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Report: Microsoft to Show Off Xbox Music Service at E3

 & Chloe Albanesius Executive Editor, News

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Microsoft will use the E3 gaming conference to show off a new Xbox music service, according to The Verge.

It likely won't be officially released, however, until the launch of Windows 8 later this year.

The feature, codenamed Woodstock, will serve as a replacement for Zune, as Microsoft shifts the focus to Xbox. But it will work on a variety of platforms through the browser, The Verge reported.

It appears that Woodstock will bring in features already available on rival services - Spotify-esque playlists, iTunes Match-like matching, and a whole lot of Facebook sharing.

Last month, Microsoft confirmed that it won't introduce any new Xbox hardware at June's E3, and it's likely that there won't be a so-called Xbox 720 until 2013 at the earliest.

At last year's E3, Microsoft announced Live TV, which added live television streaming, built-in DVR functionality, voice-powered Bing searches, and a content deal with YouTube to Xbox. The company eventually teamed up with Comcast and Verizon for the service.

In November, Google Music made its debut, which allows users to store songs in the cloud and buy tracks directly from the Android Market. For more, see 7 Things You Need to Know About Google Music.

Last year, Amazon also unveiled its cloud music service. For more, see PCMag's full review.

About Our Expert

Chloe Albanesius

Chloe Albanesius

Executive Editor, News

My Experience

I started out covering tech policy in DC for The National Journal, where my beat included state-level tech news and all the congressional hearings and FCC meetings I could handle. I later covered Wall Street trading tech before switching gears to consumer tech. I now lead PCMag's news coverage.

My Areas of Expertise

Getting my start in DC means I still have a soft spot for tech policy; Congressional hearings can sometimes be as entertaining as a Bravo reality show, for better or worse. But PCMag is all about the technology we use every day, as well as keeping an eye out for the trends that will shape the industry in the years ahead (or flop on arrival). I've covered the rise of social media, the iOS vs. Android wars, the cord-cutting revolution that's now left us with hefty streaming bills, and the effort to stuff artificial intelligence into every product you could imagine. This job has taken me to CES in Vegas (one too many times), IFA in Berlin, and MWC in Barcelona. I also drove a Tesla 1,000 miles out west as part of our Best Mobile Networks project. Of late, my focus is on our hard-working team of reporters at PCMag, guiding and editing their robust coverage.

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