The Xbox music store serves as both a music player as well as a music store. I don't consider showing content from the store as advertising. Is iTunes also "a big advert"?

> The Xbox music store serves as both a music player as well as a music store.

Yet it's called the "Xbox Music Store" making it very clear where their priorities lie. iTunes is iTunes and can also access the iTunes Store. It's not "iTunes Store, Play Music Also".

> I don't consider showing content from the store as advertising.

Many disagree.

> Is iTunes also "a big advert"?

Nope, because the line between the iTunes Store and iTunes is quite clear. It ends when you click that "iTunes Store" link in the sidebar. Up until then, you'll see no advertisements or artists promoted.

Is the iTunes Store a big advert? Definitely. However it's a store, most are plastered with advertising. That is normal.

Ads in your music player isn't normal. If you're willing to accept it, that's completely different and entirely your prerogative. Many others feel they already absorb plenty of advertising and aren't interested in providing new avenues to reach them, especially ones through products that they paid for.

Spot on.

Plus we already paid for the operating system. Taking ad revenue on top is just fucking greedy.

Considering that streaming is free (w/ ads) showing content from the store I'd argue makes a lot of sense. Spotify does the same thing.

With that said, iTunes has added "In the Store" picks in iTunes... while I'm sure you'd argue that it's distinct, given how seamless it is integrated in the new iTunes UI, I think most people won't view it as much different than the XBox Music Store -- and even worse in some regards since you can stream for free from the XBox Music Store.

However it pushes the store part in your face constantly even if you do not desire it, which is a shame as the DLNA stuff works well.

1. Launch Music app

2. Show the Windows Charms bar (swipe from the right, or press Windows + C)

3. Click Settings

4. Click Preferences

5. Change "Startup View: When the app opens, show my music" to ON

Yes I'm aware of that. Try running wireshark before you launch it....

How does the traffic logged in Wireshark imply that the app "pushes the store part in your face constantly even if you do not desire it"?

I'm implying it downloads all the advertising content anyway.

iTunes being a forcefeed of ads is one of the reasons I detest it, and similarly for Steam's store. Absolutely detest being bombarded with crap I didn't ask or search for. I actively buy things elsewhere to avoid the ads.

if you go into settings, you can change xbox music to open directly to "My Music"

Xbox music has actually been one of the highlights of my overall negative Windows 8 experience. The free streaming service has a fairly extensive library.

They're doing it with Skype, too.