macnn/electronista

09/06/2008, 10:20am, EDT

Saturday, September 6th

MS readying cross-device Zune service?

Microsoft is finally hoping to unify its Zune Marketplace and services with other devices, the company reveals in a recent job posting for a Software Development Engineer. The firm hopes to develop a new, "unified entertainment service" that would work on not just the company's music player and PCs but also on Windows Mobile devices and the Xbox console lineup as well. At present, Microsoft's storefronts are balkanized and don't allow Xbox Video Marketplace content to be transferred outside of the game system, while protected Zune Marketplace content refuses to play on the Xbox even when the player is directly connected.

The listing makes it clear that the project is just starting and thus that Microsoft doesn't expect to have a unified service for a significant amount of time, suggesting that the company is aiming for an iTunes level of integration between different device types but is significantly delayed versus Apple's services, which rely on a common OS X operating system core for most devices to ensure that they can all recognize the same music and videos.


Filed under: industry, mobile phones, Apple
Other story tags: Microsoft, iTunes, Xbox 360, Zune

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Plays for sure!

5
09/06, 11:59am, EDT

Please, MS, make my day and create a "uniform experience" once more...RELAUNCH the stupid program PLAYS FOR SURE...I am sure all your dumb partners are gonna love it all over again!

In the meantime, you may pay your racist friend Seinfeld another 10 million to put that new shopping experience in your shoe store...but this time with Arabs outside, not Hispanics...

MS is DEAD. Dell is DEAD.

Fresh-Faced Recruit
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Not Rocket Science

0
09/06, 1:24pm, EDT

All you have to do to sell Zunes is make them Mac compatible. Apple figured that out about Windows. Why is Microsoft so stupid they can't see what's right in front of their faces. Mac users set trends. We may be a smaller bunch, but eventually the world follows Mac users to products and tech.

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Yeah right

4
09/06, 1:30pm, EDT

mlprice: I'm pretty sure that won't work. You'd have to make them iTUNES-compatible.

Zune

-5
09/06, 4:19pm, EDT

Why would we want to buy a Zune - Macs don't even play WMA...

Mac Enthusiast
Joined Jan 2001
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You keep speaking

3
09/06, 6:47pm, EDT

You keep speaking of this "zune." What is it?

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...

1
09/07, 2:33am, EDT

Macs can play WMA...

Addicted to MacNN
Joined Jan 2003
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Seriously now

0
09/07, 9:50am, EDT

WHO GIVES A FLYING F**K ABOUT MICROSHT!!!

Like if that garbage bin blows up tomorrow, will anyone give a F
*k??? I highly doubt it!

Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Apr 2005
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Great idea!

-1
09/07, 12:34pm, EDT

I think they should call it "Plays For Sure For Enhanced Media Devices", to capitalize on the famous "Plays For Sure" brand. Microsoft sure is making chewy innovations!

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re: Seriously

-1
09/07, 12:47pm, EDT

Since a good amount of the planet is run on the Microsoft platform, I think it might make a bit of a ripple. Mind you, Microsoft could lose ALL of Apple and still have pretty substantial finances.

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re: Seriously

-1
09/07, 12:49pm, EDT

Since a good amount of the planet is run on the Microsoft platform, I think it might make a bit of a ripple. Mind you, Microsoft could lose ALL of Apple and still have pretty substantial finances.

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