SmartGlass is nothing new — it’s the second screen solution Microsoft introduced for its Xbox legions. But for the release of the Xbox One console, the company decided to update the experience and extend the functionality. Culling feedback from the many developers and gamers that have downloaded the app since its initial release, Microsoft came to some near unanimous conclusions: gamers use it as an Xbox Live controller and devs love its use of HTML and Java. So where to go from there? If you’ve been paying attention to any of the company’s E3 announcements, you’ll know that the newly updated SmartGlass app now includes support for in-game DLC purchases, gameplay assists and a DVR-like replay feature. We spent a little time sifting through the new app on the showfloor, so follow along for our initial thoughts.
Xbox SmartGlass allows users to control their Xbox consoles with a smartphone or tablet, and for Xbox One, Microsoft revealed the next-generation Xbox SmartGlass for the new console. Users will be able to start a single-player game, as well as set up a multiplayer session with friends. You can also purchase in-game add-ons. Killer Instinct
It’s not just the hardware and games that are getting an overhaul in Microsoft’s next generation, it’s the services too. Today at E3, Microsoft demonstrated the new SmartGlass app compatible with Xbox One. Using Crytek’s Ryse: Son of Rome for the demo and running off of a Surface tablet, reps were able to show how real-time info can be streamed to the player on the second screen. This extended functionality also encompasses the ability to start a single player game, setup multiplayer, buy add-on content while in-game and view leaderboard stats, as well as tips and tricks for concurrent gameplay. All of this comes in addition to the video scraping feature, which utilizes Twitch.tv, Microsoft had previously announced for Xbox One SmartGlass — just as promised.
Microsoft’s Xbox One is promising even more second-screen support than we saw on the Xbox 360. An improvement of the SmartGlass integration we’ve seen pop up on the Xbox 360, Microsoft says it can make your mobile device feel like it was “built” to work with your console. The current SmartGlass app has seen over 10 million downloads, and it looks like Microsoft is aiming for more this time around. It will also be able to screen scrape video, encode it to h.264 and send it over to your second screen, although what will work on which devices is still unknown. What is mentioned in the press release is that it will support multiple devices at once, for multiplayer and shared entertainment. It’s also promising exclusive experiences with its NFL partnership that attach to SmartGlass and Skype integration, so we’ll expect to see more about that in the future.
The Epson Moverio BT-100 is a pair of augmented reality glasses that, in the wake of the future success of Google Glass and the Occulus Rift, keeps itself unique with its own combination of abilities. This week SlashGear had a chat with Eric Mizufuka, Product Manager of New Markets at Epson and Scott Montgomerie, CEO and lead developer of Scope Technologies about the newest use of this still very developer-stage pair of futuristic glasses: augmented reality industrial product training.
As Eric Mizufuka explained this week, the Moverio BT-100 is “a wearable display – smartglasses – with a shade that’s removable.” What you’re seeing with these glasses is an image that can get as large as an 80-inch display depending on what you’re using them for, and they’re able to work with apps such as the one presenting 3D device augmented reality training that Scope AR is showing off this year.
At it’s base, this device is powered by an Android control unit – it’s able to run and launch Android apps just like a smartphone would, so to speak. This product in its current form was launched over a year ago, and according to Mizufuka, the unit was and is “seen originally as more of a developer platform so developers could take the lead on creating apps that would eventually shape the device.”
Epson’s Moverio BT-100 glasses are not yet consumer market ready – they’re not yet in a place where they’re meant for the consumer market, instead concentrating on developer efforts to create “that one killer app” to start the machine that is the succssful launch of the platform.
As for how they fit into the augmented reality or “smart” glasses universe thats coming to light here in 2013, Mizufuka suggests that there’s a four-point set of categories that each unit in this new market fall into, each pair of said glasses working with two.
While the Epson Moverio BT-100 unit falls into the binocular and transparent category, Occulus Rift is a binocular, non-tranparent device. Google Glass, on the other hand, is a monocular tranparent device.
Epson’s product makes its way in the market with features that are, as Mizufuka suggests, rather unique. “[Moverio BT-100] is unique in that you can see 3D, and unique in that it’s in the center of your field of view so you can overlay 3D images over real objects.” This is what the company calls Real Augmented Reality.
“Glass is a beautiful product and it’s miniturized very well, but you still have some consumer kickback saying it’s too geeky.”
Mizufuka let SlashGear know that they’d be creating the final consumer units as a product that people will want to use, one that they intend to be able to be worn by everyone. “Glass is a beautiful product and it’s miniturized very well, but you still have some consumer kickback saying it’s too geeky.”
CEO and lead developer of Scope Technologies Scott Montgomerie let us know that as soon as they discovered Epson’s augmented reality glasses, they knew they had to collaborate. Their need for such a solution for their idea to overlay machine parts in 3D for users training in the industrial market seemed like a perfect fit. “Industrial Augmented Reality for machinery, overlaying 3D images over real machines seemed impracticle at first – until the idea of augmented reality glasses, like Moverio BT-100, came up.”
Mounting a camera on top of the optics they’d already had, they created the device you see demonstrated here:
Montgomerie continued: “Our strategy is in the near term to focus on these verticle market applications. I think the consumer is just getting comfortable now with wearable displays, as soon as we’re able to find that killer app in the market, we’ll be there.” Sound like the right path to take to you? Epson’s Mizufuka let it be known that the final consumer product would be both affordable and made for the mass market – and we’re hoping for more soon!
The latest entertainment app to launch for the Xbox 360 comes from The CW (the relationship has now come full circle), bringing shows like Arrow, Supernatural and The Vampire Diaries to the console. Special to this offering is that it will stream full episodes the day after they air on network TV, and will not require users to verify a cable or satellite subscription. Xbox Live Gold is required, so it’s not an entirely free pass to stream away. Still, for fans of the shows it’s another way to watch and this Friday’s Vampire Diaries episode will feature some exclusive second screen content available via SmartGlass. Not into The CW’s teen-centric offerings? Beyond the just-launched Pizza Hut app, XBL Silver sports fans can enjoy a free weekend (25th – 28th) of access to ESPN, MLB.tv, UFC (the 7 pre-fight stories), NHL GameCenter and NBA Game Time. There’s also the Hockey Night in Canada app, and an update for Hulu Plus that lets parents search for kids shows based on age group.
Larry Hryb, the Director of Programming for Xbox Live, stated today that Xbox SmartGlass now supports Amazon’s selection of Kindle Fire tablets. It’s coming in about half a year late, seeing as the app was released for regular Android devices way back in October of last year. With the Xbox SmartGlass app now available in the Amazon App Store, owners of the affordable Kindle Fire can enjoy an extension of the Xbox Live experience with their tablets.
Before you can install Xbox Smartglass onto your Kindle Fire, you have to make sure that your device is at least running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Smartglass brings the second-screen option to your Kindle Fire, allowing you to control your music and video through your tablet, type using your tablet’s keyboard, view second-screen options for movies/TV shows you’re watching, and interact with extra content provided by certain games. You are also able to track achievements, customize your avatar, browse the internet, and much more.
An example of the usefulness of Smartglass would be if you’re watching a movie. On your tablet, you can pause,play, fast forward your movie and more. But not only that, on the side panel, there will also be a description box providing you with relevant information regarding the media playing on your Xbox 360, including episode summaries, the TV show storyline, and much more.
With certain games, like Skyrim, your Kindle Fire will serve as a companion that will help you as you navigate throughout the game’s fantasy maps. You can use your Kindle Fire as a map to make sure you’re never lost in the game’s massive world. You can download Xbox SmartGlass for your Kindle Fire from Amazon’s App Store. The functionality of the app should be the same as the app for Android.
Amazon’s just updated its Appstore today with a much welcome offering for avid gamers: Xbox SmartGlass. Microsoft’s app-based second screen solution has been available on iOS and Android since late last fall, but despite sharing a kernel with Google’s OS, hadn’t been made dispensable to Kindle Fire / Fire HD owners until now. The app’s been configured to scale natively on Amazon’s refreshed tablet line, letting users navigate their Xbox 360 remotely, push and pull streaming content, as well as access achievements, messaging and Xbox Music. So if it’s the living room of the future you’re after, you might want to hit up the source and make that free download your own.
Microsoft’s Xbox SmartGlass for Android has been around for a few months now, and while it supported Android tablets, only the popular 7-inchers were able to use the app, leaving larger tablets out of the questions. However, Microsoft updated the app again, adding support for 10-inch tablets, like the Nexus 10 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab (and Note) 10.1.
If you happen to want to download the app onto your 10-inch Android slate, you’ll need to be running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich or higher, as the SmartGlass app doesn’t support older Android versions. Other than that, the app comes with some new features and slight design updates that users may find useful.
The app now includes a feature called Activity Browser Link, where you can open a web browser from within the Xbox SmartGlass app. There’s also Expanded Messaging, which lets Xbox LIVE members use SmartGlass to send and receive messages from their other Xbox LIVE friends, making it easier to chat with friends using your tablet or smartphone.
There’s also a new “Awake” State that allows users to prevent their devices from going to sleep with using the SmartGlass app, which could come in handy during those times where you don’t use the app that often during a session, but you want to keep it on and readily available. As for design changes, the updated app brings a more streamlined user interface that’s easier to use. The activity launch screen is simpler, and excess text has been removed.
If you love gaming on your Xbox 360, and have followed Microsoft’s efforts in the home console market right from the very first Xbox, then you would be pleased to hear that Microsoft’s SmartGlass for Android app has finally received another update, where it has hit version 1.5, and this latest update can be downloaded from Google Play itself. This particular app will allow users to control their Xbox using either a smartphone or a tablet, and even better is the fact that it has now been optimized to play nice with 7-inch and larger tablets that run on the Android operating system.
There will also be additional features thrown into the mix, where among them include the “always-on” Smartglass Experiences state, which makes sure that your handset or slate will not enter sleep mode whenever you are gaming, in addition to the compulsory collection of bug fixes and “numerous design and usability improvements.” The update weighs in at 18MB, so make sure you have enough juice beforehand to download and install it.
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If you love gaming on your Xbox 360, and have followed Microsoft’s efforts in the home console market right from the very first Xbox, then you would be pleased to hear that Microsoft’s SmartGlass for Android app has finally received another update, where it has hit version 1.5, and this latest update can be downloaded from Google Play itself. This particular app will allow users to control their Xbox using either a smartphone or a tablet, and even better is the fact that it has now been optimized to play nice with 7-inch and larger tablets that run on the Android operating system.
