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New Xbox Music service with voice search coming in Fall photo

[Update: Microsoft sent us a message to clarify that the updates coming to Xbox this Fall does not constitute a new service, but that the new features are intended to enhance the existing Zune service and not replace it. Our apologies for the mistake.]

During Microsoft's Partner Conference yesterday, the megacorp announced the impending arrival of a new music application on Xbox 360 this fall. During his speech, CEO Steve Ballmer stated that the "Xbox Music" service will offer more than 11 million songs, all searchable with the voice recognition software used by Kinect.

While the thought that my frequent exclamations of "Morrissey rides a cock horse" might one day result in my Xbox launching into The Warlock Pinchers is highly amusing, what does this announcement mean for the Zune brand? Presumably, Microsoft doesn't have a need for two music services and going with the Xbox Music moniker suggests that perhaps they may be ready to move on past what seems to have been an expensive experiment.

Ballmer Talks About How Skype Will Fit Into Microsoft [Business Insider]








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Conrad Zimmerman is Destructoid's News Editor and home to the busiest mustache in the gaming press. An amateur historian and pop culture fanatic, Conrad possesses a nearly limitless wealth of videogame factoids and a passion for the power of games to teach, inspire and entertain. He enjoys reading, writing and turning things which should be fun into work. Likes Mega Man 2, Arcade Games, Books about games, Board games, Having cultural interests that aren't games Meet the rest of the team



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23 comments | showing # 1 to 23
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Sir Legendhead's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/12/2011 03:44
Sir Legendhead
I'm not well read on these particular deals, but would like to point out that dude looks like Lex Luthor.
ricochetguro's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/12/2011 03:48
ricochetguro
*slaps and proceeds to yell at Conner until he understands not to do such a silly thing*

Shame about Zune(more then likely). Never owned one myself but they seemed like well made, stylish devices. I wonder if they plan on keeping this "xbox music" service 360 exclusive or if they'll bring it elsewhere(perhaps under a different name or unified platform)
ZeppMan217's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/12/2011 03:57
ZeppMan217
They already stated somewhere that they're gonna be merging services, not killing them.
maxbraff's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/12/2011 04:33
maxbraff
Honestly, we are witnessing the rebrand of the Zune service which is an exceptional service. However cloud music was a head of its time even streaming services. Look at how Google and Apple aren't hopping in till now. Honestly, Microsoft could come to a rise in the Music business if they would of given the Zune another year or two. Its really hard being a Zune owner (although I didn't get into it until the HD) seeing this happen and Microsoft reacting like they normally do. Pity, really, pity.
MasterBalls's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/12/2011 04:51
MasterBalls
I already hate that I can't play my iTunes library everywhere, I don't want to buy more system specific music -.-
sofik88's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/12/2011 05:49
sofik88
what will happen with their music subscription service? i kinda hoped it would expand to other devices(xbox360, phones) and maybe PC cause it sounded friggin amazing - plus a little pricecut would be nice.
nanowerx's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/12/2011 06:15
nanowerx
When are they bringing Skype to Xbox Live?
TigerUppercut's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/12/2011 06:42
TigerUppercut
This will be hilarious. Blasting a song super loud and trying to yell the name of the song you want to hear next over it. So dumb. So so dumb. And Masterballs: you can stream iTunes to PS3 wirelessly.
nanowerx's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/12/2011 06:52
nanowerx
@tigeruppercut

You must have never used a Kinect. The thing can literally make out your voice over other game music and such.

I play games all the time using Kinect as my headset and have conversations even with game sounds going on all around me, the other person only hears my voice. Kinect does an excellent job of knowing what's coming from you and what sounds are coming from the system.
ralphster's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/12/2011 07:13
ralphster
does this mean you can listen the songs for free or you have to buy them first?
hughescasey23's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/12/2011 07:24
hughescasey23
Is music on your console really nessesary? As long as you have an iPod which is basically everyone then you don't need it. If you want to play music so everyone in the room can hear just play from iTunes on the computer or from an ihome.
Epic-Kx's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/12/2011 07:33
Epic-Kx
I hope this Xbox music doesn't require us to have another seperate subscription. (ZUNE MUSIC.)
Twosixteen's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/12/2011 07:35
Twosixteen
Yes but owning an iPod means having to give $$$ to Apple. And they already shivved me for $1600... so frak them.

/will never own an Apple product again
Bobthecatlol's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/12/2011 07:48
Bobthecatlol
All I ever wanted is to be able to use Spotify on my 360.

To do that now I'd need to use a third party program which I'd need to pay extra for...great.
Occams electric toothbrush's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/12/2011 08:37
Occams electric toothbrush
I just want youtube on Xbox Live so I can watch old music videos all day.
DeadnBuried's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/12/2011 08:48
DeadnBuried
I wish they'd just entirely forget about such services and release some non-Kinect exclusive titles instead. This is getting out of hand now. I remember years ago at the dawn of the generation, Xbox fanboys found it hilarious that the 360 had all the games while the PS3 was "just a media centre," and yet look at the current situation. The roles have entirely reversed. We're seven months into the year now - over half way - and yet the 360 hasn't seen a single non-Kinect exclusive title. Even the "exclusive" XBLA titles are popping up on PSN these days - Castlevania: Harmony of Despair, Braid, Limbo, etc. All of its "exclusive" DLC is timed; Call of Duty, Fallout, GTA4, etc. And what do we have to compensate for this absurd lack of exclusive content? The ability to scroll menus with our voices? Awesome. Thanks ever so much guys, this really makes it worth enduring the RRoD.

Microsoft really need to think about what they're doing. At this point in time there's no way in hell I'd ever consider buying the next Xbox console because they're just not making it worthwhile.
DeadnBuried's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/12/2011 08:50
DeadnBuried
Upon posting that comment, I noticed the adverts below. We've got a real appropriate winner here;

"2 Red lights on XBOX 360 www.consolekingz.co.ukCaused by overheating Fixed Sameday Free collection & Return in UK"
lewness's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/12/2011 09:06
lewness
Not familiar if their library has it, but I wonder how it handles classical music. When you search for "Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3 In D-Minor - First Movement, Allegro ma non tanto" I'm not sure if it will have a hard time searching it.
Stigmeyer's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/12/2011 09:25
Stigmeyer
My phone does this and I couldn't give a shit. In one's car I could understand voice controls, but in one's home? Nope. Not in the least.
shadow2398's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/12/2011 09:52
shadow2398
So last.fm is just chopped liver now? a shame, it was kinda nice having a free streaming music service on xbox, even if it wasn't the greatest.
MCBattery's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/12/2011 10:10
MCBattery
@DeadnBuried You hit the nail on the head...
Instead of Spending time and money designing a music service, Spend it on games.
That's why we bought the damn thing.
You can get music from a million other places,some completely free.
Elsa's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/12/2011 10:19
Elsa
Meh... the voice recognition on Kinect is still slow and a little wonky... it's usually faster just to type.
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