Today at their big pre-E3 keynote, Microsoft confirmed reports that the “Zune” moniker to house music under was dead, and that “Xbox Music” is the new brand name moving forward. But it’s more than a simple re-branding — much more in fact. The new Xbox Music service is Microsoft’s iTunes-like storefront for all things music, and will call itself home to 30+ million tracks. Better yet, the new Xbox Music will be available to all Windows 8 PCs, tablets and phones. The UI was shown off at their keynote and (of course) takes on a very Metro feel. Oh, and the Zune name isn’t completely dead. (Sorry. We lied a bit.) Microsoft has kept the Zune Smart DJ feature inside of Xbox Music.

For now, details are extremely limited. But outside of the multi-screen availability, Microsoft stated that streaming would also be a big focus — something iTunes has yet to do (well).

Also unveiled today by M — over 35 new video providers for Xbox Live. A few of the big names include WatchESPN, Paramount, Nickelodeon, NHL and NBA.

Looks like the Xbox ecosystem just got much, much cooler, no? Look for more info in the coming days/weeks.

Via: Engadget, The Verge