Last week Microsoft announced that OneDrive had been updated to allow for music to be stored by users in the cloud service and stream them to your various Windows powered devices and Xbox. The update was free to all OneDrive users and there were some extra bonuses for those who are Xbox Music Pass subscribers. At the time of the launch Microsoft also released an updated version of Xbox Music for Windows Phone to support this integration of the service with OneDrive. Now they have released an update that addresses some issues with the app but also includes a tutorial of how the integration works. The update, version 2.6.674.0 for those keeping score at home, is available now in the Windows Phone Store.
Xbox Music for Windows Phone – Free – Download Now
When you first start the Xbox Music app after the update you will be prompted on if you want to learn more about the OneDrive integration. Tapping the Learn More button will take you to the Xbox Music website where details of how the service works are outlined.
Xbox Music Locker on OneDrive
In addition to this tutorial and better explanation of how to get started, there is also a new fix for the Keep Playlist offline feature. Now when you set a playlist to this setting, the app will automatically download all of the streaming tracks to your device and will do so whether those tracks reside in Xbox Music Pass or OneDrive. Remember, as a Music Pass subscriber, you can download music to your Windows devices that you haven’t purchased. They are however DMR protected so if you want to keep them for good, you have to buy them at some point.
For those who are not Xbox Music Pass subscribers, you can join for $99.99 per year which gives you access to over 30 million songs and you can access them from your Windows devices as well as iOS and Android. To get more information or join, click on this link
If you have taken the plunge and moved your music to OneDrive (which I most certainly have done) then be sure to grab this update for your Windows Phone. While it isn’t specifically listed, the performance of the streaming from OneDrive in my experience has improved a bit in addition to these other changes.
