Giving up on Xbox Music App for Windows 8 and Losing confidence

[MorganX]

I love my Surface hardware. And Office 2013 and Remote Desktop are great. But a portable device must support media in a meaningful manner.

The Surface has no media player other than Xbox Music app and it is woeful, and downright shameful that a multi-billion dollar company could release it to manufacturing in the shape it is in.

Search is such a convoluted mess and waste of time this is the easiest way to add songs to a playlist on the Surface from a large music library:

1) Use Desktop Environment to search for song.

2) Double-click to open in Music App

3) Click home button to go to Music App Home screen since you can't add to playlist from song playing full screen.

4) on home screen, in the now playing pane, right click, and now add to playlist.

5) Repeat hundreds of time and it's still more efficient than using the Metro search and doing the same thing.

Additionally, even with mirrored Music libraries, synced playlists will only see that you have some of the songs locally, even though your entire music libraries are mirrored.

And of course there's the can't sync right now issue, and having to uninstall/reinstall the music app (on Surface) if your music library changes significantly. There's a refresh issue.

This is frustrating, but more unacceptable given the resources Microsoft has. You can have the glossiest hardware on the planet if the #@#% is a headache to use and the apps don't work (then don't release them) you're going to fail.

[tsupersonic]

I concur, the Music app is a heaping pile of junk. I will continue to use the Zune player. I just wish it (Zune) showed the song info/album art when you use the playback controls/change volume on your keyboard.

[+LogicalApex MVC]

Ouch. I have heard nothing but bad things about this app. I will have to boot into my Windows 8 install later tonight when I get off work and see just how bad it is.

Shameful to think they ditched the very well regarded Zune Music App for one that just doesn't measure up.

[tsupersonic]

Shameful to think they ditched the very well regarded Zune Music App for one that just doesn't measure up.

There's nothing stopping you from using the Zune software for Windows 8. I use it, and it works just fine.

[Shane Nokes]

There's nothing stopping you from using the Zune software for Windows 8. I use it, and it works just fine.

There is if you own a Surface like the OP does... Windows RT doesn't run Win32 code.

[tsupersonic]

There is if you own a Surface like the OP does... Windows RT doesn't run Win32 code.

Well, LogicalApex said he was going to boot into W8 install later, which I assume he means a PC - so that's why I said that. But, yes, you're right. No Zune software on Surface RT.

[MorganX]

There is if you own a Surface like the OP does... Windows RT doesn't run Win32 code.

Correct. I haven't used my Lumia 920 yet. I was hoping to ditch Zune since there is now a Windows 8 Phone sync app. But if I have to go back to Zune to manage music without pulling my hair out, that app is useless as I'll sync with Zune as well.

I don't have a problem with apps being in development, and clearly this is Beta and some components alpha, but damn it you released it and it's the only media player for the Surface which I had hoped to sync my phone with. That's just not an option in its current state and that's unacceptable IMO from a company with the resources of MS.

Clearly some things were released to meet a deadline and not "when they're done."

[TPreston]

No problems here with video or music just go to the albums view and sort by artist ? If you want your entire collection to appear in the application from a network source it needs to be a windows client or server with indexing enabled

[Shane Nokes]

Correct. I haven't used my Lumia 920 yet. I was hoping to ditch Zune since there is now a Windows 8 Phone sync app. But if I have to go back to Zune to manage music without pulling my hair out, that app is useless as I'll sync with Zune as well.

I don't have a problem with apps being in development, and clearly this is Beta and some components alpha, but damn it you released it and it's the only media player for the Surface which I had hoped to sync my phone with. That's just not an option in its current state and that's unacceptable IMO from a company with the resources of MS.

Clearly some things were released to meet a deadline and not "when they're done."

BTW, while I'm not a fan of it...isn't WiMP still in Windows RT? I haven't gotten to send any meaningful time with a Surface...but that might help for a bit.

[MorganX]

BTW, while I'm not a fan of it...isn't WiMP still in Windows RT? I haven't gotten to send any meaningful time with a Surface...but that might help for a bit.

Unfortunately no. I didn't know that until I went looking for it to ease my pains.

[Doli]

Its not the best but you can select songs from the App and not use the Desktop. You pull up the bottom menu bar from the main screen and select "Open File"

[MorganX]

No problems here with video or music just go to the albums view and sort by artist ? If you want your entire collection to appear in the application from a network source it needs to be a windows client or server with indexing enabled

No problem just playing the local files. It's searching to build a playlist that is just unusable realistically. Especially with a large library. Search always searches "all music" making more scrolling to get to the result you want. Even if you switch to my music, each search defaults to All music which includes Xbox Music Store and puts those results at the top. Now imagine that for each song to build say 3 workout playlists. Then you can't just right click to add to a playlist, from search you have to click at least twice and again to clear, etc. etc.

Regarding Libraries, to index a location it has to be on a server with indexing. You "can" add a non-indexed removable location to a library including pictures and music libraries. The OS sees it (Desktop & Surface), and Windows Media Player (desktop) sees it. Xbox Music App will not.

I've since realized, the whole problem is the Music App is crap for playlist creation and management, as well as synced playlists, etc. It does great if you buy your music from the Xbox music store which tells you where MS' focus is.

Its not the best but you can select songs from the App and not use the Desktop. You pull up the bottom menu bar from the main screen and select "Open File"

The basic play a local file functionality is there. It's the library/playlist management present in WMP and Zune that is just horrendous. The cloud syncing is also not finished.

[Doli]

No problem just playing the local files. It's searching to build a playlist that is just unusable realistically. Especially with a large library. Search always searches "all music" making more scrolling to get to the result you want. Even if you switch to my music, each search defaults to All music which includes Xbox Music Store and puts those results at the top. Now imagine that for each song to build say 3 workout playlists. Then you can't just right click to add to a playlist, from search you have to click at least twice and again to clear, etc. etc.

After you do a search you will see "All Music" with a down arrow. Select it and pick "My music"

nvm I need to read the whole thing :p

[MorganX]

After you do a search you will see "All Music" with a down arrow. Select it and pick "My music"

That's my point, do that, then search for next song, do it again. I have a 27" Monitor or on the Surface it's a mini-drag. Build 3 playlists with 20 songs each. Say you just search for half of them, that extra click every time gets annoying real fast. Search is critical for large media libraries and Windows 8 Search makes is a chore and a half. The "All Music" thing just adds to the silliness. It's just bad.

[Dashel]

The lack of a decent settings menu and inability to separate your collection from the store is the root of many of these annoyances. Zune handled it almost perfectly. Keep your store out of our faces unless we specifically request it.

[Darrian]

Does the Surface not have a desktop version of Windows Media Player? Personally I prefer Zune, but obviously that's not going to work on RT. However, I was under the impression that all of the stock components of Windows 8 were compiled for ARM and included in RT.

[jakem1]

Does the Surface not have a desktop version of Windows Media Player?

No.

[dafin0]

The lack of a decent settings menu and inability to separate your collection from the store is the root of many of these annoyances. Zune handled it almost perfectly. Keep your store out of our faces unless we specifically request it.

not sure if this is what you meant but you can have it load straight to your music, check under settings.

[+LogicalApex MVC]

There's nothing stopping you from using the Zune software for Windows 8. I use it, and it works just fine.

Well, LogicalApex said he was going to boot into W8 install later, which I assume he means a PC - so that's why I said that. But, yes, you're right. No Zune software on Surface RT.

As Shane pointed out, you can't install Zune on Windows RT devices, like the Surface.

Yes, I am going to boot it up on my PC, but I was planning to access the Xbox Music App to see what the experience is like for Windows RT users.

[Dashel]

not sure if this is what you meant but you can have it load straight to your music, check under settings.

I'm referring to the mashed search results Morgan was referring to. I'm quite aware of one of the two settings this POS app offers. ;)

[HawkMan]

I've since realized, the whole problem is the Music App is crap for playlist creation and management, as well as synced playlists, etc. It does great if you buy your music from the Xbox music store which tells you where MS' focus is.

Actually if your music is on a local library it works great as well. as for that I don't see the problem, it can use the library on your Vista or 7 machine, or even XP if you have the right media player installed.

[Darrian]

In my experience that's not even remotely true. None of my local music shows up in the app. It can see the music, but I have to use the crappy "modern" version of a file browser and select my music manually. This is especially a pain in the ass because there are many subfolders to sort through since I have my music well-organized (but at least it works, it took me a minute to even figure out I can do that). Going to my collection shows an empty screen that complains about how lonely it is. It actually used to display my music, but it's been updated a couple times since that worked (I love how updates are creating problems rather than fixing them). Also, if it did work, if they haven't changed it again, when it does work the list view for music is absolutely horrid. I really liked the initial release that ships with Windows 8, except that it has a hard time finding all the music in your library and it was almost impossible to get it to detect when new music was added. At least it had a nice tiled view of albums displaying by cover art, though, similar to pretty much every other modern music app.

[nekrosoft13]

I love my Surface hardware. And Office 2013 and Remote Desktop are great. But a portable device must support media in a meaningful manner.

The Surface has no media player other than Xbox Music app and it is woeful, and downright shameful that a multi-billion dollar company could release it to manufacturing in the shape it is in.

Search is such a convoluted mess and waste of time this is the easiest way to add songs to a playlist on the Surface from a large music library:

1) Use Desktop Environment to search for song.

2) Double-click to open in Music App

3) Click home button to go to Music App Home screen since you can't add to playlist from song playing full screen.

4) on home screen, in the now playing pane, right click, and now add to playlist.

5) Repeat hundreds of time and it's still more efficient than using the Metro search and doing the same thing.

Additionally, even with mirrored Music libraries, synced playlists will only see that you have some of the songs locally, even though your entire music libraries are mirrored.

And of course there's the can't sync right now issue, and having to uninstall/reinstall the music app (on Surface) if your music library changes significantly. There's a refresh issue.

This is frustrating, but more unacceptable given the resources Microsoft has. You can have the glossiest hardware on the planet if the #@#% is a headache to use and the apps don't work (then don't release them) you're going to fail.

this pretty much describes all metro apps, none of metro apps are better, they are designed poorly, lack functions, lack options and customization.

another perfect example is windows live mail and mail, or windows live photo gallery and photos or pictures what ever its called now.

these new "modern" apps are horrible. dumbing down desktop experience to worse levels then ios/android tablets.

[MorganX]

Actually if your music is on a local library it works great as well. as for that I don't see the problem, it can use the library on your Vista or 7 machine, or even XP if you have the right media player installed.

Not sure I'm following you with the references to older OS'. I'm only talking about the Xbox Music App in Windows 8 and Windows 8 RT. Does not find music in Library if it is on removable storage though Desktop environment and apps will through the Library. Also, synced Xbox playlists do not find all local files. But this I believe is because when the cloud service can't find a match, nothing is telling the app to search your music library. This occurs on Surface and Desktop with playlists created on either.

I think there's been a lot of indications on the web when searching for solutions that local file support is a work in progress, which is fine. Only they RTM'd. Given that, they are moving way too slow in getting it implemented. I feel they should be working around the clock at the MS campus to get all basic functionality implemented in all apps released to manufacturing.

[MorganX]

this pretty much describes all metro apps, none of metro apps are better, they are designed poorly, lack functions, lack options and customization.

another perfect example is windows live mail and mail, or windows live photo gallery and photos or pictures what ever its called now.

these new "modern" apps are horrible. dumbing down desktop experience to worse levels then ios/android tablets.

Actually, I find the mail app on the Surface to be quite nice, fast, and functional. It's not "fully" featured, but for a tablet mail app, works quite nice. I even like it on the Desktop except there's an issue where after a few days of use hyperlinks no longer work. The web has workarounds such as deleting HKLU CLSID, etc. but nothing from Microsoft. The silence is deafening.

I just find the horrific condition of the Music app to be inexcusable and of great concern with regards to confidence in the new platform. I simply cannot go through the madness to create playlists on my desktop, search is just virtually not useable. I refuse to waste my time. It's back to Zune. Back to the future.

It's just mind baffling how Microsoft could release this and let it languish. How many billions do they need? Clearly, something is horribly wrong inside Microsoft.

Having said that, the hardware, and Server OS are top notch. Everything else clearly has potential. Now I'm truly wondering exactly why Sinofsky is gone.