Xbox 360 voice commands take over this fall [Update]

Microsoft is planning a new Xbox Music service to launch on the Xbox 360 this fall, with more than 11 million songs and Kinect-enabled search.

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[Update] Business Insider has corrected its original report that pointed to the launch of a new Microsoft music service. According to the update, the phrase "Xbox Music" only indicates the necessary Kinect voice command to launch the console's current music offerings. The reporter mistakenly believed this phrase was the name of a new service. A new service is not planned, nor was one announced. We apologize for the error.

[Original Story] Microsoft is priming to release a music service on Xbox 360 this fall, reports Business Insider (via Gamasutra). The announcement came at CEO Steve Ballmer during the Microsoft Partner Conference. The Xbox Music service is said to contain more than 11 million songs, and will be integrated with the Kinect voice-enabled search feature we saw at E3. (By comparison, Sony's Music Unlimited service promises over 7 million songs.)

Ballmer didn't share details on how this new service will differentiate itself from the existing Zune marketplace, but Microsoft has been keen on adding more features to make the Xbox 360 an all-in-one entertainment device. Between Netflix, Hulu, movie sales, and this new music service, Microsoft is well on its way to making the 360 a comprehensive living room hub.

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  • reply
    July 12, 2011 9:15 AM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Xbox 360 music service coming this fall.

    Microsoft is planning a new Xbox Music service to launch on the Xbox 360 this fall, with more than 11 million songs and Kinect-enabled search.

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      July 12, 2011 9:19 AM

      i'm not getting excited because i am full expecting US only

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      July 12, 2011 9:22 AM

      a new service? why not just add to the Zune service?

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        July 12, 2011 9:27 AM

        What's zune?

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        July 12, 2011 10:42 AM

        Its a rebranding thing I am sure. Zune is dead.

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          July 12, 2011 11:25 AM

          Microsoft did a terrible (and that's a huge understatement) job of marketing Zune. When I was in Hawaii a few weeks ago, I was talking to my wife's cousins there and their kids said "you have a what? What is that?". I've also heard that on the mainland here too outside of the Seattle area.

          Hell even my wife commented the other day when looking for new desktop stereos that everything is iPod connectivity.

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      July 12, 2011 9:25 AM

      [deleted]

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      July 12, 2011 9:29 AM

      [deleted]

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      July 12, 2011 9:32 AM

      yay moar drm'ed music on a closed platform!!!

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      July 12, 2011 9:34 AM

      Zune -> Canada -> Please.

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        July 12, 2011 9:37 AM

        Dave-A has it somehow!

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          July 12, 2011 11:46 AM

          Dave-A is an international man of mystery, do not question his methods.

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      July 12, 2011 9:37 AM

      Who cares.

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      July 12, 2011 9:39 AM

      Seems what was said has gotten kinda muddled... the mention of 'Xbox music' was in the context of someone giving that command to Kinect, they still referred to Zune later in the speech.
      http://www.liveside.net/2011/07/12/steve-ballmer-at-wpc-the-zune-confusion/

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        July 12, 2011 10:10 AM

        yeah, the functionality got shown as part of e3, right? With Bing hitting Zune searches and all. If they'd allow Bing to tie into your WMP share/server, that would be ideal.

        But, as was covered in your link, MS really need to make up its mind to either get fully behind Zune or exit the market entirely. I'm guessing they won't leave. They're working too hard to build up the Xbox as an entertainment platform to do that. So, they either need to really ramp up W7P or actually give us a real Zune player update. Yeah, I know. Neither will happen.

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          July 12, 2011 10:24 AM

          Well, I'm not sure about another actual Zune device, but in case you haven't been keeping up on WP7 you should check out the various previews (Engadget has several videos, etc. among others) of the "Mango" update to see just how much effort they are putting into it. And as for myself, after using my girlfriend's WP7, I'll happily be giving up my current Android and switching to WP7 as soon as my contract allows. People always talk about how Android is supposed to be an open source device and that you can basically do what you want with it, yet on my Android I can't uninstall certain apps (probably carrier related, but still) without having to root the device, which seem stupid to me. Yet on my girlfriends WP7 (we both use the same carrier), you can uninstall any app you want without the need for rooting. Plus, I really like the WP7 interface much better than anything else out there. My opinions of course.

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          July 12, 2011 11:44 AM

          Where have you been? WP7 is ramping up like crazy.

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            July 12, 2011 1:50 PM

            By ramp up I mean they need more manufacturers cranking out phones and certainly more developer support. MS should pay the top AAA studios to come out with a W7P game in conjunction with ever major release for the next 2 years. So, GoW3 should have a W7P game that augments the Xbox game.

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              July 12, 2011 3:38 PM

              Windows Phone 7 has poor developer support? Really?

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      July 12, 2011 9:40 AM

      It'll be like Minority Report meets Risky Business.

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        July 12, 2011 10:15 AM

        everybody runs across the living room floor in their socks and underwear

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      July 12, 2011 1:50 PM

      Woopee.... >_>

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      July 13, 2011 10:41 AM

      My 360 puts out a lot of heat. Is it always like that? I have the new slim version, and it has that open vent on top of it, but damn it gets hot to the point where I'm afraid to let my baby nephew put his hand near it. Anyone else experience the same or is this normal?

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