If the above picture is to be believed, it looks like Microsoft's
Zune Pass is gearing up to make its UK debut. An across-the-pond tipster via
LiveSide apparently stumbled upon (and was able to successfully score the 14-day trial) a Subscription page with pricing tiers. In addition to the tryout period, there were also options for a £8.99 (about $13.74) one-month pass and £26.97 / $41.23 for three. Further details are just barely hinted at in the sidebar, but if it's anything like the US progenitor, we're looking at an all-you-can download music service and ten DRM-free MP3s each month, playable on Windows, Xbox 360 (
soon), Zune devices (still not available outside US), and
Windows Phone 7. We know
Microsoft is planning to move its "
challenging" music service into every country its phones will venture, but that little tidbit doesn't absolve this image of scrutiny. Try as we might, our UK editors are unable to find this screen anywhere. According to the original tipster, even though he has access to the trial, he still can't use it. We'll keep digging and will let you know what we find.
[Thanks, Ian]
posted July 18th 2010 1:24PM
@nabberuk
Oh, yeah. He's been banned many times. Amazing how he keeps coming back. This time though, his ban should be permanent.
Great news for everyone. More content providers and services means better prices and deals for consumers from all services due to competition.
@HighestRanked2
It's funny, that 1% share you guys keep touting is from 2006 a few months after the Zune was released. Quite ridiculous when you realize Apple only has 3% of the computing market.
@Mike10010100
I really wish Engadget would get some more people on comment cleanup duty. The comment system is so much better now, it's just some certain commenters that are the problem.
@HighestRanked2
Huh, what? Last I checked all the music that I've purchased from iTunes (that I had to pay to remove the DRM) and Amazon (that has always been DRM free) works perfectly on my Zune. The music I've purchased from the Zune Store also works perfectly on my iPod Touch, as well as my Android phone.
I prefer to actually own 100% of the music I pay for - rather than being on a leash to MS for ever in order to keep playing.
What a lame system - 2nd class selection, and you have to keep paying to play.
Can't believe people still fall for that POS leasing model...
@HighestRanked2
Dafrety was talking about YOU, you incompetent moron. You seriously need to work on your comprehension skills. You know, get them above a 2nd grade reading level?
"Ahhh there it is, I was going to say where are your Gettysburg Adress-style essay responses? Bravo!"
Funny, considering half of it is YOUR content, moron. So I like to write a lot, and suddenly I'm criticized for it? Jeez, you must have ADD along with your other personality and self-esteem issues.
"Anyhow, yeah year after year Zune Pass is consistently rated at the middle toward the back of the line amongst all music download services and is beaten by far superior ones like Napster, Amazon and the others in my list above. "
Cool. What's your point? It's a good deal. Appeal to popularity again? Logical fallacy. That part of your argument is nullified.
"MS is loaded with cash, so hey they roll advertising just like anyone else. In fact MS spends more in adverising Zune more than Apple spends advertising the iPod Touch, so where are the results? When the Zune is tanking at 1% after all this time and so much money poured into its marketing, with no signs of life in sight then it's becoming easier and easier for consumers to forget all about it."
Oh, do tell! How many commercials have they run? I see Apple commercials all the time, have barely seen any Microsoft Zune commercials. Yep. Sad that mainstream consumers forget about one of the best MEDIA players. It seems that the ADD generation of today wants a device that does a little of everything, nothing well, and presents low quality media.
"Research indicates consumers are more inclined to buy music than to rent it."
Link please?
"One reason why satellite radio failed. Napster became the #2 music service online after switching to selling music rather than rent it."
Napster still rents AND sells music, moron, just like the Zune marketplace. Do you honestly think that the Zune store only rents music?
"The #3 online music store, Amazon, also sells music with no rent options. The #4 online music store, Rhapsody, also focuses on selling music but with an option to rent (under heavy DRM). And the story goes on and on. Lastly Zune Marketplace continues to be an infestation of several kinds of WMA/ZPL DRM, thus locking all those 'free' songs per month to a Zune. Nobody wants that."
Answer me this: how on earth do you expect music to "go away" after a month without DRM? Hmmm??? That's the whole POINT of having DRM, is so that rentals can be controlled. Lest we talk about the rampant DRM on Apple's videos that you supposedly "own", and yet cannot transfer to another player or format.
"To top it off, Marketplace has the smallest pool of DRM-free MP3 format songs, in the market. Ouch!!"
Man! That sucks! It's still the best deal out there for rental.
@HighestRanked2 So marketshare is the automatic definition of superior quality? Do you by any chance own a Mac?
There are reasons that after 4 years of less than steller sales figures that Microsoft is still commited to the brand. For one, as much as they may be losing money on it (and this is relevant to the Xbox as well) the amount is trivial compared to the profits they bring in from Windows and Office so it's really not a big deal to keep development going when later on the things they create, particularly the consumer-facing interface elements can be implemented everywhere. The other thing is that most Zune users actually care about their players. The iPod is so engrained in the culture today most people just buy them without thinking about it. Anyone who has a Zune clearly bothered to actually take a look at all their options and picked the one that worked for them best so even though the number of Zune users out in the world is small, they are very dedicated and the brand has developed a *very* strong loyalty that comes from actual appreciation for what it does differently from its competition (not just apple, there are other options too) rather than just being perceived as the "best" because it gets the most attention and not being able to give a reason for it besides "well it's made by apple" or "it has apps". Microsoft understands this and isn't going to just pull the rug out from under people who have supported them in an effort that, as far as the mainstream conciousness understands is a pointless failure. They're moving ahead and expanding the brand, and while the standalone players are losing a bit of the spotlight it's unlikely they'll go away. Worst case scenario is they'll sell off or license it to a 3rd party because they won't screw over they're existing userbase who for one reason or another aren't going to want to move to a WP7 phone.
@HighestRanked2
You provided no evidence as to why those sites are superior, you just said they were. You said something, so that's enough to make it a fact?
If they were to drop it to $10, like some have alleged, it would be unlimited per month for downloads and $1 per song. Even now, it's $1.50 per DRM-free song and unlimited downloads. If you like a lot of music, then this is BY FAR the best legal form of music purchasing.
How about that cheaper Zune Pass Microsoft?
@cyberXwarrior
That would definitely get me to sign up for it again. While I enjoyed the Zune Pass when I had it, I didn't always download enough music or forgot to use my credits to feel it was worth the money. A lower price would definitely bring me back. That, or if they decided to come out with an Android and iPhone app.
For the love of God, when is the Zune Pass coming to Canada? This is the only reason why I'm holding out buying a Zune down here.
@admlshake all twenty three of you! LMAO!!
Now all I need is for it to come to Canada. It would be nice to have the Zune HD in Canada too.
Sweeet :D
seemed like such a sweet deal
hope it will be coming to UK :D
@insky
As what we have seen from the last few days, Engadget and Apple/Macboys are not exactly the best with percentages and reasoning or comparison skills.
I'm in the UK and patiently waiting for Windows Phone 7 to arive in the UK. I've been using the Zune software for a week and I love it, I would love it more with the Zune pass