XBox Music Pass compatible MP3 players

The music service is still around. And notice how Apple Music is not compatible with devices that don't have an independent network connection.

That's the issue here.

Look, get a Blu Win Jr. $100 and it has an SD card slot. Fully compatible with Groove Music. Very small. I feel like that's the best solution right now.

However, it is one of the small reasons (pun intended) iTunes is still successful. It may be a loss in it's class, but for the platform as a whole, it just makes the whole thing work as it should.

The easiest solution/argument for the bean counters might be the MS Band 2. Afterall, it's exactly what I'm asking for if you can give it Bluetooth earbuds and cut the tether.

For the love of Pete (or in this case I suppose Steve or Bill), I hate running in silence and I really don't want to go to Apple for anything really, but you're kind of forcing the issue by killing off the Zune service. I still have my devices and they still work, but since you are pulling the rug out from underneath me, a nano and more importantly a move to the iTunes ecosystem is becoming more unavoidable... I wonder how long before I give in and move to iPhone too. So sad. There was a lot of brand potential and I have been holding out my faith and loyalty, but they won't last forever.

Microsoft, you've got to stop thinking about these devices and lines of business as individuals and realize what they contribute to the Microsoft brand.

I want a Windows Phone BADLY, I really do, but you just introduced a 950 and 950XL that will only be available on AT&T. I realize I'm an odd-ball on this one, but I'm not leaving Sprint's unlimited data, nor am I going to pick up a phone that's now, what, 4 years old!!!? Do you want Nexus 5 popularity? Do you know why it was even able to be so successful? It was available on all 4 major US carriers. (ATT, the big V, Sprint, and T-mobs)

Back to the topic at hand. I've been desperate. I picked up a MOTOACTV and put cyanogen android on it. The form factor is perfect and there are appropriate accessories for it. You're a software company. Build me a Groove app that works on it or since it really isn't supported anymore, a small OS specifically designed for Groove. The Android Groove won't load on it (as of right now) and I'm fairly certain the graphical controls would be unusable. I'm almost at my wits end. I even applied for Xbox Music API access, but the terms say I can't store music on a device...that's the whole point, though. It needs to come with me!!

As an engineer myself, this response made me chuckle, as I'm sure the engineers hear the pleas of these loyal customers, and I'm sure even to some extent understand some of the shortcomings of the new system versus the old, but alas it isn't the engineers who make the decisions on which directions the new products will go.  Sure the engineers get input, but if you really want to make strides you need to get the money guys, management and marketing, to listen.  Otherwise it's a waste of time.

Just speaking for myself, the Zune product did everything I would ever need, and now I'm getting less.  The one feature that stands out most in my mind is offline use.  I travel quite frequently and having an 80 GB Zune has made those long distance drives a pleasure, especially with the unlimited subscription content.  Never the same song twice.  Now I could certainly use my Nokia 920 to play music, but as the Nokia is limited by its 16GB internal memory (which includes my other files and such), my music playlist just isn't quite the same.  Also, as stated by others above, my 920 is much larger at roughly 3" X 7" compared to my Zune at 2" X 4", which makes the 920 a bit of a pain for exercise and other similar activities.

So in short, increase the memory size of the devices that are subscription and offline compatible and reduce the size so that it is easily portable for more extreme use.  If it's a phone so be it, if you want to call it Zune 3.0,  Zunebox, XGroove or whatever I really don't care, just keep on delivering the same great features that were part of Zune and I'll keep buying the devices like the Zune junky I've become.  Otherwise, I'll have to look elsewhere, and that would be a real shame for both of us.....

I could see a future version of the MS Band help this out in some way. But there still has to be a way to authenticate the Pass.

The PMP market may be dying, but the exercise and health segment is BOOMING. This includes Shuffle like players. Lots of buyers for these type devices.