cloud-based offering allows users to synchronize multiple devices, including PCs, tablets and smartphones

Zune could not take the power of iTunes music service, but now Microsoft is back for another bite at the cherry, or more precisely, the apple. The software company announced Xbox Music, an all-in-one digital music service that will track 30m available to users via the Xbox 360 and PC, tablets and smartphones with Windows 8 or Windows RT.

The new platform is divided into three chapters. A streaming service offering ad-free access to the library, but it is limited to a certain number of hours within six months. In addition, premium, unlimited, commercial-free streaming option is available for $ 8.99 per month. Customers can also purchase and download any song in the catalog.

The main proposal Xbox Music is the dominant design. By subscribing for free and purchase options and features playlists based artist actually take its iTunes and Spotify at the same time, while challenging other new cloud services like Google Music and Amazon Cloud Music Player. With social sharing features are also planned to arrive in early 2013, Microsoft is determined to use all the features of digital music consumption in the service.

"The launch of Xbox Music is an important step in the simplification of digital music on all kinds of devices, and globally," said the president of the Microsoft Interactive Entertainment division, Don Mattrick. And if the future of entertainment consumption is on the features of the perfect platform is certainly a step in the right direction. The weakest link in the chain, however, is the smartphone platform of Windows, even down in a remote third place behind Apple and Android devices. However, in a press conference for the launch on Sunday night, Microsoft executives have promising applications Xbox Music for Android and iOS early next year. This will make a much more powerful in a market where the fragmentation and incoherence further confuse the music lovers.