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Microsoft Launches 'Xbox Music' for iPhone

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Microsoft today launched its Xbox Music service on iOS and Android, expanding the service to other devices almost a full year after its original introduction. The company has also introduced free ad supported web-based streaming for all browsers, but mobile users will need an Xbox Music Pass to access the service, which costs $9.99 per month after a free 30-day trial.

The Xbox Music iPhone app includes a number of iOS optimized features such as the ability to multitask with Xbox Music running in the background, artist-based radio stations, and playlists that sync across all devices.

xbox_music-800x473.jpg
Xbox Music Pass on iPhone features:
- Stream ad-free music from a catalog of tens of millions of songs
- Add songs, albums, and playlists to your Xbox Music collection and access them from other devices
- Create playlists that sync across your phone, Xbox 360, PC, tablet, and the web
- Listen to music while using your iPhone
- Listen to artist-based radio stations
- Enjoy a rich visual experience for searching, viewing, and playing back music
Click to expand...
According to Xbox Music general manager Jerry Johnson, who spoke to The Verge, Microsoft plans to update the Xbox Music app every four to six weeks. One of the first updates will include support for an offline mode.

Microsoft's expansion of Xbox Music comes as the company prepares to launch the service on its upcoming Xbox One console, which will be released on November 22nd.

Xbox Music is a free app and can be downloaded on the App Store. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Microsoft Launches 'Xbox Music' for iPhone
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2013/09/09/microsoft-launches-xbox-music-for-iphone/
This seems a pretty weak offering compared to Spotify or Google music.

Launching without an offline mode on iOS after six months? Crap.
 
This seems a bit lame.

If I pay for Xbox Gold I'd expect to be able to stream for that price to be honest/
 
Where is iTunes Pass? With iTunes huge music library streaming service is the only way to go! Apple must wake up!
 
Wow. Microsoft actually beat Apple to the punch. Even though Spotify beat everybody else and is still probably the best.
 
For the general public, Xbox Music is fine. For the rest of us, Spotify/Rdio/etc is better.

It seems like every time a subscription service pops up, everyone on the internet immediately posts that Spotify/Rdio are better, why should we even consider this junk?

Spotify and Rdio aren't marketed the way Rhapsody, Xbox Music, and Google Play Music All Access are. You go on their website, and you get jargon like, "Music for every moment", and "Discover music".

Most people DON'T want to discover music. They want to listen to the current stuff in the charts, they want to check out a new album that they may or may not like, and they want it easy enough to do so.

The pretty pictures sell, and Spotify and Rdio have very little of that.
 
I'd choose this over Google Music All Access because at least they have given us an iOS app lol.
 
No way will I ever pay for this if I'm paying for my Live account. I never even knew they had a music service. I'll stick with Spotify.
 
These guys are going to get eaten up by Apple once iTunes Radio starts.

The key thing about iTunes Radio is that anybody who just buys an iPhone can walk out of the store, tap the music icon and start streaming music. Occasional listeners also don't have to download another app - it's all already there under 'Music'.

My parents have probably bought a total of 10 songs between them (mostly hits that time forgot), all from iTunes and only since buying iPhones. From time to time they'll ask me about a song they heard, but they can't be bothered to follow it up. I know they'll discover this service, and with it just being so easy, I'm pretty sure it'll lead them to listen to more music. In my opinion, that's the hallmark of a service that's going to take off.

I think people underestimate how big an impact ITR will have. Don't bother launching music services on iOS unless you're doing something different; you'll be fighting an uphill battle against a streaming service built in to the music app itself.

EDIT: God, I forgot how ugly Segoe is!
 
springsup said:
These guys are going to get eaten up by Apple once iTunes Radio starts.

The key thing about iTunes Radio is that anybody who just buys an iPhone can walk out of the store, tap the music icon and start streaming music. Occasional listeners also don't have to download another app - it's all already there under 'Music'.

My parents have probably bought a total of 10 songs between them (mostly hits that time forgot), all from iTunes and only since buying iPhones. From time to time they'll ask me about a song they heard, but they can't be bothered to follow it up. I know they'll discover this service, and with it just being so easy, I'm pretty sure it'll lead them to listen to more music. In my opinion, that's the hallmark of a service that's going to take off.


I think people underestimate how big an impact ITR will have. Don't bother launching music services on iOS unless you're doing something different; you'll be fighting an uphill battle against a streaming service built in to the music app itself.

EDIT: God, I forgot how ugly Segoe is!
Click to expand...

You forget that iTunes radio will be available in the US only. Google Music availability outside US is also very limited.
Xbox music/Spotify/Rdio are available all around Europe while Apple didn't manage to make iTunes Match in all EU countries.
 
With so many music options out there will people really use this? Microsoft seems to have to try to get their hands in everything.
 
sasza said:
You forget that iTunes radio will be available in the US only. Google Music availability outside US is also very limited.
Xbox music/Spotify/Rdio are available all around Europe while Apple didn't manage to make iTunes Match in all EU countries.
Click to expand...

iTunes Match availability is pretty good. There's no Scandinavia, but pretty much the whole rest of the EU is covered (+ switzerland).

I'd expect iTunes Radio to follow pretty soon. Apple are usually good at spreading their products internationally.

I remember you couldn't even buy a Zune in Canada for years, and then Europe only came several years after that.
 
springsup said:
I remember you couldn't even buy a Zune in Canada for years, and then Europe only came several years after that.
Click to expand...

I'm curious why you knew when the Zune became available in various areas - it almost suggests you actually gave a crap about the crap colored MP3 player.

Anyways, I anticipate ITR going over about as well as iAds or Ping did. I've been using iOS 7 beta and it seems to me that by placing it in the music app rather than making it it's own app, Apple has reduced the number of people who will find it.

The only service that stands a chance against Spotify, of the ones I've seen, is RadicalFM (the totally free service.) The key things Spotify has over it right now is: bigger library, better controls. But RadicalFM could improve in both areas to become a worthy contender to Spotify.
 
iOS just continues to get all the once exclusive apps. I don't do any of the xbox services but I sure appreciate microsoft making them available to me.
 
I think the web service (browser app) is free; agree it should be all-access for xbox live sub.
 
Last edited:
sasza said:
You forget that iTunes radio will be available in the US only. Google Music availability outside US is also very limited.
Xbox music/Spotify/Rdio are available all around Europe while Apple didn't manage to make iTunes Match in all EU countries.
Click to expand...

That sucks! I paid for iTunes Match here in America but will be spending the next year in UK - so no iTunes Radio for me? That's bullsh@t!!!!
 
Mums said:
That sucks! I paid for iTunes Match here in America but will be spending the next year in UK - so no iTunes Radio for me? That's bullsh@t!!!!
Click to expand...

Once you step outside the US, you'll begin to realise how US companies regard the rest of the World.
 
This service has existed for a while. It use to be Zune Music, or whatever they called it on Zune and they changed it to Xbox Music for Windows 8. The article here is just that it is now available for iOS and Android.
 
I might check the 30 day trial out.

The thing is, comparing iTunes radio with this is apples and oranges, just as comparing pandora with spotify is. They offer different services.

For my situation, I plan to buy an Xbox One in November. I have also been contemplating getting spotify for "on demand" music, instead of the pandora-like radio service.
If you aren't even considering an Xbox one (or don't own an Xbox 360), then this service may not be worth considering. Alternatives may be better.

I'll probably use it for music discovery, or if I want to hear an album in the charts.
For music I actually own, I will continue to use iTunes Match on my iOS and Apple TV.
Still working it out in my head, not sure of Xbox music could completely take over - dont think I want it to.

Can't wait for iTunes radio also - ill be dropping my pandora subscription since I am already an iTunes Match subscriber.
 
Tried to try it but first I had to go to the website and then they wanted a credit card for my 30 day free trial. Gave up. Delete.
 
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