A unified music experience for Windows
Windows Music player is the default media player in Windows 8, which offers a solid music streaming and purchasing experience.
The Windows 8 Music app has seen quite a few revisions since the first beta release of Windows 8. Now it has matured and morphed into a strong Spotify, Pandora, and Rdio competitor.
Microsoft's attention to interface translates here with a beautiful, full screen photos when browsing the Microsoft music store. Artist bios and discographies are presented with large album art covers. The entire interface is built for touch with big buttons everywhere.
When you go play a track, Windows Music greets you with a full screen of media controls and a wall of randomly generated album art in the background. You can bring up media controls from anywhere by swiping down from the top bezel or right clicking with a mouse.
While the inclusion of Xbox Music is welcomed, Microsoft really needs to create a cross platform solution in order to woo non-Windows users with its excellent music subscription service. Windows 8 users will get 6 months of free music streaming and an ad-supported service after that.
Music for Windows 8 is a solid music player that's friendly to the touch and offers a great music subscription service with Xbox Music.
