Ahead of the annual E3 gaming convention, Engadget’s gotten their hands on what appears to a legit Microsoft presentation documenting Xbox Smart Glass. And it looks to be both a feature and series of apps that’ll offer remote Xbox control and enable the beaming of content from smartphone or computer to the big screen via the Xbox 360. As we mentioned yesterday, Microsoft has some work to do if they intend to grow their Xbox audience beyond gamers and offering a remote control app is a good start… as the 360 doesn’t ship with anything more than a gaming controller. Additionally, the ability to pipe video and audio from one device to another could be quite compelling. But is it enough to morph the Xbox 360 into an all purpose media streamer for non-gamers given their hardware cost and ongoing service fees compared to say an Apple TV? Further, unlike Apple Airplay, Smart Glass won’t feature deep OS level integration on iPhone or iPads. Whereas Apple is expanding their halo from their highly regarded mobile products and into the living room, Microsoft will be leveraging their console strength to pitch their new mobile Windows Phone OS which will surely feature enhanced Xbox integration.
Great update. But also, this is table stakes now, and Microsoft still seems to be following. Apple introduced AirPlay back in fall 2010 so by the time this comes out it’ll be about two years. They don’t seem to be catching up…
“Apple introduced AirPlay back in fall 2010 so by the time this comes out it’ll be about two years.”
All that matters is that there are gazillions of iOS mobile devices out there, and almost no Windows mobile devices out there.
Change that part of the equation, (however unlikely it currently seems), and everything else changes.
The Xbox is the most popular living room viewer, responsible for 25% of netflix streams and 50% of internet TV viewing not on a PC. By making this app cross-platform they are cementing their position as the premier living room computer and giving people less reason for wanting to use a Apple TV.
Also remember Android outsells iOS, worldwide and in USA. Suddenly those legions of people also do not need either an iPhone or Apple TV to stream music and video to their existing TV. Its by far not all about Apple.
@Surur,
Agreed completely. Point for XBox. I was just saying that having this built into Windows Phone isn’t going to sell that many Windows Phones…
I think you’re numbers are a little off though. Netflix viewing on computer is around 40% and XBox only around 12% and Apple around 1%, according to Neilsen anyway.
I’m just repeating numbers I heard on a podcast, so it may not be accurate, but regarding netflix, gigaom seems to agree with me:
http://gigaom.com/video/netflix-by-the-numbers/
I have been using the Xbox Live Companion App since its release and it works very well, displaying a static image of the content being viewed, a synopsis, the cast & crew, and related content along with standard video playback (play, pause, FF, and REW) controls. Adding an “AirPlay” like feature and expanding the app to iOS and Android is a great move.
While the Xbox doesn’t get much love, it continues to add to its claim as the most complete streaming device, hardware cost, service fee and all.
Oh, I’d say the Xbox gets significant love. I certainly hold it in high regard. But when comparing it to an Apple TV or Roku, it’s pricey and bulky for non-gamers. By the by, NPD tells me that through March 2012, they’ve moved nearly 34 million units here in the US — so they’ve got a huge base to market Live and their mobile OS to.
“All that matters is that there are gazillions of iOS mobile devices out there, and almost no Windows mobile devices out there.”
Just like there’s people that watch Boardwalk Empire , versus the very small (and very loud ) minority that watched Luck ….
it’s inevitable that such functionality would be coming to the other gaming manufactures. apple pioneered the extended display of the tablet + TV gaming experience with ipad mirroring and the coming soon desktop mirroring to TV experience therefore video game brands like microsoft, nintendo and i’m sure sony (eventually) must conform to this new market to simply stay competitive. it’s a niche function from a gaming perspective in my opinion, meanwhile i use my ipad + airplay functionality more for browsing the web, sharing pictures/video and watching movies. it gets exhausting to use the ipad as a giant steering wheel for example, should i airplay it to the tv… it’s too heavy for long periods of time.
Great update. But also, this is table stakes now, and Microsoft still seems to be following. Apple introducedAirPlay back in fall 2010 so by the time this comes out it’ll be about two years. They don’t seem to be catching up…