Microsoft is beginning to pare back its Zune offerings to make way for Xbox Music, a brand new service that is still a mystery for the most part. Today, however, we're getting some details on Xbox Music's pricing and an ever-so-brief glimpse at the user interface it will sport on Xbox 360. The pricing information comes courtesy of the Windows 8 Music app, while the look at the UI is the doing of some Xbox dashboard beta testers, who spilled Microsoft's secrets in sharing a screenshot with The Verge.
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‘Zune’ Stories
Xbox Music pricing details outed in Windows 8 app
Changes are afoot for Zune users
If you took Sheldon Cooper's advice and purchased a Zune rather than an iPod, changes are afoot. Reports are coming in that e-mails are going out to Zune users announcing features that will be changing. The features are actually not changing as much as simply disappearing.
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Microsoft brand Windows 8 tablet must be developer-only
Next week on Monday it’ll be time for us to head to Los Angeles and see Microsoft introduce something big that they hope will come across as a game-changer – and it might be a tablet. As we heard earlier today, sources familiar with the matter have let the world know that Microsoft may be re-entering the world they gave up on with the Zune – but instead of a tiny media player, they’ll be pushing their software on a larger display first and foremost. While it’s important that Microsoft prove that it can present a device that runs the Windows 8 or Windows RT software exactly as they want it to, such a device will certainly fail unless it’s released much in the same way Google releases their Nexus line of smartphones (and also soon tablets, ironically enough).
Xbox father blames Zune failure on blinkered music industry
Ex-Microsoft exec and shepherd of both Xbox and Zune, Robbie Bach, has admitted that the Zune PMP was a cavalcade of mistakes, though argues his entertainment division team did try to replicate its successful gaming strategy with its iPod rival. Speaking at a Northwest Entrepreneur Network event in Seattle, Geekwire reports, Bach described the Zune project as "probably universally viewed as less of a success" than Xbox, though denied that either had succeeded or failed because they were part of the Microsoft behemoth.
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Microsoft to ditch Zune for new Woodstock music service
Microsoft’s Zune hardware met with an ill-fate, but the software ecosystem has managed to coexist happily with other such services thanks to the unlimited music plan paired with the ability to keep 10 DRM free songs per month. The Verge reports that Microsoft is set to revamp the Zune service, unveiling the replacement at E3 2012.
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Nokia Lumia 900 software fix instructions live
There's now a fix for you early adopters of the Nokia Lumia 900 Windows Phone on AT&T, and it couldn't be easier to update your device and make it happen. This past week it was discovered by consumers (and Nokia and AT&T) that there was a bit of a connectivity issue with Nokia's newest hero device, the Lumia 900 - that issue is now fixed, and all is well: but you have to make it happen or it wont happen for you! To get this fix for your device, you've got two options, both of them quite easy to accomplish.
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Microsoft branding cull leaks plus Office 15 tablet UI tease
Microsoft is set to retire the Zune and Windows Live brands with Windows 8, it's reported, as well as offer a switchable tablet/desktop UI in the Office 15 apps for increased finger-friendliness. The so-called "Touch Mode" button has been spotted in the Office 15 technical preview but is not yet functional, according to ZDNet's source, but which will presumably boost icon size among other tweaks for those using the software in Metro mode on tablets and touchscreen all-in-ones.
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Micorosft reportedly ditching Microsoft Points in favor of real currency
If you still can't figure how much that Zune download or Call of Duty map pack costs in actual US currency, there might be some hope for you. It's being reported that Microsoft wants to nix its Microsoft Points platform and will start showing prices in local currency for digital content. That's right; the days of consulting a calculator to figure out how much digital money you have might soon be coming to an end.
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Zune HD finally dead as Microsoft kills zombie PMP
Microsoft has seemingly hammered shut the casket on the Zune HD, despite the PMP's reluctance last week to stay dead. The news was confirmed in the official Windows Phone Blog Radio podcast, and the contentious support page that originally tipped the end of the hardware line - and which Microsoft subsequently said was posted "in error" - has been restored.
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Zune HD not dead after all claims Microsoft
Microsoft has apparently flip-flopped on the Zune HD again, resurrecting its PMP hardware from the dead and claiming axing the media player lineup was never its intent. After first squashing rumors that the Zune hardware line had been killed, then promptly admitting that the Zune HD was, indeed, dead, Microsoft's support team now insists that "no official info has been released stating hardware is being discontinued."
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Windows Phone 7.5 Mango Review [Video]
It’s time for the second coming of Windows Phone 7, a mobile OS that by all means deserves a fair shot at the global market share, but hasn’t quite risen to the ranks of iPhone or Android glory – at least not yet. What we’re going to do in this post is give the first really big refresh of Microsoft’s current mobile OS, Windows Phone 7.5 Mango, a good rundown and review. Because the vast majority of our readers are not yet Windows Phone users, I’ll be padding the review with some features that’ve already been in place for some time – but the focus will, indeed, be on the new list of upgrades as presented in this newest, tastiest flavoring of Windows Phone.
Zune HD is dead confirms Microsoft
Microsoft has officially confirmed that its Zune PMPs – including the Zune HD - have been axed, despite having denied yesterday that such a decision about the media players had been made. “We recently announced that, going forward, Windows Phone will be the focus of our mobile music and video strategy,” Microsoft’s Zune Player support page claims, “and that we will no longer be producing Zune players”
REVIEWS
![JH Audio JH16 Pro with Freqphase Custom In-Ear Monitor Review [2013]](http://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/P2111170-sg-320x80.jpg)
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