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Microsoft unveils Cortana voice assistant for Android and iPhone
Yes, it's official: Microsoft is bringing Windows' Cortana voice assistant to Android and iPhone. Both platforms will get a dedicated app that, much like you see on Windows Phone today, will let you dictate reminders, track flights and otherwise keep your life organized. Cortana's Notebook, which remembers what you like, will also sync across all your platforms. This won't be a one-for-one recreation of what you get right now, though -- since Microsoft can't tap directly into the operating system like it can on Windows devices, you won't get hands-free activation through "hey Cortana" or options to launch apps or settings. Still, it'll be worth seeing what this Halo-inspired helper can do when it reaches Android in late June, and iPhones sometime later this year -- and we'd add that it's not the only treat Microsoft has in store for your smartphone, either.
OneDrive link to Xbox Music puts your MP3s in the cloud for free
A few months ago info leaked out that OneDrive was getting ready for music storage, then Microsoft confirmed, and now it's here. Starting today, Xbox Music and OneDrive are connected so any music files (MP3, M4A, or WMA) in your "Music" folder on Microsoft's cloud storage service are immediately playable via the web or Xbox Music apps on Windows 8, Windows Phone 8.1, Xbox 360 and Xbox One -- for free. The initial leak suggested there would be 20GB of storage, but Xbox Music's paying Music Pass subscribers will get an additional 100GB of space.
The UK official albums chart will soon include streaming data
The way we all consume music has changed remarkably since charts began ranking the popularity of tracks and artists decades ago. In July last year, the UK's Official Charts Company thought it was about time online streaming figures contributed to the crafting of the singles chart. And today, it's announced the official albums chart will begin incorporating streaming intel, too. Starting with the chart to be released on March 1st, plays from Spotify, Deezer, Napster, Google Play, Xbox Music, Rdio, Rara and O2 Tracks will count towards album rankings. It's more problematic than it might seem at first, however, as the Official Charts Company is keen not to let a few killer singles propel an album undeservedly to the top spot.
T-Mobile's data-free streaming adds Google Play Music and more
Google Play Music was absent from T-Mobile's Music Freedom options... until now. After a public vote to see who should be next, Mountain View's streaming library will no longer gobble your data on the UnCarrier's network. Google's music service is among 14 others, including Xbox Music and SoundCloud, that won't count against that monthly allowance when you're in need of some tunes on-the-go. Of course, Spotify, Rdio, Pandora and ten others were already given the free pass, so with the recent additions, that total now tallies 27 in all. The full list of today's additions awaits on the other side of the break.
Microsoft is slowly prepping OneDrive for music storage
You know all that OneDrive storage Microsoft's been giving away lately? Turns out there could be a new way to put it to use soon: music storage. A tipster to Windows Central points out that going to this link will automatically create a folder for your tunes in Redmond's cloud ecosystem, and when the feature officially hits it'll apparently bring an additional 20GB of free storage with it too. A few graphics indicate that there'll be a web version, as well. We've embedded one from Windows Central after the break. Oh, the service supposedly won't cost anything (much like Google's music locker) and your music will be accessible across a range of devices including Windows 8.1 computers, phones and tablets; browsers and, of course, Xboxes. Not that the Xbox One actually needs any extra media options mind you, but more are always welcome.
Xbox Music ditches free desktop streaming on December 1st
If you're hooked on Xbox Music's free desktop-based listening, you're going to have make some backup plans very shortly. Microsoft has announced that it's dropping the no-cost web and Windows streaming option as of December 1st; after that, you'll have to pay for a Music Pass if you want all-you-can-eat tunes beyond the 30-day trial period. The company claims that it's refocusing Xbox Music to make it the "ultimate music purchase and subscription service," although it's not elaborating on what that entails. Suffice it to say that Microsoft has a lot of competition in the free music space. Its main rival, Spotify, has over 30 million free users worldwide on a wider range of platforms -- it wouldn't be easy for Microsoft to challenge that lead using the free tier you know today.
Windows Phone's music app now lets you start playlists using your voice
When the Windows Phone 8.1 preview rolled out, its music app was underwhelming; you couldn't use Cortana voice commands for everything, and it was fairly buggy. Both of those gripes are gone now that Microsoft has updated the music client with its latest mobile OS in mind. You can now use voice to do most anything, including starting playlists by name; you no longer have to go hunting for that collection of hot summer jams. Problems with unexpected black screens should also be gone, and interface transitions should be smoother across the board.
Pretend it's 1994: music videos now available on Xbox One
The days of true music television may be long gone, but Microsoft has just introduced the next best thing. Xbox Music on the Xbox One now offers more than 92,000 music videos; if a given song has a matching video, you'll see that instead of having to settle for plain old audio. You can also browse music videos if you demand visuals for every track. If you're looking for something to do before the Xbox One's big update hits -- or just want to indulge in some TV nostalgia -- you can check out the Xbox Music update today.
Xbox Music for iOS now plays music offline (update: Android too)
Xbox Music landed on iOS with a big splash, but the absence of offline playback hurt its appeal for frequent flyers and anyone else whose internet access isn't guaranteed. That won't be a problem now that Microsoft has updated the app with offline support. Tunesters just have to flick a virtual switch to cache playlists for listening in any situation. The move won't lure subscribers away from rival services that have had offline playback for a while, but it's hard to object to a little more convenience for Xbox Music loyalists. Update: Nearly a week later, Microsoft has rolled out offline playback support to Android users as well.
Microsoft releases standalone Xbox Music and Xbox Video apps for Windows Phone 8
Microsoft appears to be taking a page from Google's approach to core software updates: It just launched standalone Xbox Music and Xbox Video apps for Windows Phone 8 users. The music app (currently deemed a preview) is largely what we've seen in Microsoft's integrated software, but it also lets you edit playlists and sync radio stations. A completed version is due in 2014, the company says. The video client, meanwhile, resurrects functionality that hasn't been a part of the OS since Windows Phone 7; you can now download or stream Xbox Video content directly from your handset, with playback syncing between phones, PCs and game consoles. There's no certainty that Xbox Music and Xbox Video represent the first steps toward OS-independent media apps in the rumored Windows Phone 8.1 upgrade, but you can at least try them today.
Microsoft offering Killer Instinct free on Xbox One to some longtime fans (update)
Today is apparently the day where Microsoft turns into Oprah: You get a copy of Killer Instinct on Xbox One! And you get a copy of Killer Instinct on Xbox One! And just like Oprah, Microsoft's dispersal of said free game is seemingly at random. According to the official Xbox Twitter account, the company "considered a variety of things like Gamerscore, LIVE tenure, & other factors in markets where #XboxOne is available" in deciding who would receive free copies. Codes to unlock all the characters in Killer Instinct will arrive on launch day or thereabouts following today's email blast (seen above) alerting users. And KI isn't the only freebie MS is announcing today, as Xbox Live Gold users on Xbox One will get Xbox Music streaming for free as well (like web users). Sadly, that comes with adverts, which makes it distinctly less free and more "free." But hey, that new Eminem album is on there, so that's...something? We guess? Update: Apparently Albert Penello spoke too soon, as he's just updated his Twitter account saying, "was wrong about Music on XboxOne: You get 15 free song plays then need Music Pass for ad-free streaming. No ad-supported streaming. Sorry!" [Image credit: NeoGAF]
Microsoft launches 'Xbox Music' streaming radio service for iPhone
Just weeks before Apple is expected to release its iTunes Radio streaming-music service, Microsoft has released Xbox Music for iPhone. Xbox Music was first unveiled last October and allows users to listen to ad-supported or ad-free music (depending on whether they have a paying subscription or not) on their Microsoft devices, such as Windows Phone, Xbox 360 and Windows PCs. With today's launch on iPhone and Android phones, Microsoft appears to acknowledge that it thinks Apple's iTunes Radio could become a big player on the streaming-music front -- something it hopes to stave off with the expansion of Xbox Music. Today's release of the app offers users the following: 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. The company also says it will be releasing an update soon that will allow users to download music for offline listening. Though Xbox Music is a free download, mobile users will be required to have an Xbox Music Pass to listen to the service on their iPhone. Xbox Music Passes are available for a free 30-day trial, but cost US$9.99 a month after that.
Xbox Music goes head on with Spotify: web streaming now free, iOS and Android apps out today
Xbox Music is going free over the web today, and its long-awaited iOS and Android versions are also set to launch at some point today. The move puts Xbox Music and Microsoft on a new course, positioning the service to rival major streaming music providers like Spotify and Rdio. "The Spotify model is the most disruptive thing that's happened in the music industry in the last five years," Xbox Music GM Jerry Johnson told Engadget in an interview this week. With the move to free streaming on the web -- something that's been available to Windows 8 users for some time now -- Johnson and Microsoft are hoping to get in on that disruption. The first six months of streaming are entirely free, and becomes more limited after that. Like Spotify, Johnson reasons that users will be drawn in for free on the web and upgrade to the Xbox Music Pass ($10/month or $100/year). Also like Spotify, the mobile apps are essentially useless without a paid subscription. It's unclear if streaming will be free for the Xbox One version that launches this November, though we'd bet that the first 30 days are free (like with the Xbox 360 iteration). There are some new images of what it'll look like on Xbox One in the gallery below -- it's essentially a shinier version of the one you're used to on your current Xbox 360. Sadly, the iOS and Android apps don't launch with the ability to save and play tracks offline; offline playback functionality is coming "in the coming months," we're told. Oh, and when Windows 8.1 launches in October, the Web Playlist tool (which creates playlists based on whatever website you're viewing) will arrive alongside the OS update for Windows 8 users. We'd leave you with a link to Tears for Fears' timely song, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," but Xbox Music doesn't allow users to link out. Instead, there's a YouTube embed below. Dance with us like it's 1985!
Xbox Music web version launches today
As teased by Microsoft last week, you can now get your Xbox Music fix on a browser (and non-MS hardware) starting today. The service has now gone live over at music.xbox.com, offering up a music interface similar to its recent Windows 8 app refresh. It's also curiously able to play music across multiple devices at the same time -- something that streaming rival Spotify doesn't allow. The player itself adjusts to the size of your browser window, like this site, while your playlists can be edited and then synced with your Windows phone, Windows and Xbox 360. At the moment, the web version is for subscribers only. Not sure if it's the music service for you? Don't worry, Xbox Music has kept the 30-day trial it's offered since it first launched on Microsoft's game console. Sample it for yourself at the source link below. Steve Dent contributed to this report.
Windows 8.1 in-depth hands-on: features, apps, impressions and screenshots (video)
The last time we wrote about Windows 8.1, we had lots to talk about, but very little to share in the way of hands-on impressions. You see, though Microsoft unveiled loads of new features, apps and UI tweaks, it only released a handful of screenshots -- and nobody outside the company was permitted to actually use the new software. Today, though, the OS update is available for anyone to download for free; in fact, because we're oh-so special, we've been playing around with it for about 15 hours already. So while that's not enough time to put together a comprehensive review, we feel qualified to offer a few early thoughts. If you're curious, you can meet us after the break for impressions on everything from the new panorama capture feature to Xbox Radio. And yes, we brought screenshots this time. Lots of 'em.%Gallery-192368%
Xbox Music web version launching next week, Microsoft confirms
Microsoft's Xbox Music will launch on the web "next week," a company representative confirmed to Engadget this afternoon. The service was previously only available to folks using various Microsoft devices and operating systems, from the Xbox 360 to Windows 8 / RT / Windows Phone 8, but the service is going wide online for its next step. The web-based service is expected to launch at music.xbox.com, and looks significantly different from the layout seen above. The company isn't sharing more details just yet, but a report on The Verge citing unnamed sources has a few more tidbits. Apparently the service will function similarly to Spotify's web version, offering streaming and playlist management through your favorite web browser. Additionally, the Windows 8 app is reportedly getting an update with Windows 8.1, which both changes its look and adds support for SD cards. It's very likely we'll have even more details on Xbox Music's upcoming updates from Microsoft's Build developer conference this week, so keep an eye out!
Windows 8 Music update brings in-app searching, login-free trial streaming
Windows 8 has built-in search tools for apps, but a tweak in the June update to Xbox Music is making that feature more accessible. The media player now lets you search for songs on both your PC and Xbox Music through an in-app button. If you don't have any local tunes, you won't have to sign in to start listening -- Music now lets you stream 15 tracks through Xbox Music's ad-supported free tier without using an account. While other bug fixes and UI enhancements are minor in nature, what's here is enough to justify a trip to the Windows Store for the new version.
Shazam launches on Windows Phone 8 with links to Xbox Music and free unlimited tagging
Shazam might claim over 300 million song-checkers already, but it's all about increasing that audience, and from today, that includes Windows Phone 8. The app has launched free on Microsoft's mobile OS, with the ability to tag directly from the home screen. Once it's recognized the track, Shazam can connect to both Xbox Music and Nokia Music services to pick up the full track for playback. Shazam also promises to recognize TV shows and ads through audio and offer up an "interactive second-screen experience," although there's scant detail on what that might involve. While the app is free, like its iOS and Android counterparts, it arrives with unlimited tagging, which should make it perfect for anyone that really can't remember who did that song. (It was probably Prince.)
Xbox Music update adds volume control, cloud syncing and performance boost
Several Windows 8 apps, including Calendar, Mail and People, received updates just yesterday, and today Microsoft's Xbox Music is getting a refresh of its own. The music app's update brings both performance improvements to Windows RT devices and some new functionality. Among the new features is a volume control that sets the app's volume independent of the system's volume. The update also brings the ability to automatically sync your music collection to the cloud and add songs from your collection to other devices running Xbox music. Finally, as you can see in the screen grab above, there's a new playing UI that displays all tracks from an album in addition to the song currently playing. You can check out the update yourself by clicking through to the Windows Store via the source link.
Windows 8 review
It's unusual, to say the least, for us to spend a year with a product before publishing our review. In the case of Windows 8, we've written thousands of words already, starting with our first hands-on in September of 2011, followed by deep dives on the Developer Preview, Consumer Preview, Release Preview and RTM build. Even our readers have had ample time to get acquainted with the OS -- it's been available as a public download since February. And yet, we've never tested a final version of the software running on brand new, made-for-Windows-8 hardware. With the OS now on sale (alongside dozens of new PCs), it's finally time for us to double back and revisit everything we've previously written in the form of a final, comprehensive review. And what a challenging assignment this was: it's hard enough to give an OS the full review treatment without burying the reader in minute details. It's even tougher when the software was built for so many different kinds of hardware. Combining a traditional desktop with Windows Phone-inspired Live Tiles, Windows 8 was designed to be equally at home on traditional PCs and more finger-friendly devices, like tablets and hybrids. In addition to walking you through the operating system's various gestures and built-in apps, then, we'll spend some time talking about which form factors are best suited to this redesigned version of Windows. Read on to see what we found out.
