Zune Marketplace was an online store that offered music, podcasts, TV shows, movies, music videos, and mobile applications. Content could be viewed or purchased on Windows PCs with the Zune software installed, Zune devices, the Xbox 360, Windows Phone devices, or the Microsoft Kin phones.[1][2] It has since been superseded by Xbox Music.
Music[]
Initially offering 2 million songs, the Zune Marketplace had grown to offer 14 million songs, all of which were available in MP3 format at up to 320 kbit/s and were DRM-free. Music on Zune Marketplace was offered by the big four music groups (EMI, Warner Music Group, Sony BMG, and Universal Music Group), as well as smaller music labels.
The home page of the Zune Marketplace showed featured music as selected by Microsoft, as well as the most popular music. Users could search or filter by genres, including rock, pop, dance, urban, and others.
Before Zune Marketplace's music became DRM-free, songs were protected by Windows Media DRM; however, the Zune Software only allowed WMDRM content from the Zune Marketplace to be transferred to Zune devices. Zune Marketplace DRM content could be played by other WMDRM compatible applications and devices.
Zune Music Pass[]
Zune Music Pass was a music subscription service that allowed subscribers to download an unlimited number of songs for as long as their subscription was active. Launched in 2008 as Zune Pass, the songs could be played on up to 3 Windows PCs and on up to 3 other Zune-compatible devices, but could not be burned to an audio CD. Songs downloaded using Zune Pass were provided in WMA format at 192kbit/s and were restricted by DRM. Zune Music Pass subscribers in the United States and other select countries were permitted to download and keep 10 songs per month as DRM-free MP3s, even after their $14.99 per month subscription ended.[3][4] On October 3, 2011, Zune Pass was replaced by Zune Music Pass at a lower price of $9.99 per month, but without the 10 MP3 monthly credit.[5] Existing Zune Pass subscribers were permitted to grandfather their old accounts until they were ultimately replaced.[6]
Videos[]
Zune Marketplace offered television shows from the following companies: A&E, Anime, Bravo, Cartoon Network, CBS, Discovery Communications, E!, Fox, 20th Century Fox Television, G4, GamerTV, History Channel, Marvel, MLB, NBC, Universal Media Studios, Paley Center, PBS, Spike, Starz, SyFy, TNA, USA Network, and Viacom.
Movies from Paramount, Universal, Warner Bros. Pictures, 20th Century Fox, and other studios were offered for purchase or time-limited rental. Some movies were available in HD. Selected content purchased via Zune Marketplace on the Xbox 360 additionally offers 5.1 surround sound.
Music videos were also offered for purchase. Zune Video Marketplace was superseded by Xbox Video.
Applications[]
Zune Marketplace included an applications section where apps and games could be downloaded for the Zune HD. The store initially launched with nine apps, all of which were developed by Microsoft and released for free. The selection of apps expanded to sixty-two games and applications over two years. Apps that were available included several games, Facebook, Twitter, and Windows Live Messenger. Applications are also available from various independent developers made using XNA Game Studio or OpenZDK, which use C# and C++ respectively. On August 31, 2012, the apps section of the Zune Marketplace and users' media collections were disabled within the software.
The Zune software also allowed users to browse, purchase, and install Windows Phone apps from the Windows Phone Store.
Replacement[]
On October 16, 2012, the services were replaced by Xbox Music, which was also included with Windows 8 for PCs and tablets on October 26.[7] In 2017, Microsoft notified users that the WMA DRM used by Zune Marketplace would cease to function on March 12 for users who installed the Windows 10 Anniversary Update or later. Users had an option to download DRM-free MP3 versions of the files from Groove Music as long as they had not been withdrawn by the copyright holders.[8]
References[]
- ↑ Zune Marketplace to keep your Zune player stocked by Cyrus Farivar, Engadget. 2006-09-14.
- ↑ "Zune Marketplace". Zune. Microsoft. Archived from the original on April 12, 2008.
- ↑ Farivar, Cyrus (September 14, 2006). "Zune Marketplace To Keep Your Zune Player Happy". Engadget.
- ↑ "Zune Pass". Zune. Microsoft. Archived from the original on April 12, 2008. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
- ↑ Melanson, Donald (September 29, 2011). "Microsoft announces new $10 Zune Music Pass, expands service to Canada". Engadget.
- ↑ Change payment from 14.99 each month to 9.99 on my zune pass by Juan López, Microsoft Community. 2012-06-25.
- ↑ Xbox Music heads to Xbox 360 first tomorrow, PC / tablets on Oct. 26, WP8 soon after; we go hands-on by Ben Gilbert, Engadget. 2012-10-15.
- ↑ Support for rights-managed purchases in Zune, Microsoft. 2017-10-24.
External links[]
- Zune Marketplace archives at Microsoft
- Zune software: Zune Marketplace at Wikipedia
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Wikipedia (article: Zune software)
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