Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Microsoft Kills Off Zune Music Service (networkworld.com)

Posted by timothy on from the it-was-never-really-there dept.

alphadogg writes: It's one of those "You mean it was still alive?" moments: Microsoft today officially has killed off its Zune music streaming and download service. The company notified users in September that Zune services would be retired on Nov. 15. Microsoft has been phasing out its Zune brand for some time now, with Zune music service being morphed into Xbox music and then Groove music. Devices were discontinued in 2011.

2 of 66 comments (clear)

  1. Curse of DRM strikes again... by mTor · · Score: 4, Informative

    If you've been a honest customer and actually purchased music from the Zune Marketplace store, it most definitely has DRM. And after the service is shut down, your music collection will be rendered useless and you won't be able to play it again.

    From TFA:

    Note Content that was purchased with DRM may not play if the license canâ(TM)t be renewed.

  2. Re:How do you know you can trust online services? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    I don't think this is any different than iTunes. This is mostly name and official support, my "Zune Pass" (I was grandfathered into the old 15$ version which gave me 10 credits for songs every month) has worked all along on the new Windows 8 Music apps and through the Xbox Music / Groove Music transitions. The email I got at the end of September just said my "Zune Pass" was now "Xbox Music Pass" and had dropped in price. I still have access to all the files I've bought in the past.

    My guess is that the DRM thing just means if you had Pass subscription files on a Zune, you're not going to be able to update the content licenses anymore: meaning, you won't be able to use Zune devices with anything but MP3s without content protection. It's basically the same as if you had Pass content and didn't sync for a month except now you can't update those licenses when you sync and thus will only be able to get that content through the new apps. I'd have to dig out my Zune to confirm but I'm pretty sure that it's only saying those particular devices won't be able to sync that type of content any more.