Hey guys, I was just looking for a little clarification about Xbox Music. Now, do I buy tracks individually or do I buy a sub and download all the music I want? And, with either scenario, does it download them as mp3's that I can then move to other devices (I have 4 ps3's in my house and my kids are getting Nexus 7's for Xmas)?
If you want MP3s, you have to purchase tracks. I'm not sure if they offer 100% MP3s for all purchases, but it's always seem that way for me, except for the rare track... but that is only my experience when it was known as Zune. I don't think there has been any catalog difference between Zune and Xbox Music (as in, they access the same catalog, 99.9% sure)... but I think they also improved everything as a whole when they made the re-launch with Xbox Music.
No DRM-free download/purchase I've made on Zune has been anything but MP3 for awhile I reckon. Early on, MP3/DRM-free WMA were both fairly equal in prevalence.
I've had the Zune Pass (Music Pass) for a long time, and still have the grandfathered $15/month plan. But that also still gives me 10 download/purchase credits every month, which nets me MP3s for songs I really like.
But I have to continue to use the actual Zune program (no "Metro" app) if I want to use credits. But I can and do use both Zune and Xbox Music on my PC.
As for the subscription, I love it - but no, you do not get MP3s for the subscription downloads. What you do get it unlimited DRM'd downloads and streaming, on any Xbox Music compatible device. I don't think I can even have my Zune HD interact with the Xbox Music software, I still have to use the Zune desktop app to sync with it (it is a discontinued device after all, so I guess it's expected).
How one actually loads music onto other devices in Xbox Music, I've no idea. I know there are cloud-based features, including a music match service, for other compatible devices. From any such device, you can also stream and download from the catalog.
Compatible devices, at this point, are basically anything with Windows 8, Windows RT, or Windows Phone 8. Windows Phone 7 MAY be included, I don't actually know.
Sometime "in the future," there will be Android and iOS Xbox Music apps, supposedly with full service support. When we get that for such devices, no idea. I'm hoping soon, guessing a year away. I'd LOVE Zune/Xbox Music on my Android phone, Nexus 7, and could probably hack it into my Motoactv.
So you can get a subscription, but if you NEED MP3s, you'd still have to buy them. I have a strong suspicion Microsoft won't ever give the PS3 a Music app, though it would be mighty kind.
You MAY be able to play the DRM files on any device that plays WMA files, but you'd have to manually sideload files every month to keep the DRM license up to date. No guarantee that will even work. For PS3 (assuming you would be satisfied with Xbox Music apps on Android/iOS), you could do some kind of streaming setup. Haven't tried that in forever, can't remember if that works.