Its been discovered that Microsoft has quietly enabled music streaming through its new Skydrive cloud service on Mango devices, allowing you to stream music content directly from your Skydrive account to your Zune for example.
The feature has been confirmed by Microsoft via a tweet, who indicated that the service is still unsupported at the moment and that Microsoft’s focus is primarily on photos and document syncing via Skydrive at the current time. Watch the video after the jump to see the new feature in action.
Microsoft’s Vision for Skydrive
Microsoft’s Skydrive has been a pivotal part of their cloud strategy, aiming to provide seamless access to files across various devices. Initially, the focus was on photos and documents, ensuring users could easily sync and access their important files from anywhere. The introduction of music streaming, even in its unsupported state, marks a significant step towards expanding the utility of Skydrive. This feature allows users to store their music collections in the cloud and access them on-the-go, eliminating the need for physical storage and making their music library more portable.
Microsofts Tweet to @manan
“Glad people enjoy Mango/IE9 playing music on the web. We’re focused on seamless access to photos & docs in Mango.cc/”
Implications for Users
For users, this new feature opens up a world of possibilities. Imagine being able to access your entire music library from any Mango device without having to worry about storage limitations. This is particularly beneficial for users with extensive music collections who may find their device storage quickly filling up. By leveraging Skydrive, users can keep their devices clutter-free while still enjoying their favorite tunes.
Moreover, this feature could potentially pave the way for more advanced media streaming capabilities in the future. As cloud technology continues to evolve, we might see Skydrive supporting video streaming or even more complex media types. This would further integrate Microsoft’s ecosystem, making it a one-stop solution for all digital storage and streaming needs.
Future Prospects and Challenges
While the current focus remains on photos and documents, the quiet introduction of music streaming hints at Microsoft’s broader ambitions. However, there are challenges to consider. The primary challenge is ensuring a seamless and reliable streaming experience. Users expect high-quality, uninterrupted playback, which requires robust infrastructure and efficient data management.
Additionally, there are potential licensing and copyright issues to navigate. Streaming music from the cloud involves various legal considerations, and Microsoft will need to ensure they have the appropriate agreements in place to avoid any legal complications.
Despite these challenges, the potential benefits are significant. By expanding Skydrive’s capabilities, Microsoft can attract a broader user base and enhance the overall value of their cloud services. This move could also position them more competitively against other cloud service providers like Google Drive and Dropbox, who are also continually expanding their feature sets.
Source: Engadget : Being Manan
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