The E3 (Electronics Entertainment Expo) in Los Angeles, California was an action packed affair and Microsoft used the opportunity to unveil not just its lineup of new Xbox 360 games and the new installment of the blockbuster game Halo 4, but also new innovations in entertainment for both Xbox 360 and smart devices such as mobiles and tablets. Microsoft’s plans to convert the Xbox 360 from a gaming console to an entertainment console was in full force as they unveiled plans that included launch of 35 new content partners, a music streaming service Xbox Music, new sports entertainment including NBA, NHL, and ESPN action, Nike fitness training game, as well as the Xbox SmartGlass app that will integrate entertainment to all smart devices.
The Wow Factor: Xbox SmartGlass App
The wow factor in the conference was not the new Xbox games that were unveiled, but rather, the free Xbox SmartGlass App that turned out to be an unexpectedly pleasant surprise for all. The Xbox SmartGlass App works by turning your smartphone or tablet into a tool that can act as an additional TV screen, a game controller, a remote control for accessing Internet Explorer on your TV, and more. What’s even better is that you don’t have to get any additional hardware to make this happen. The free SmartGlass app will work on all your devices; your iPad, iPhone, Android smartphone, Android tablet, and Windows 8 tablet and PC.
SmartGlass makes your TV viewing experience intelligent. Now you don’t just get entertainment experience from your TV, but also from your smartphone or tablet device. For instance, when you are watching your favorite TV show SmartGlass on your tablet understands what you are watching and provides interactive content related to the show such as cast and characters, maps and location, among other bonus content. Then if you are playing a game of football on Xbox, you can use SmartGlass on your tablet to device your play strategy and watch it get executed on Xbox. With Internet Explorer coming to the Xbox, you can use your smartphone or tablet to zoom in click links and access the web on your television. What this means is that you are actually using the TV as your monitor and your smartphone device as the mouse and keyboard to execute the PC or rather the Xbox.
The Xbox 360 is no longer about gaming. You can watch a movie on your tablet while commuting home, then pause and push it to Xbox to resume your movie viewing experience on your TV. Microsoft also unveiled a new music service called Xbox music that lets you get your music on your device, anytime, anywhere, with options to share, personalize and do so much more.
Microsoft has also partnered with Nike and announced a fitness game using Kinect which can let players train and work out with others, so you get trained just like the world’s top athletes.
With the Xbox SmartGlass App, you can push music and videos from your tablet to your phone to your TV to your PC! And that’s real entertainment. SmartGlass will launch this fall and you can expect more content partners to join in and make the Xbox the name in entertainment.
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