Streaming 411

CNet reported last week that Microsoft has been in talks with major record labels about a collaborative Microsoft/ XBox music service that will also target a future Windows-based phone.  The Zune Music Pass as well as access to the Zune Marketplace is currently available to XBox subscribers, so it is unclear whether this will be a new and improved version of the music streaming subscription, or if it will be going in a completely different direction.  According to CNet, though, one thing is clear is that Microsoft is getting serious about serving moble devices, similarly to how Google Music expanded opportunities for Android-based devices.   It will allegedly be a combination of streaming and digital download purchases.  Zune Browsing is currently available witha new social section on XBox Live that lets you stay up-to-date with friends, mark new games you're interested in playing, and easily browse the Zun video catalog to purchase movies & TV programming.

There are several websites around that advertise unlimited Zune download opportunities for one low lifetime membership payment, or a low monthly subscription.  These services, which are not acting as agents of Zune, are notorious for passing along malware, or scamming people out of money without passing along any real value.  Oftentimes standard security suites may not pick up on the danger posed by these sites.  When you download the free software from the official Zune website, you have a great tool that acts as an entertainment hub for managing, organizing, purchasing and accessing movies, music, television shows and more from the Zune Marketplace.  For unlimited access to music that can either be downloaded or streamed, a monthly Zune Music Pass for $9.99 a month (or an annual pass for $100, which comes out to $8.50 per month) is the safe way to access content without getting burned).  There is aso a music pass for $14.99 a month ($44.97 for 3 months, $149.99 for one year) that entitles you to 10 song credits per month to redeem at the Zune Marketplace.  After enjoying the service for a month, it will be easy to identify the 10 songs that you will want to keep in your permanent music collection.  You can burn the songs to a CD or sync to Windows phones.

Getting music and video on your PC, Xbox 360, or Windows Phone is easy with Zune download music + video software.  Utilize your free software as an all-inclusive entertainmet hub to store, share and manage all of your movies, music, and television programs.  You'll also be able to rent or purchase, and then either download or stream instantly, anything available in the Zune Marketplace.  Zune even provides an automatic bandwidth test before you spend your hard-earned cash, to make sure that you will be able to enjoy your stream without any annoying buffering issues.  If you have a Zune Music Pass, you can take unlimited music with you anywhere you go with your Windows Phone.  You can even check out snippets from the hottest podcasts their Weekly Download:  Hot New Audio Podcasts feature.

On  November 8, 2011, Denny Atkin, the editor of Xbox Blogs stated that a new "social" section on Xbox Live will enable you to not only stay up-to-date with friends, but also facilitates access to a new feature that allows you to mark new games that you wish to play with others; you and like-minded friends can easily get connected.   That's a really cool feature, but there's more.  The Xbox LIVE Gold Membership subscribers will also be able to search the Zune video catalog and purchase movies and television prorgamming directly from your browser.  Zune has monthly or annual passes (best value) available, plus great perks.  Xbox LIVE also has a Family Pack membership, which is a supercharged package that rolls in four Xbox LIVE Gold memberships for less than the price of two..