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

[MorganX]

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

I do start in My Music. What I'm referring to is when you search your music for a song to add to a playlist or even play. On every single search it defaults to All Music and presents Music Store results with priority. The quickest way to get to your files is to change the filter from "All Music" to "My Music" and you have to do this after each and every search. They need an option to set this preference for searching.

[scumdogmillionaire]

What is driving me nuts is the "album matching" which is terrible. You try to match to the correct album from your collection and then it thinks you no longer own it. Then when you try to delete the one that it thinks you don't own it deletes it from your library anyways. Frustrating.

[MorganX]

What is driving me nuts is the "album matching" which is terrible. You try to match to the correct album from your collection and then it thinks you no longer own it. Then when you try to delete the one that it thinks you don't own it deletes it from your library anyways. Frustrating.

Ouch! Thanks for the heads up. Data loss of any kind to should trigger a Mission Critical response at the Redmond Campus but I have a feeling that is only the case in the Server Division :)

[LUTZIFER]

No.

When you say "NO" for no Windows Media Player on Surface, do you just mean just Surface RT, or both versions of Surface, or NO Windows Media Player on Windows 8 period?

[Shane Nokes]

Ouch! Thanks for the heads up. Data loss of any kind to should trigger a Mission Critical response at the Redmond Campus but I have a feeling that is only the case in the Server Division :)

Trust me...anything that results in data loss is taken serious in ALL parts of Microsoft.

[nekrosoft13]

Now I'm truly wondering exactly why Sinofsky is gone.

becuse he ****ed up windows.

[MorganX]

When you say "NO" for no Windows Media Player on Surface, do you just mean just Surface RT, or both versions of Surface, or NO Windows Media Player on Windows 8 period?

I'll answer for him before I sign off.

No it's not in Surface RT

Yes it is in Windows 8 x86/x64

No one has a pro yet, but since it will run x86/x64 OS, I would imagine it will.

[Shane Nokes]

becuse he ****ed up windows.

JL-G was responsible for the stuff you're thinking of...and she got put into the hot seat for Windows now...so nope.

BTW, didn't I already say this to you before?

[MorganX]

Trust me...anything that results in data loss is taken serious in ALL parts of Microsoft.

I was being somewhat facetious. MS does take data loss very seriously and will work with you around the clock (only speaking from Enterprise Products experience though.)

But, the reason I created this thread and am so concerned, I've never experienced something so bad RTMd. WindowsMe wasn't this bad, wait ... well at least that was debatable.

I really want this to succeed, but man, this is not good. For consumers, this is pretty important. Web browsing, email, Music & Video. In the back of my mind, the thought has occurred that this poor support for local files and trying to shuffle you to the music store through search is their way of trying to strong arm you to their store. But that's just frustration, they couldn't be that stupid.

[LUTZIFER]

I'll answer for him before I sign off.

No it's not in Surface RT

Yes it is in Windows 8 x86/x64

No one has a pro yet, but since it will run x86/x64 OS, I would imagine it will.

Thanx. Did some lookin around myself but was still unclear about the Surface Pro yet, but like you say, it's not out yet, but probably will support it.

I found out that in some cases it's not installed with Windows 8 but can be downloaded.

Surface RT seems pretty limited for video/audio playback, so I'm sure glad I didn't just go out and buy one. (downloaded Music and Video are a big concern for me)

[MorganX]

Thanx. Did some lookin around myself but was still unclear about the Surface Pro yet, but like you say, it's not out yet, but probably will support it.

I found out that in some cases it's not installed with Windows 8 but can be downloaded.

Surface RT seems pretty limited for video/audio playback, so I'm sure glad I didn't just go out and buy one. (downloaded Music and Video are a big concern for me)

Surface RT plays back video/audio just great and is a fantastic Netflix client. However, if you have a large music library and use playlists, it is currently unusable IMO. In fact, if you have a large media library, search is so bad it'll make you pull your hair out even if/when they do get everything working. I'm not sure there is going to be a fix for search usability. Zune will live a looooooong time.

[Guest xiphi]

There is a great alternative to Xbox Music by one of the mods here called Music Info. Performs and looks great. It's basically what Zune would be if it were a Windows 8 Store App.

It's just unfortunate the Xbox Music app is as crappy as it is. A LOT of the reviews also reflect our disappointment, as well.

[MorganX]

There is a great alternative to Xbox Music by one of the mods here called Music Info. Performs and looks great. It's basically what Zune would be if it were a Windows 8 Store App.

It's just unfortunate the Xbox Music app is as crappy as it is. A LOT of the reviews also reflect our disappointment, as well.

I passed it over based on the title, but revisited and am downloading. Don't see playlist management but just for playback and the search I think I'll buy it even if I don't use it much. Must reward him for creating decent search queue (if not playlist) management with limited resources when MS couldn't do the same with Billion$.

[Guest xiphi]

I passed it over based on the title, but revisited and am downloading. Don't see playlist management but just for playback and the search I think I'll buy it even if I don't use it much. Must reward him for creating decent search queue (if not playlist) management with limited resources when MS couldn't do the same with Billion$.

Yeah I just bought the full app, after being amazed at how he continues to make it better with every update. The performance is amazing: fast and fluid, the way it should be. It even lets you edit metadata even if one has to pay for that feature! I can't say no $1.49 when an app such this is miles better than the official app. I just hope he has plans to improve the Now Playing screen and add continuous playback.

[Shane Nokes]

I passed it over based on the title, but revisited and am downloading. Don't see playlist management but just for playback and the search I think I'll buy it even if I don't use it much. Must reward him for creating decent search queue (if not playlist) management with limited resources when MS couldn't do the same with Billion$.

Just to point something out here.

Yes MS has billions...if they devoted every dollar of that to every project nothing would ever get done. Think about that carefully. If I used those billions just on this app, or just on that app...it would halt everything else.

Resources are spread out, including cash. I realize you probably know that...but felt the need to mention it since I see that comment a lot.

[jasondefaoite]

Try Multimedia 8. Works on RT and Windows8, and is significantly better with local content compared to the horrible mess that is the xbox music app.

[jakem1]

When you say "NO" for no Windows Media Player on Surface, do you just mean just Surface RT, or both versions of Surface, or NO Windows Media Player on Windows 8 period?

Sorry, I just mean on Windows RT. Windows 8 comes with WMP (although it's not the default music player).

Edit: I see I'm a little late and MorganX has already answered your question :)

[MorganX]

Just to point something out here.

Yes MS has billions...if they devoted every dollar of that to every project nothing would ever get done. Think about that carefully. If I used those billions just on this app, or just on that app...it would halt everything else.

Resources are spread out, including cash. I realize you probably know that...but felt the need to mention it since I see that comment a lot.

You are correct. But when people mention that, they are doing it tongue in check. I think for say, 1 million, you could add the basic functionality that is missing. People refer to the cash reserves at MS when they feel that something MS has done is just beyond the pale. Like release the default Music app for Windows 8 with such basic functionality missing or not working. Did anyone QA it at all?

And search, are you seriously telling me their internal usability tests didn't uncover how many search scenarios this implementation would just be a kludge of a mess?

Given MS' resources and market dominance, it's just unacceptable. But of course each division has a budget. But still, there's no excuse for a lone app dev to implement better search and usability in a music app than whatever division and team of programmers and project managers at MS did with the Music app.

To be honest, I'd fire whoever is responsible for the Music app being in the shape it's in. That's just how bad I feel it is. And gain, it's the fact that it is released in cutting edge products (Surface, Windows 8 OS) at such a critical time. How does that happen?

I'd also fire whoever signed off on the Windows 8 search implementation. I think these two things are just glaring examples of unacceptable incompetency, complacency.

Again, the bigger concern is there's clearly something wrong with the culture at Microsoft in the consumer division(s) to allow these things to get out in this shape. Search I would imagine falls under Windows and they did let Sinofsky go.

Edit: And for the record, I really like Windows 8, and love the Surface.

[MorganX]

Never really agree with Paul Thurrott and always felt he was an MS shill. But I guess I was wrong. This article of his hits the nail on the head as to why sometimes Windows 8 feels like it's coming apart at the seams if you delve into the right area and come away thinking "R U Serious?"

A good read: http://www.windowsit...indows-8-144853

It's probably a good thing if rumors of slow sales are true. That gives MS time to release daily updates throughout the product until it is rock solid. Before it reaches critical mass in the consumer space and becomes a mini disaster.

[jakem1]

I generally agree that Xbox Music is a pretty crap app with some major, obvious failings. However, it's heartening that we've received a couple of updates lately that seem to have done a lot to improve performance. Hopefully we will soon see functionality improvements added as well.

[bandit_liberty_rumble]

You really have to compare it to something like the iPad music app though (which isn't terribly great either, imo), not the Zune app or iTunes on the Desktop.

[NewGuy123]

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

I do too, tried the music app on W8 and it is just not good enough!

I don't know why they killed zune, it's a rellay good software. With a few more codecs this thing could be better than iTunes ( even if it is right now ).

[jakem1]

You really have to compare it to something like the iPad music app though (which isn't terribly great either, imo), not the Zune app or iTunes on the Desktop.

Why? Apple's failure to create a compelling music app shouldn't be used as an excuse for Microsoft's poor showing. There are plenty of good music players out there to draw inspiration from and it shouldn't be too hard to apply the UX of the Zune app to a Metro app.

[bandit_liberty_rumble]

it shouldn't be too hard to apply the UX of the Zune app to a Metro app.

Yeah, well, seems like reality disagrees with you.

[MorganX]

You really have to compare it to something like the iPad music app though (which isn't terribly great either, imo), not the Zune app or iTunes on the Desktop.

Yeah, but, on your portable devices you really only need to sync the music and playlists. iTunes was superb at this. Better IMO than Zune, though Zune was the best MS media manager yet.

It is so much easier to create playlists and sync devices in iTunes, with Zune a decent second. Windows 8 is simply unusable for me. Trying to create playlists from a large library with search the way it is, is just an exercise in frustration and frankly I give up. I'll use the old Zune. Which means I have no need for the Metro Windows Phone sync app unless Zune doesn't work with the Lumia 920 which is still in the box because it's just a chore right now. I'm sticking with my iPhone (someone stole my Samsung Galaxy S3).

The software is so bad I don't even want to bother with the 920 right now, and now I'm hearing W8 and WP8 don't work that well or consistently together?!? What a disappointment. Hopefully this "was" Sinofsky's fault and things will get better but it's a little late.

I have a take a step back, I said all the haters predicting failure for the Windows 8 ecosystem were being ridiculous, while I still doubt that happens, I have to say it is definitely within the realm of possibility.