Xbox Music and Video apps for Windows Phone 8 hands on

This morning, Microsoft connected to surprise united states with ii new releases for Windows Telephone 8. Xbox Music and Xbox Video apps were released in tandem, augmenting electric current baked-in functions of their mobile Os.

The Xbox Music app is currently in 'Preview', meaning a final version won't be due until 2022. Besides, Xbox Video currently doesn't back up HD video playback or downloading, just a Microsoft spokesperson has confirmed that characteristic is coming next yr.

How are the apps? Sentinel our video bout beneath to see them in activeness.

Then why separate the apps in the first place? Well for i, Microsoft did not have any method past which Xbox Video users could purchase, rent or download content from their Windows 8 PC, Xbox 360 or Xbox Ane. With this Xbox Video app, Windows Phone 8 users finally accept a way to complete the "three screens and a cloud" vision that Microsoft laid out years ago.

Downloading and offline availability

In regards to Xbox Music, information technology'due south been reported that Microsoft is planning on removing the native clients from the Windows Phone eight.1 update, due in late spring 2022, and instead they will be using Store apps. The reason for that is information technology will permit Microsoft to frequently update the app directly to reverberate changes or improvements in the service. That's opposed to having to wait months for an OS update.

Both apps work quite well, although we are having a few license errors with our Video app. Xbox Music, interestingly, allows users to dynamically swap out managed Xbox Music devices. Currently, Xbox Music only allows streaming and downloading of content to 4 devices, with the ability to drop two every 30 days. With the Xbox Music app, 1 device volition be rotated out and a new one rotated in when in apply, giving more liberty to use Xbox Music on PCs, Xbox or Windows Phone.

Probably the biggest addition to Xbox Music is the ability to create playlists and and then accept them sync to your business relationship to other devices. Likewise for Radio. Currently, at that place is no Podcast support and information technology is not articulate if it is coming back.

Presently, both Xbox Music and Xbox Video are available in the following regions: Australia, Republic of austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, United mexican states, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Espana, Sweden, Switzerland, Great britain and United States.

Don't have Xbox Music or Xbox Video just yet? Grab Xbox Music here and Xbox Video here in the Store. Annotation: Xbox Music Pass needed to for Xbox Music app to function.

What practice you think of both apps so far? Sound off in comments and let united states know your feel!

QR: music QR: video

New means to test

Minecraft Preview can now be downloaded and played on Windows

On Monday, Mojang Studios appear Minecraft Preview, a new Minecraft game that will let players test upcoming changes and updates before they release. Minecraft Preview will eventually replace the current Minecraft: Bedrock Edition beta program.