Zunepass changes

[Gooberlx2]

Just got this in my email. Thought Zune and WP7 users might like to see.

Basically looks like they're scrapping the keep-10, but lowering the price as well. Altering authorized device count (4 total). Current subscribers will be grandfathered. :hmm:

Dear gooberlx:


We want to let you know about important changes that are coming to Zune® Music Pass in the United States.


On October 3, we will be discontinuing the $14.99 Zune Music Pass plan and introducing a new version of Zune Music Pass. After October 3, the $14.99 plan will not be available to new subscribers. However, because you are a current subscriber, you can stay on your existing Zune Music Pass plan if you choose.


The new plan, like your current plan, will provide access to more than 14 million songs on your Xbox 360®, Windows® Phone, PC, or through the web. Unlike your current plan, it will not include 10 MP3s to keep each month.


your current zune music pass
• $14.99 per month (or $149.90 per year)
• 10 song credits each month
• Download music on up to 3 PCs and 3 portable devices

the new zune music pass
• $9.99 per month (or $99.90 per year)
• No song credits
• Download music on up to 4 total devices (any combination of PCs and portable devices)

both plans
• Stream over 14 million songs on an unlimited number of devices, including Xbox 360, Windows Phone, PC, and Zune.net.
• Unlimited access to tens of thousands of music videos that you can stream on your PC and Xbox 360.*

Like your 10 song credits? As long as your subscription is maintained, you will have access to your existing plan, including 10 song credits each month. To check your account and to make sure your billing information is accurate, visit your Zune Music Pass account page.


Thank you again for being a Zune Music Pass subscriber. We appreciate your loyalty and look forward to continuing to provide you with great music and music videos.


—The Zune Music Team

 

[roguerower]

Fine by me. I always forget about my song credits and just DL music as I want it.

I love my Zune and ZMP.

 

[Deeko]

Its actually fewer devices - you used to get 3 PCs and 3 devices. I'm definitely glad to be grandfathered in to the existing plan. The keep-10, to me, was the big selling feature of the Zune Pass over competing services.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Its actually fewer devices - you used to get 3 PCs and 3 devices.

Oh you're right, I totally misread that.

That's...kinda sucky for me. I use zunepass at work, so for my account we have: 2 zunes, 1 xbox, 2 PCs + work...shit :\ I'll probably keep my current plan then. Saving $50/year isn't that big a deal, and the keep-10 certainly does sweeten that pot.

 

[Deeko]

Yep. I've got my Zune HD, Windows Phone, gf's Zune16, and then my desktop, my laptop, and gf's laptop + xbox. I'm maxing out the existing number of allowed devices as is.

 

[destrekor]

As much as I'd like to drop the monthly fee to $10, I also am in love with the 10 credits.
I use them whenever I want higher-quality audio, since the streaming is decent but the mp3s tend to be better. Plus, whenever Zune does die off (it's pretty much destined to happen), at least I'll have a sizeable collection of tracks and almost-complete albums from all that money spent that can go everywhere with me.

I don't always remember to use my credits every month, and quite often they are used on older albums... but I tend to make good use of that neat feature.

 

[roguerower]

I wish the credits would roll-over. I've wasted too many of them by not using them every month.

 

[Deeko]

As much as I'd like to drop the monthly fee to $10, I also am in love with the 10 credits.
I use them whenever I want higher-quality audio, since the streaming is decent but the mp3s tend to be better. Plus, whenever Zune does die off (it's pretty much destined to happen), at least I'll have a sizeable collection of tracks and almost-complete albums from all that money spent that can go everywhere with me.

I don't always remember to use my credits every month, and quite often they are used on older albums... but I tend to make good use of that neat feature.

I use the suggestions most of the time. If you click at the top where it says credits (10), it will bring up a suggestion of the 10 songs you've listened to most but haven't purchased. I generally do that every time I see that pop up at the top, because I also always used to forget to use my credits.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Plus, whenever Zune does die off (it's pretty much destined to happen)

I actually think it could stand a chance at longer term survival if they can pull off Windows 8 and the whole integrated ecosystem well (PC, tablet, player, phone, xbox, etc...). It certainly works for Apple afterall.

 

[theeedude]

It would be cool if they had an Android app

 

[tw1164]

I don't think your Xbox(s) count towards the device limit.

 

[hanoverphist]

arggh, i knew when i canceled mine this would happen. i told myself "ah, i can always resub later on when i have the cash..." dammit.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Its actually fewer devices - you used to get 3 PCs and 3 devices. I'm definitely glad to be grandfathered in to the existing plan. The keep-10, to me, was the big selling feature of the Zune Pass over competing services.

Bingo. Glad I'm grandfathered, otherwise I'd probably dump it. Eventually they will cut us off though. Zune will be smushed and rolled into other services eventually anyway.

 

[alent1234]

$10 is spotify that works on a lot of devices

 

[smartpatrol]

Glad I can keep the $15/month option. I love the song credits.

 

[Deeko]

$10 is spotify that works on a lot of devices

$10 is Spotify, Napster, Rhapsody, etc....at least it used to be, I don't know if the latter two are still around. Either way, I'm keeping my grandfathered-in plan, I signed up for it and not those other services because I liked the differences it brought.

 

[TheStu]

Woohoo grandfathered. $5/mo doesn't make a huge difference to me, and the keep-10 is a huge bonus. Didn't know about the 'hey, you listen to this a lot, how about you buy it' thing, I will have to do that in the future.

 

[Joseph F]

I am considering getting a plan before the changes are made. I had a Zune Pass for a month and I loved it, but it's only worth it to me if I can keep non-DRM songs.

 

[blurredvision]

I've had the $15/month Zune Pass since it launched back in 2006. Hard to believe it's been that long. Hell, I bought a Zune on launch day at Circuit City, hah!

When they first started offering the 10 credits with the Zune Pass, I never used them. I wasted probably 150 credits. But then I happened to run across the option in the Zune software where you could filter your music by those songs which are DRM Free and those which were currently downloaded under the Zune Pass. I'd filter by Zune Pass and pick 10 songs I wanted to keep. You can right-click the song and choose "Use Credit". About 15 seconds later, it will re-download, disappear from the Zune Pass filter and show up in the DRM Free filter.

Once I found that very simple process, I made a better effort to start using them.

 

[notposting]

Signed up today for the $14.99 plan....will have to remember to use the credits. Should be pretty easy to do with my Trophy though--use the Bing song id for anything on the radio I want and then use a credit to buy.

 

[Nebor]

I've had the $15/month Zune Pass since it launched back in 2006. Hard to believe it's been that long. Hell, I bought a Zune on launch day at Circuit City, hah!

When they first started offering the 10 credits with the Zune Pass, I never used them. I wasted probably 150 credits. But then I happened to run across the option in the Zune software where you could filter your music by those songs which are DRM Free and those which were currently downloaded under the Zune Pass. I'd filter by Zune Pass and pick 10 songs I wanted to keep. You can right-click the song and choose "Use Credit". About 15 seconds later, it will re-download, disappear from the Zune Pass filter and show up in the DRM Free filter.

Once I found that very simple process, I made a better effort to start using them.

There's also a "suggested songs to buy" list that looks at what DRM songs you've listened to the most and puts them on a convenient list for you. :thumbsup:

 

[Joseph F]

This is fucking horseshit! I got a $15 dollar subscription just before the change and now I can't renew it. I can only get the $10 plan.