So Long, Microsoft Groove Music (aka Zune, Xbox Music)

[Crono]

And thanks for all the Phish*.

Just got this email. The Groove Music streaming service - which used to be Zune, way back when - is going away. They are transitioning users now to Spotify, which is what I've been using for the past few years. Microsoft pretty much ruined Zune/Xbox Music/Groove over that period, and squandered away whatever chance they had at being the top streaming music service by constantly changing the name (really, Microsoft? Groove? The same name as your Sharepoint software?) and features.

It's really too bad because both the Zune hardware (ever the running joke in nerd culture) and software were actually pretty damn good at one point. I wish I still had my brown Zune 30 and Zune HD. Microsoft was ahead of the curve with design.

Oh well. For you five other Groove users, here's your reminder to download your music off Groove. As a former Kin owner, I already learned my lessson and have everything backed up. The Groove app will still stick around as a music app, but it's no longer a streaming service.

https://www.theverge.com/2017/10/2/16401898/microsoft-groove-music-pass-discontinued-spotify-partner

* Not really a Phish fan

 

[lxskllr]

What is it with them changing names? When I started with them I had msn email. No idea what it's called now after a few name changes. I also agree regarding the zune. It was a nice piece of gear, but too proprietary.

 

[sdifox]

I still have a zune collecting dust.

 

[brianmanahan]

I still have a zune collecting dust.

is it brown?

 

[sdifox]

is it brown?

negatory, black front, silver metal back, 8gb. It's sitting next to two IBM USB floppy drives.

 

[brianmanahan]

negatory, black front, silver metal back, 8gb

 

[sdifox]

I don't get what you are trying to convey...

 

[brianmanahan]

I don't get what you are trying to convey...

 

[sdifox]

Again, I don't see the relevance of your memes. At least write a pome you lazy bum.

 

[RossMAN]

I still have a zune collecting dust.

If it gets lonely it can join my Dell Axim that I paid around $400 for and barely used, still hurts to this day.
http://www.mobiletechreview.com/Dell-Axim-X51v.htm

 

[brianmanahan]

Again, I don't see the relevance of your memes. At least write a pome you lazy bum.

brown zune is ugly
black zune is #based
you are a certified
man of great taste

 

[lxskllr]

brown zune is ugly
black zune is #based
you are a certified
man of great taste

Brown zune has understated elegance. Black's just another generic Chinese $device. You can tell the people that don't have taste in an ubuntu topic when they complain about the old color scheme. Their opinion on aesthetics can be summarily dismissed.

 

[sdifox]

Lulz who cares about the colour. Not like I was looking at it when playing music.

 

[ctbaars]

Is Apple our only choice for Music Player and Music Organization software?

 

[dainthomas]

Is Apple our only choice for Music Player and Music Organization software?

Google Music. iTunes makes me want to punch out my monitor every time I've used it.

 

[sdifox]

Is Apple our only choice for Music Player and Music Organization software?

I use foobar

 

[FeuerFrei]

This wasn't formerly grooveshark was it? (Sure, I could google it.)

I only stream ambient background music ... or maybe unpurchased tracks I'm sampling ... you know, the free stuff.

As far as music players go, I'm still using my Creative Zen Vision:M on a daily basis.

 

[lxskllr]

Is Apple our only choice for Music Player and Music Organization software?

On windows, foobar2000 or clementine. On gnu/linux deadbeef or clementine.

 

[quikah]

If they integrate Spotify into the Groove app this would be OK, otherwise this is kind of disappointing. Groove is actually a pretty decent music player now (pretty basic, so not for everyone). Oh well, I never bought anything from them, but I have a bunch of purchases I got from their free Christmas sale 2-3 years ago. Will have to download all those.

 

[feralkid]

You have that backwards.

 

[Denly]

MS pretty much gave up everything in the consumer market except xbox and bing. I am sure if Nutella has the power he will write off both and use google and PS4 in no time.

 

[Crono]

MS pretty much gave up everything in the consumer market except xbox and bing. I am sure if Nutella has the power he will write off both and use google and PS4 in no time.

Sounds like one delicious CEO.

I think Bing has some staying power because fundamentally it's a cloud product, and much of the R&D behind it gets used for other algorithmic/machine learning applications.

Xbox is closer to a PC now than a console. Nadella might have wanted to get rid of it early in his tenure as CEO if it were feasible, but it's probably going to be integrated with their mixed reality platform in the near future, especially given the Minecraft acquisition.

 

[brianmanahan]

You have that backwards.

 

[Denly]

Sounds like one delicious CEO.

I think Bing has some staying power because fundamentally it's a cloud product, and much of the R&D behind it gets used for other algorithmic/machine learning applications.

Xbox is closer to a PC now than a console. Nadella might have wanted to get rid of it early in his tenure as CEO if it were feasible, but it's probably going to be integrated with their mixed reality platform in the near future, especially given the Minecraft acquisition.

Yes Nutella is one "delicious" CEO, I am a WP user so f him.

Bing might have some staying power in US but it is useless outside of US, if I am infront of a McD and ask Bing for the McD near me it will point me to a few km away. Yet so much machine learning or AI...

Without the user base(data) I don't see MS winning the AI, mixed reality war. We will see, I am on the camp MS is going IBM way.

 

[Sonikku]

Just got this email. The Groove Music streaming service - which used to be Zune, way back when - is going away.

But Starlord just got one.