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Microsoft to remove “Windows Live” and “Zune” branding in Windows 8

By on February 27, 2012 10:18 am

It has been discovered through Microsoft's soon to be released Windows 8 Consumer Preview that the software giant is planning to do away with a couple of its big user-facing brands, namely Zune and Windows Live. The associating programs will still be there, but with simpler names applied to appear more seamless with the whole Windows 8 core environment.

It has been discovered through Microsoft's soon to be released Windows 8 Consumer Preview that the software giant is planning to do away with a couple of its big user-facing brands, namely Zune and Windows Live. The associating programs will still be there, but with simpler names applied to appear more seamless with the whole Windows 8 core environment.

All Windows Live applications are preinstalled in Windows 8 as the operating system's core "Windows Communications" apps and the associating names are changed up to be much more simplified (ie. "Windows Live ID" now becomes "Microsoft Account" and "Windows Live Contacts" now becomes "People").

As for Zune, many traces of the brand are dissapearing from Microsoft's Windows Store, Music and Video applications, but Zune Pass functionality is still in place. we're hearing that Microsoft's Xbox team is taking care of the creation and management of Windows 8's Metro style Video and Music applications and apparently this will be rolled into the new OS under the title of "Xbox Live for Windows" as the entertainment brand for Windows 8 Music, Video and Games close to its release later this year.

In replacing Zune with this entirely new system, we've been told to expect something that's more "Spotify-like", which still leaves us somewhat unclear as to what exactly Microsoft have on the cards. We do know however that the company is already talking with all the major music companies regarding its new service.

In terms of what will happen to Zune on Windows Phone, Zune Desktop will be no more once Windows Phone 8, Apollo is outed later in the year where the synchronization function between phone and PC will be through the means of better integration in Windows 8. Of course, synchronization tools will still be there for those running an older Windows OS.

By this time, everything with the Zune name is expected to have vanished from Windows Phone in replacement of the new version.

Here is the rundown on Microsoft's simplified application branding plans for Windows 8 :-

- Microsoft Account (was Windows Live ID)
- Mail (was Windows Live Mail)
- Calendar (was Windows Live Calendar)
- People (was Windows Live Contacts)
- Photos (was Windows Live Photo Gallery)
- Music (was Zune Music Player)
- Video (was Zune Video Player)

If you're wondering why there was no mention of Messenger here, it's being rumoured that Microsoft is planning to do away with it as a standalone application and tie it in more closely with Skype. We can only presume at this point that Microsoft is working on a vastly refreshing strategy that's more future proof for its instant messaging facility.

Source: The Verge

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