another dev/softwares ideas then patent it then sue the original smaller companies who are faced to shut up shop as they can't afford the legal proceedings. Without this business method Windows wouldn't be what it is today!

Actually they tend to buy the smaller company and take ownership of the ideas not sue them. It's almost always cheaper to buy a small competing company if you just release a similar program on you big brand first. MS is no angel but they don't just sue companies down they buy them out.

I really dislike how they are expanding the Xbox branding onto their other products/services. Windows is great, Windows Phone 7 is great, I don't have any issues with Zune. Basically, I want to use Microsoft services and products except for Xbox, I want nothing to do with Xbox and the Xbox ecosystem and the more they tie things like Zune, WP7 into the Xbox ecosystem the more it makes me want to move away from the Microsoft services I actually do like and use.

Xbox/XBL is not the center of my music/gaming/entertainment world and it never will be. It would be a much better idea to make Zune the center of their entertainment ecosystem then integrate Zune into Windows/WP7/Xbox, etc. instead of trying to integrate Xbox into everything else.

I totally agree, except I would much rather they tie all the entertainment and subscriptions and features what not to Windows Media Center. Xbox was great when it first came out. but no one is going to go out and buy a game system to be their entertainment hub. but most people already have windows, they're mis-using one of their most valuable asset, and that's media center. with all the people who already have PCs, and window 7, it is a no brainer to tie more into the MC experience. I personally haven't used my Xbox360 for two years now. and I am not going to go out and buy another year of subscription just so I can watch netflix or play games. I can already do all that with the PC that's hooked up in the living room.

Except for the fact that you don't NEED an Xbox or Live subscription to use Xbox Music. It's just a name. Why would they associate it to Media Center which no one really uses rather then their highly successful and profitable Xbox branding? With the new releases Microsoft is bringing together all of their systems into one single ecosystem. Which to me is a plus. I personally have Windows 8 Release Preview on my desktop, Windows 8 Enterprise edition on my corporate tablet and laptop, and a Windows Phone 7 device and I couldn't be happier. Most don't see the new "not-so-metro" UI for what it really is, the replacement for the start menu.

 

[ReederOnTheRun]

Except for the fact that you don't NEED an Xbox or Live subscription to use Xbox Music. It's just a name. Why would they associate it to Media Center which no one really uses rather then their highly successful and profitable Xbox branding? With the new releases Microsoft is bringing together all of their systems into one single ecosystem. Which to me is a plus. I personally have Windows 8 Release Preview on my desktop, Windows 8 Enterprise edition on my corporate tablet and laptop, and a Windows Phone 7 device and I couldn't be happier. Most don't see the new "not-so-metro" UI for what it really is, the replacement for the start menu.

Good for you. What does that have to do with my post?