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Xbox Music is now called Groove

As Microsoft continues to polish Windows 10 before it’s official release end of this month (RTM is expected this week), the latest development announced today is the rebranding of Xbox Music, Microsoft’s own digital music service, to Groove. Along with the Movies & TV app (formerly Xbox Video), Groove will arrive on Windows 10 for the PC on July 29 (Insiders will see them first in an upcoming build) before appearing on other devices.

In a nutshell, Groove Music touts an improved music listening and managing experience, with controls that work well with both mouse/keyboard and touch devices. There are light and dark themes, and it adjusts its hues based on the accent color you’ve chosen in the Windows Settings app.

Groove also has built-in OneDrive integration, and like the Xbox Music app, it allows free streaming playback of your music files, even those purchased from iTunes. The updated app will be available on Windows, Xbox, and the web; and as we’ve reported earlier, it’s also coming to Android phones and iPhones soon.

Expectedly, Xbox Music Pass is also renamed, and it’s now called Groove Music Pass. Sold in select markets, Microsoft is calling this subscription service a premium ad-free listening experience with no interruptions. For US$9.99/month or US$99/year, you get complete access to stream and download music from the Windows Store, which Microsoft says has up to 40 million tracks. Subscribers can also create custom radio stations based on their favorite songs, albums, and artists.

As mentioned earlier, Xbox Video is now called Movies & TV in Windows 10. It’s designed to be a one-stop place for both your personal videos and your TV shows and movies. Again, the app is designed to work well with mouse/keyboard and touch, and MKV file format support has been added. Like Groove Music, Movies & TV is integrated with the Windows Store, so you can buy or rent movies and TV shows in HD directly in it. And on Windows 10 devices, Xbox and the web, the app lets you start watching purchased or rented content on one device, and pick up where you left off on another device.

(Image source: Microsoft.)
(Image source: Microsoft.)

Not into music or movies, but love Minecraft? Perhaps this announcement on Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition Beta would interest you.

Source: Microsoft.