If there’s one thing device manufacturers and entertainment companies love to praise more than interactive television, it’s what they describe as second-screen experiences. Xbox One Smart Glass.
The concept is easy enough for limited home moviegoers, game console owners, and audiophiles to grasp quickly. Television and the experiences based on it are no longer isolated experiences. Allegedly, most users watch football matches and movies with a laptop or tablet in front of them.
Wanting to take advantage of this concept, Microsoft introduced the Xbox SmartGlass to the world in 2012. Effectively, Xbox SmartGlass offers users a second screen experience for whatever entertainment they currently enjoy. Since its launch, Microsoft has added a few new features to the version of Xbox SmartGlass, which is available for free to Xbox One users. Here’s what you need to know.
Read: Microsoft Talks About Upgrading SmartGlass App for Xbox One and Xbox 360
SmartGlass is for Everyone
Originally designed as a response to Nintendo’s announcements regarding the Wii U’s touchscreen controller, the Xbox SmartGlass allows users to interact with what’s displayed on their television screens. However, unlike the Wii U, users do not need an extra controller or more hardware.
Users can install Xbox One SmartGlass on iOS, Android, Windows Phone and Windows using apps available on each platform.
What You Get To Download
Because SmartGlass adapts to the content users enjoy, users have a unique experience every time they open the app with a different app running on their Xbox One.
Universal Remote
The first experience users will notice with SmartGlass is the Universal Remote functionality. This remote function does not matter what app the Xbox One is in or what it is doing. Toggles for the Xbox Guide, Menu button, and directional pad are always shown on the SmartGlass’ remote display. Users who pair their Xbox One with a television can also adjust the volume of that television set.
Guide
While watching TV shows and movies that support it, Xbox SmartGlass also turns into a helpful app, giving viewers all the information they could want about movies and TV shows. SmartGlass companion experiences include everything from the names and biographies of specific characters to a real-world diary of what’s going on in the movie at that particular time. Unfortunately, not all movies and television shows have SmartGlass functionality. So if you want to experience the functionality in your next movie you will have to look for the SmartGlass logo.
Interestingly, SmartGlass will also receive information about television shows and movies streamed through the native Netflix app.
Controller / Interface
Microsoft boasted that the Xbox One SmartGlass finally allowed developers to treat a paired smartphone, tablet or laptop as a standalone controller earlier this year. That way, users can interact one day, glancing at the next heist location in titles like the one to come. Grand Theft Autoor search for in-game characters Tom Clancy’s Distinction. Launch games compatible with Xbox One SmartGlass include: Madden 25, Ryse Son of Rome, Just Dance 2014, LocoCycle, Kinect Sports Rivals, Forza Motosport 5 and Dead Rising 3.
Xbox LIVE Friend
Xbox One SmartGlass also accompanies Xbox LIVE as a whole. Users can manage their friends, browse achievements and even watch match highlights while away from home.
How to Set Up Xbox One SmartGlass
Download the Xbox One SmartGlass app from the iTunes Store, Google Play Store, Windows Store, or Windows Phone Store. Sign in to the app using the Microsoft Account you used to set up your Xbox LIVE Account.
Tap the icon on the Xbox One-like icon on the right side of your screen to connect your Xbox One console to SmartGlass.
Select the console you are trying to connect to from the list of available consoles on your network. Your SmartGlass-equipped device and Xbox One must be connected to the same Wi-Fi connection for console setup to be successful.
You are ready. The SmartGlass app will continue to interact directly with your Xbox One while on the same network. When you’re away from home, you can check what your Xbox LIVE friends are up to, pin apps to the Xbox One Home screen, browse your achievements, and read messages sent to you on Xbox LIVE.
