My Microsoft Life » Less Zune Music Pass devices now possible

Less Zune Music Pass devices now possible

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06/09/2011

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Dynagen

Microsoft has just sent me an email telling me that I can no longer have 6 devices associated with my Zune Music Pass (this is a new name for the Zune Pass) but instead I can only have 4 devices. the 6 devices used to be made up of 3 PCs and 3 mobiles devices (Windows Phones and Zune devices) however now there must be at least one PC and any combination of PCs and mobile devices make up the remaining 3 devices. Below is a screenshot of the email.

I am not happy with this at all. Being a UK subscribed I am already done out of a good deal because I don’t get to download and keep 10 tracks a month and now I can’t have Zune on all the devices I have become used to having it on. My current set up is 1 Windows Phone, 1 Zune 8GB, 2 desktop PCs (one at home and one at uni) and my notebook PC. With this change something will have to change and I’m not sure what I will have to drop. Thankfully this doesn’t seem to affect having an Xbox linked, although I don’t own one myself.

Aside from my gripe with announcement I think it interesting to note that the Zune HD nor any Zune device is mentioned in this email and that its only Windows Phones. Also I wonder if this announcement is a precursor to any other Zune related announcement that might be coming out over the next few weeks. September/October has often been the time of year for new Zune related news and products, we do have BUILD next week.

How does this news affect you?

Update: It would appear that this change is for Europe only, it just gets better and better!

http://wmpoweruser.com/zune-pass-to-reduce-number-of-supported-client-devices-from-6-to-4/ Zune Pass to reduce number of supported client devices from 6 to 4 | WMPoweruser

[...] MyMicrosoftLife reports that Microsoft is informing Zune Pass subscribers that the number of supported devices linked to the service is being reduced from 6 devices (3 computers and 3 phones) to only 4 devices (one PC and any combination of 3 other phones and PCs). [...]
http://enterconnected.com/index.php/microsoft-changes-the-device-limits-for-zune-music-pass Microsoft Changes the Device Limits for Zune Music Pass – enConnected

[...] Source MyMicrosoftLife [...]
http://www.winrumors.com/zune-pass-subscribers-slashed-to-only-4-devices-from-september-13/ Zune Pass subscribers slashed to only 4 devices from September 13 | WinRumors

[...] existing content on. The change has angered one loyal Zune Music Pass customer. Michael Gillett, who published the email from Microsoft on Tuesday, says he is “not happy” with the change at all. “Being a UK subscribed I am [...]
http://twitter.com/danheathorguk Dan

Same problem for me, total Zune “Music” Pass devices:
1 Mango WP
1 Laptop
1 Work PC
1 Desktop PC
1 Media Center linked PC
and
1 Windows 7 Tablet (zune works quite well on a tablet!)

Total = 6. I was fine. Now, only 4. I’m not sure how im going to cut them down as I use all the above fairly equally. Maybe less so the Media Center (as I mainly use TV on this not music) and the tablet as the headset port quality is rubbish. Either way i’m losing out.

Out of interest, how much devices can you use with equivalent music streaming services (spotify, the iTunes one [no idea of its name], etc)

Also, I’m interested as to the reasoning behind this. Is this only UK users affected (in which case is it the BPI getting in the way) or is it a worldwide decision (and therefore an MS management decision)

Dan.
Anonymous

I’m waiting to find out if anyone else has received the email, so far it only appears to myself who has been sent it. No idea, as of yet, if its UK only.
http://twitter.com/danheathorguk Dan

Yeah I did recieve it this evening. It would be interesting to see if it appears on any US-based blogs. Interesting note tho, its currently work hours there so i’m guessing it could be a worldwide decision.
http://www.andrew-stockdale.co.uk Andrew Stockdale

I got the email too. As for affecting the 360, I would imagine this isn’t included in the count because it’s stream only, therefore no licensing information needs to be stored on the device. That, and I’m pretty damn sure you can’t sign in to XBL from multiple locations.
http://dmatranga.myopenid.com/ D. Matranga

Microsoft keeps back-peddling on mobile and this makes it even worse.

It’s bad enough that the WP7 OS is on par with 2009 versions of Android/iOS. And then there are always these leaks about new features that will come out in late 2013 or whatever, but who cares? The fact is that the nicest, most expensive Windows Phone that you can buy currently, is 1-2 years behind Android’s best models and the iPhone.

So tired of waiting, I’m thinking about switching to Android when my phone contract is up.
Anonymous

This does not bode well for MS. They can come out and tell me that “our customer research shows… etc etc” but a change like this looks bad and does affect people- like ME. I have 3 computers and one Windows Phone that I use Zune on- this is a problem. This is a problem; this will affect me. It will cause people to cancel the already not-exactly-popular Zune service.

However, due to MS’ response to other major changes that people complained heavily about (let’s talk about WHS 2011 having no DE, shall we?), I don’t expect any amount of complaining will change this decision. In their last 3 consumer releases, MS has shown they have no idea (or just don’t care) what the consumer wants: NoDo update, WHS 2011, and now Zune. I’ve never liked Apple as a company, but I’m seriously strongly considering sending this new Lenovo laptop back that I got today and just getting an MBA.
http://news247.info.gl/tech/2011/09/06/is-microsoft-cutting-zune-pass-from-six-to-four-allowable-devices/ Is Microsoft cutting Zune Pass from six to four allowable devices? | Technology News – Computers, Internet, Invention and Innovation Tech from News247

[...] you know I thoroughly enjoy using my Zune Pass on my Windows Phone 7 devices. I just read over on My Microsoft Life that the terms of the service may be changing soon with the total number of supported devices being [...]
http://www.windowsphonemetro.com/2011/09/06/microsoft-changes-the-device-count-for-zunepass/ Microsoft Changes the Device Count for ZunePass? | Windows Phone Metro

[...] MyMicrosoftLife via ZDNet Share this:ShareFacebookEmailDiggStumbleUponReddit [...]
http://www.windowsphonemetro.com/2011/09/06/microsoft-changes-the-device-count-for-zunepass/ Microsoft Changes the Device Count for ZunePass? | Windows Phone Metro

[...] MyMicrosoftLife via ZDNet Share this:ShareFacebookEmailDiggStumbleUponReddit [...]
http://www.padbus.com/?p=1486 Zune terms changing Sept 13, reducing the number of sync devices for music [Updated] – 板车网 – 关于平板电脑,ipad,iphone,wp7,android,webOS,xoom

[...] Thanks, Lee T., for the images and info!; see also My Microsoft Life [...]
http://www.windowsobserver.com/2011/09/07/winobs-tweeted-links-for-06-september-2011/ @WinObs Tweeted Links for 06 September 2011 | WindowsObserver.com

[...] Less Zune Music Pass devices now possible Source: My Microsoft Life [...]
Anonymous

mike, dont u think the music record lables may have forced MS to do this? Labels own the music not microsoft and they have to listen to the edicts from the music industry.
http://twitter.com/willdelarosa William Rosa

I don’t received any email. My setup is two Windows Phone 7, a desktop, a laptop and a Xbox 360.
http://geekattitu.de/2011/09/08/vache-maigre-pour-le-zune-music-pass-en-europe/ Vache maigre pour le Zune Music Pass en Europe | Geekattitude

[...] de quelques majors du disque on fait pencher la balance dans la guerre à la rentabilité.Source: MyMicrosoftLife.com Tweet Microsoft, Music Pass, Windows Phone, Zune Cette entrée a été posté par Frédéric L. [...]
http://w7phone.ru/c-13-sentyabrya-muzykalnyj-servis-zune-umenshit-chislo-sinxroniziruemyx-ustrojstv-50353/ C 13 сентября музыкальный сервис Zune уменьшит число синхронизируемых устройств – Новости – Windows Phone 7 (WP7)

[...] За картинки и информацию спасибо Lee T., более подробная информация есть на сайте My Microsoft Life [...]
http://www.windows-phone7-reviews.info/windows/windows-phone/zune-pass-to-reduce-number-of-supported-client-devices-from-6-to-4 Zune Pass to reduce number of supported client devices from 6 to 4 | WINDOWS PHONE7 REVIEWS

[...] MyMicrosoftLife reports that Microsoft is informing Zune Pass subscribers that a series of upheld inclination related to a use is being reduced from 6 inclination (3 computers and 3 phones) to usually 4 inclination (one PC and any multiple of 3 other phones and PCs). [...]

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