The new XBOX music dashboard will redirect gamers into Microsoft’s all-in-one entertainment hub.
The new XBOX Music interface is expected to create an inclusive leisure hub that organizes music, apps, and social media. Countless features have been added to the traditional gaming experience in recent years. Netflix has been the most pronounced commodity added to the gaming console, allowing movies and TV shows to stream instantly. The influx of highly integrated applications in the Microsoft market is making the gaming console more attractive to new customers. Televisions are also becoming smarter. This begs the question—how many smart devices will it take for us to feel totally wired? XBOX can now make the argument that one is all you need.
The new music panel has run Zune, Microsoft’s once-popular mp3 sharing engine, completely out of service. Users who make the switch to XBOX Music were awarded 1000 starter points, a modest consolation. The new panel has an inspiration board-like feel, though techies complain that the interface isn’t perfect. The Windows 8 platform automatically arranges a user’s favorite apps. The XBOX does not utilize this smart feature, and instead, this type of organization must be done manually.
Unlike Spotify, XBOX Music utilizes a new cloud storage system that lets XBOX live users to store music remotely. Microsoft has surpassed Apple’s effort to make this claim, a goal the company has long pursued. Meanwhile, XBOX Music is shining through years of competition from Apple as the very first all-in-one entertainment center. Users buy batches of points and use them to stream games, rent movies, or buy applications. The monthly $9.99 charge matches Spotify fees, but offers slightly more integrated features. The new XBOX system streams like Spotify, downloads like iTunes and has an app called “SmartDJ”, the Microsoft equivalent of Pandora. At trueITpros, we are eager to know your opinions about entertainment technology. Let us know how you like XBOX Music in the comments.