Microsoft this week announced that it has retired the Xbox 360 Smartglass apps across all platforms. If you were still using Smartglass on iOS, Android, Windows Phone 7, Windows Phone 8, Windows 10 Mobile, Windows 8, or Windows 10, "support for the app and content are no longer being offered," Microsoft says. Instead, Microsoft is encouraging players to use the Xbox app for iOS, Android, Windows 10, and Windows 10 Mobile.

The Xbox 360 Smartglass app allowed users to interact with their consoles with a second-screen experience. Players could use the app to control and interact with what was on their TVs using gestures on the app to launch games, play music, and more. It also acted as a convenient way to enter text on your Xbox 360, and, notably, Fable Anniversary even included achievements for using Smartglass.

At this point, Xbox One has been on the market for nearly five years. The pool of any remaining Xbox 360 players who are still actively using the Smartglass app is likely pretty small.

Microsoft has since turned its attention to the newer Xbox app, which lets you buy games, chat with friends, and more on mobile platforms and PC.

• See Xbo app at Microsoft Store
• See Xbox app at App Store
• See Xbox app at Google Play

Microsoft has rolled out an official version of its Xbox app for iOS and Android. Already available for the company's own Windows platform, those rocking competitor mobile handsets will now be able to remain up-to-date with all things Xbox. With the app installed, it's possible to track accomplishments, see what your friends are currently playing, as well as purchase new titles from the Xbox Store.

The Xbox app on both iOS and Android are actually revamped successors to the old Xbox SmartGlass offerings. That said, everything you enjoyed using in the old app should remain available in this new updated experience, but will added features and more. Here's a quick run down of everything new this month:

• Updated home – The Activity Feed is the home of the Xbox app
• Activity feed updates – More personalised activity feed
• Added Trending content – Find out what is popular on Xbox Live
• Facebook friend finder – Add your Facebook friends who are also on Xbox
• Contact list friend finder – Use your phones contact list to add friends to Xbox Live
• Real name sharing – Be able to share your real name with your friends
• Game hubs – Game Hubs now added to Xbox app
• Connection destination – Updated the Xbox One navigation and media control of your Xbox One from the app
• Updated profiles – Redesigned user profiles in Xbox app

Download the apps from the respective App Store and let us know how you get on!

• Download the Xbox app for iOS
• Download the Xbox app for Android

With Windows 10 comes the brand new Xbox app that pulls Xbox One and PC closer together than they've ever been before. It's a great app, especially the Xbox One to PC game streaming portion, but there's one thing in particular it's missing.

There's one reason to keep the Smartglass app installed on your PC or tablet. The Xbox One Store.

Currently, hitting the Store link in the Xbox app for Windows 10 takes you to the Store on your PC or tablet. But the only games you can buy there are Windows games. Nothing for the Xbox One. No Games with Gold, Deals With Gold, new Xbox One releases, nada. You can still use the web browser if you're in front of your computer, but the Smartglass app is so much quicker.

It's not a massive issue, but if you're one of those, like me, who seems to do more game purchasing in front of the PC than the Xbox, the new app has a gaping hole to fill. It'll no doubt get worked out down the line as all the stores merge into one, but for now, bear it in mind before you go uninstalling the Smartglass app.

And if you need to get it back, hit the link below.

Download Xbox One Smartglass for Windows

Xbox One Smartglass has been updated today, bringing along the ability to power your console on or off from the app and support for streaming live TV in 19 countries.

Here's the full, official breakdown of what's new in Xbox One Smartglass version 1.0.7.6:

• Power On/Off the console from your SmartGlass app
• Stream live TV from an Xbox One with a supported USB TV Tuner in 19 countries
• Bug fixes

Overall, this is a pretty nifty update to an already handy app. Unfortunately, the changelog doesn't give a detailed rundown on which countries can now enjoy live streaming TV to the app. If you'd like to grab the update, you can hit up the store links below to get started.

• Download Xbox One SmartGlass for Windows Phone
• Download Xbox One SmartGlass for Windows 8.1

Thanks for the tips everyone!

The Xbox app on Windows 10 is going to keep on improving as we progress through the year and the latest update adds some pretty important 'new' features. They're new to this app, but not to anyone who's been using SmartGlass on Windows 8.1. With the bump to version 3.3, the new Xbox app is starting to fold in some of the SmartGlass functionality ahead of an anticipated replacement by this new app.

Here's what's new:

• Watch popular game clips
• Activity feed improvements
• Profile improvements
• Better window sizing
• Connect to Xbox One
• Xbox One remote control
• Browse OneGuide

The visual improvements are noticeable. The remote control and OneGuide features work just the same as they currently do on the SmartGlass app and finding game clips is a simple process. We were promised regular updates and already we're starting to see this app come alive. Game streaming isn't here yet, but we've jumped the first hurdle on the way to that.

You should get the app update automatically but if you don't, open up the Store (Beta) and grab it from there. We've got a few screenshots of some of the newness for you below.

Thanks everyone who tipped us!

For those of you who use the Xbox One SmartGlass app for Windows Phone,  or who like sending music and videos through WhatsApp, you will want to peep updates for both of those apps going live today.

Xbox One SmartGlass 1.0.7.4

• Bug Fixes

Not much in the way of detail for that update, but if you are not a fan of using the beta version of the app, this is the next best thing. Hopefully, it addresses any ongoing issues you may be experiencing.

Download Xbox One SmartGlass for Windows Phone

WhatsApp Video Optimizer 1.2.0.2

• Added option to select output type ( Video / Audio Only ) 
• Added option to remove ads 

About a week ago (February 23), this popular app hit version 1.2 and picked up the ability to send music in addition to videos through WhatsApp. We missed that one, so we'll cover it now. That changelog is more impressive

• Send music through Whatsapp 
• Added option to choose output folder 
• Added option to choose resolution 
• Added option to choose max filesize (WeChat/Viber/Custom) 
• Added option to choose video bitrate  
• Added option to choose audio bitrate 
• Bug fix (Crash when selecting videos) 

In case you do not know, WhatsApp limits the size of the video you send through the messaging app. As a result, for those who shoot 4K videos on their Lumia Denim PureView cameras run into an issue with sharing. WhatsApp Video Optimizer solves this with presets for reducing the resolution. For instance, my 4K video at 13 seconds came in at 97 MB. This app reduced it to just 14 MB at 640x360 resolution, fitting under the 16 MB WhatsApp restriction.

Overall, WhatsApp Video Optimizer is shaping up to be a beautiful app for casual users. So make sure to give it a spin.

Download WhatsApp Video Optimizer for Windows Phone 8.1 (Free)

Thanks, Darrell S., and Abhishek G., for the tips!

Microsoft has released an update for its Xbox One SmartGlass Beta app on Windows Phone. The app enables Xbox One console owners to connect to their box of gaming and check messages, control playback, as well as use a mobile device as a controller. Today's release bumps the app to version 1.0.0.29.

According to the store listing, we're looking at only bug fixes. This update follows the recent patch to fix the date related issue causing the apps to crash on start-up.

Let us know if you spot any changes after updating.

• Download SmartGlass Beta for Windows Phone
• Download SmartGlass Beta for Windows 8.1

Thanks, Jack E., for the tip!

It looks like the start of 2015 isn't going so well for Microsoft's Xbox One SmartGlass apps for Windows Phone. Both the regular and beta versions of the app, which is used to help control the Xbox One game console, are currently crashing for many users on startup.

We started receiving tips about these crashes earlier this morning, and our own tests of the Xbox SmartGlass apps confirmed that they will not work when launched on our own Windows Phone devices. It's possible this issue is date related, since it started happening close to the time of the changeover from 2014 to 2015. We will update this post when Microsoft updates these apps to fix this problem.

Update: It looks like this same problem is happening to the Xbox One SmartGlass app for Windows 8.1 as well.

• Download Xbox One SmartGlass in the Windows Phone Store
• Download Xbox One SmartGlass Beta from the Windows Phone Store

Thanks to Bill and Achike for the tips

While you probably use the Xbox One mostly for gaming, there are other uses for it thanks to apps. Yes, you can install apps on your Xbox One. Don't know how to do it? We'll show you how. Go watch our video.

1. Go all the way to the right on the Xbox One dashboard. It's quicker when you press the RB button on your controller a few times.
2. Select Apps.
3. You can check out which apps are featured, popular, or new.
4. If you see something you like, select the app and press A on your controller.
5. Read the description of the app and view its images. If you like it, press the Install button.
6. That's it! You can press and hold the Xbox button on your controller when the download finishes to quickly launch the app.

Next time you want to open the application, you can select "My games & apps" from the dashboard and find it from there. For faster access, you can pin it to the dashboard. Press the menu button on your controller and select "Pin to Home"

You can also install apps on your Xbox One from your Windows Phone. You'll need the Xbox One SmartGlass Beta app.

1. Tap the hamburger button on the top left corner
2. Tap the Store and keep swiping until you see Apps.
3. Apps are sorted by popularity or release date.
4. Select the app you want and tap the green button. It may say 'Get it free' or mention a price.

If you already know the name of the specific app you want to install on your Xbox One, it's faster to use the search form. You can do this either on the Xbox One or the SmartGlass app on your phone.

What are some of your favorite apps on the Xbox One? Let us know in the comments!

Xbox One SmartGlass is probably the best app to have on your Windows Phone if you have an Xbox One. The app is incredibly useful and gains new functionality with nearly regular monthly updates. Recently, Microsoft introduced the ability to buy and purchase games and game add-ons using SmartGlass. A few of you still aren't too sure how to do that, so here's a quick guide on how to install stuff to your Xbox One without being anywhere near your Xbox One.

Install Xbox One SmartGlass

Step one is probably the most obvious, but you're going to need to grab the Xbox One SmartGlass app. It's available on Windows Phone, Windows 8.1, Android and iOS. On Windows Phone and Windows 8.1 you also have access to the beta version of Xbox One SmartGlass.

Both the beta and non-beta version of the app on Windows now can download 'stuff,' so grab whichever you want. Though we'd recommended living life on the edge and using the beta version of SmartGlass. You'll new features are added first to the beta version, and it's a fun way to get the latest first.

• Download Xbox One SmartGlass for Windows Phone
• Download Xbox One SmartGlass for Windows 8.1
• Download Xbox One SmartGlass Beta for Windows Phone
• Download Xbox One SmartGlass Beta for Windows 8.1

Configure your Xbox One

Installed Xbox One SmartGlass? Great! You're almost ready to download games to your console without being near it, but you do need to be around it to make sure you've configured the Xbox One properly.

In order for your Xbox One to install games and apps through SmartGlass, you'll need to make sure the system is set to take updates automatically.

• Go to system settings
• Go to Power & startup
• Make sure your Power Options have the Power Mode set to 'Instant-on.'
• Make sure 'Automatically download updates' is enabled

Get to system settings by clicking the Start button on your controller while on the Xbox One dashboard. You'll see a menu pop up, and you'll then want to click settings. Then just follow the steps above to makes sure your Power Mode is set to 'Instant-on' and that you've enabled updates to be automatically downloaded.

Download all the stuff!

Your Xbox One is set to download games and apps without you there and you now have the SmartGlass app on your phone. You're good to go now!

• Sign into Xbox One SmartGlass with your Xbox Live Gamertag / Microsoft account
• Open the menu and go to the Store section
• Browse for a game, game add-on or app
• Alternatively, you can just search for the game or app
• Click the 'Buy' or 'Get it free' button
• Confirm the transaction

And just like that, your game, game add-on or app will begin the download to your Xbox One. So when you get home the game or app will be ready to play with no download or install times keeping you at bay.

The Forza Horizon 2 demo is out today on the Xbox One. Try using the steps above to download the demo to your Xbox One automatically. Just search for 'Forza Horizon 2' in the SmartGlass app and then click the 'Get it free' button to have it automatically on your Xbox One. Enjoy and let us know what you think!

Sound off below if you have any questions!

Do you use Xbox One SmartGlass to download games and apps automatically to your Xbox One?

Xbox One SmartGlass Beta for Windows 8.1 was recently updated. Those of you in the Xbox One system preview program will like this update for bringing a handful of new features. This update is notable for now showing the top games a users has played and the most popular games among all your friends.

The changes listed in version 2.2.1409.8001 of Xbox One SmartGlass Beta when you fire up the app after updating is the old changelog, so ignore that. We played around with the beta and did notice two new features:

• Top games (last 30 days) on profile pages
• Popular games (last 10 days) played by friends in the Friends list

Grab the update for Xbox One SmartGlass Beta on Windows 8.1 and let us know if you notice any few features that we missed!

• Download Xbox One SmartGlass Beta for Windows 8.1

Microsoft has released an update for the Xbox One SmartGlass Beta app available for Windows Phone. The mobile app enables consumers to connect to their Xbox consoles and carry out numerous tasks, including turning the Windows Phone into a controller. Previously updated with activity feed items, the development team have added yet more features to the experience in this latest release.

Here's what is new in version 1.0.0.15:

• See the Top Games in Profile and Popular Games in Friends
• Activity Feed Alerts and UI improvements

It's yet another neat update for the companion app and we're sure many gamers will happily take full advantage of the above features. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

• Download Xbox One SmartGlass

Thanks to everyone who tipped us!

Microsoft has updated Xbox One SmartGlass for Windows Phone and Windows 8.1. Today's update brings features from the beta like threaded messages, status updates more for Xbox One fans on Windows Phone and Windows.

Head into the Windows Phone Store and you'll find Xbox One SmartGlass listed at version 1.0.6.0.

Here are the new features you'll find in both the Windows Phone and Windows version:

• Share and post activity feed items
• Post status updates to your activity feed
• See your activity feed on your profile
• Display messages in a new conversations view
• Record game clips
• In-app display of release and feature notes
• Expanding to new markets
• TV and OneGuide available in new markets
• Bug fixes

Grab the update and let us know what you think!

• Download Xbox One SmartGlass for Windows Phone
• Download Xbox One SmartGlass for Windows

Thanks for the tips everyone!

As you obtain more games, apps, videos, and other experiences on your Xbox One, you want to able to access the ones that you use the most quickly. That's where pins come in. You can pin your favorite game or app to your Home screen for quick access.

Head past the break to watch the steps on video.

Creating pins

1. Press the Xbox button to return Home or say "Xbox, go Home."
2. Locate the game, music, video, or app of the item you want to pin.
3. With the tile highlighted, press the Menu button. It's the button with the hamburger icon on your controller.
4. Select Pin to Home.

That's it! Your favorite item is now pinned to the Xbox One's Home screen. By making a pin you've basically created a shortcut to start the game or app from the front of the Xbox One dashboard instead of navigating through the menu to find it.

Rearranging pins

If you want to rearrange the pins, there are two solutions. You can do it directly from the Xbox One, but it is not very user-friendly. There is an option called Move to Front, which moves the pin to the upper right corner. You can't simply rearrange pins to specific locations directly from the Xbox One.

A better solution requires an app on your Windows Phone device. Make sure to install Xbox One SmartGlass Beta. Tap the menu button at the top left corner and select Pins. From there, you can tap and hold one of your pins and then drag it to the location you want.

What apps and games have you pinned on your Xbox One?

We would prefer it if we can rearrange the pinned apps and games directly from the Xbox One, but it's cool that we can do it on our Windows Phone with the SmartGlass app. What do you have pinned on your Home screen?

Xbox One SmartGlass is a must-have app for anyone with an Xbox One and Windows Phone. The beta for SmartGlass was just updated today on Windows Phone and includes the ability to buy and download games or content from within the app! Read on for more details.

Head to the Windows Phone Store and you'll find a new Xbox OneSmartGlass Beta update. It'll show as version 1.0.0.9 in the Windows Phone Store, but you'll see version 2.2.1407.23002.

Here's what's new in today's update:

• Like a Game Clip
• Like an item in the activity feed
• View items that have been bundled together
• View items that have been shared to you from a message
• Purchase Xbox One games & add-ons
• Browse for recent and popular games & add-ons
• General stability and polish improvements
• Bug fixes
• Some features may require a console update to take full advantage of them

We played around with the updated app and like the changes. We look forward to buying games on our Windows Phone and having them show up on our Xbox One console. Radical.

• Download Xbox One SmartGlass Beta for Windows Phone

Via: @WPscoops

Although the big update for Windows Phone 8.1 users, last night is the fixed Calendar app, this morning we are receiving a few more worthy updates. Most of these even have significant changelogs, making them that more attractive.

Let's take a look at what's new, especially wpTorrent, which hit a pretty big milestone today.

Xbox One SmartGlass

If you have a Xbox One, you must have Xbox One SmartGlass for your Windows Phone. Not only is a remote, but it can do all sorts of other unique actions on your Xbox One, including checking in on messages and your friends.

Version 1.0.4.0 is live today, up from 1.0.3.0 back on March 1. This refresh of this app brings:

• General stability and polish improvements
• Bug fixes
• Search for an pin Bundles

If you've been following along that feature list is still behind the Beta version of the app, so if you want the latest and coolest stuff, use that version, which updated on June 18. Otherwise, 1.0.4.0 is a decent update, keeping Xbox One users happy.

• Download Xbox One SmartGlass for Windows Phone 8

Nokia Cinemagraph

Nokia's unique app that brings photos to life (and soon to be replaced by Living Images) has been updated to 4.2.0.0, up from 4.1.1.5, which updated in April. Although this version has a change log, it is the same one from January when it hit the big four-point-oh.

Oddly enough, the app is still called 'Nokia Cinemagraph' and not just 'Cinemagraph' as you would expect with the recent rebranding by Microsoft. It is published by Microsoft Mobile now, although that in and of itself does not require a Store update.

• Download Nokia Cinemagraph

wpTorrent (free and Pro)

Torrenting files on the go is always an exciting affair. For one, it can consume significant battery life, which is rarely a good thing when mobile. The second is it sucks down bandwidth. However, the decision to do this should be left to the user and since July 2013, Windows Phone users have had wpTorrent to use in that regard.

Today, version 1.5 of wpTorrent free and pro have gone live in the Store and with it, some significant improvements:

• New feature: Support downloading directly to SD card and other phone hubs.
• Improved compatibility with other torrent clients.
• Improved app behavior in shutting down and resuming.
• Improved torrent adding UI.
• Improved magnet link sharing.
• Added Google and Bing as default engines.
• Added max connections option.
• Other minor changes

The ability to save downloads to the SD card is a huge feature to let users save space on their limited internal storage. Likewise with the Hub integration, which is a clever use of wpTorrent. The rest just make this a top notch Torrent client for Windows Phone.

wpTorrent free is ad-driven, with no speed limitations, while the wpTorrent Pro ($2.99) removes the ads, and supports torrent video streaming and video-preview-download mode feature. It is well worth the money if you use it frequently.

• Download wpTorrent free for Windows Phone 8
• Download wpTorrent pro ($2.99) for Windows Phone 8

Telegram Messenger Beta 0.1.2.4

Windows Phone now has an official Telegram Messenger client. Although it is still technically beta, the app has had a steady stream of updates since its official crowning. Telegram Messenger is like WhatsApp but with a dash of industry leading encryption (and perhaps better support).

Version 0.1.2.4 brings a few minor improvements:

• Fixed bugs with profile pictures and photos
• Support for documents on Windows Phone 8

Not a bad update if you use this well-built messenger.

• Download Telegram Messenger Beta for Windows Phone 8

Updates are always welcomed, especially for apps we use and love daily. Today two such apps are receiving small updates - Xbox One SmartGlass Beta and Foursquare, both on Windows Phone. Let's find out what's new and improved in the latest versions of these two apps.

Xbox One SmartGlass Beta

The latest update is now at version 1.0.07 in the Windows Phone Store, however the changelog is from the prior update. We're not seeing anything jump out as new to us in this update, so please let us know if you spy anything different. The ability to 'like' items in your activity feed and game clips was from the update last week.

• Download Xbox One SmartGlass Beta for Windows Phone

Fourquare

Sigh. Still no Swarm app for us on Windows Phone, but Foursquare is getting an update today. This update brings the app to version 3.5.7.0. Sadly, no changelog is found here today. You'll have to let us know if you spot anything different in this update.

• Download Foursquare for Windows Phone

Thanks for the tips everyone!

We're closely approaching the half-way marker this week with only a handful of days remaining until the weekend is upon us all. To help the Wednesday come to a close for many of you, we've compiled some app updates that you may have missed. We'll be touching on the likes of My Trips, Navigon and Amazon.

My Trips 5.4

This handy app for travellers enables folk to connect with the travel organization website TripIt.com to synchronize travel plans. After everything has been synchronized, My Trips works offline so you don't need a Wi-Fi or mobile internet connection to view your travel plans (pretty handy when you are 30,000 feet up in the clouds). Today, in version 5.4, we're looking at a complete redesign.

We must say it looks even more gorgeous. My Trips has always been a personal favorite of ours here at Windows Phone Central and this latest release just improves that love in every way. We strongly recommend this app, but if you're a frequent user be on the lookout for the new interface.

• Download My Trips (3MB - $1.99)

Navigon 5.1

While there are some choices when it comes to navigation apps on Windows Phone, HERE Drive is arguably one of the more popular choices among Windows Phone users, mostly because it's free. But there are plenty of alternatives in the Store that provide features and functions you won't get with a free app. Navigon is one of them. The app has just been updated "for Windows Phone 8.1" but we're not seeing a complete overhaul.

We imagine the graphics have been optimized for 1080p displays, but other than that there's not a whole lot to the update (that we can see anyway). Let us know in the comments if you notice anything else new.

• Download Navigon (Australia - $59.99)
• Download Navigon (Europe - $99.99)
• Download Navigon (US - $49.99)

ChatON 2.27

ChatON is Samsung's own proprietary mobile messenger service, available in multiple countries (237 stated on the store page) and supports 63 languages. The Windows Phone app has been updated with the following:

• You can receive 'Recent story' notifications about your friends. (When a friend joins ChatON or when someone adds you as a ChatON buddy, you will immediately receive a notification.)
• The ChatON Team will let you know about new ChatON features and special events.
• ChatON now supports Spanish.
• Hyperlinks are now supported in ChatON.

If you're an owner of a Samsung Windows Phone, be sure to check out ChatON and get chatting with the many other users.

• ChatON (4MB - free)

VEVO 3.5.0.80

Vevo is a joint venture between Sony Music, Universal Music, EMI, and Abu Dhabi Media, and has a pretty neat Windows Phone app available, which has just picked up an update. The app enables consumers to follow their favorite artists, providing yet more ways for the labels to make money. That said, if you enjoy music, it's an app worth downloading. Here's what is new in this latest release:

• All new design
• New real-time feed
• Vevo TV now has three channels: Hits (Pop), Flow (Hip-Hop / Rap), and Nashville (Country)
• Improved playlist management

It's quite the update. Be sure to check the app out if you haven't already done so.

• Download VEVO (7MB - free)

Odds and ends

And here are some miscellaneous updates we've been made aware of:

• Amazon (2.3.81.3)
• Blue Skies (1.2.8.1)
• My Picasa (2.3)
• Xbox One SmartGlass Beta (1.0.0.4)

What the what? How many big updates can we get in one day? Let’s recap today, which will go down in history as one of the most updated days of all time for Windows Phone. Spotify got the ball rolling by picking up a major update with a new design. Beats Music followed with some insane optimizations. Readit went hard and gained more features than we could list. Path hit version 2.0 and introduced Path Shops and Xbox Games picked up a quick update. Pretty busy day right? Not be left out of the fun, Xbox Video and Xbox One SmartGlass Beta picked up Windows Phone updates too. Let’s see what’s new.

Video

Head into the Windows Phone Store and you’ll find Xbox Video sitting at version 2.5.3886.0. Today’s update? Just minor fixes and improvements. That’s about as detailed as a changelog as you can get, said Sam sarcastically. Do let us know if you notice anything specific about this version of Xbox Video. We are noticing that they’ve dropped the Xbox from the name and are just calling the app Video now in the Windows Phone Store.

Download Xbox Video from the Windows Phone Store.

Xbox One​ SmartGlass Beta

Microsoft introduced the beta version of Xbox One SmartGlass on April 1st. We thought it was a joke too, but the joke was on us as it was a great app that gave you a future look at features coming to the mainstream version of Xbox One SmartGlass. Today’s update puts the app at version 1.0.0.3 in the Windows Phone Store, but you’ll want to head to the app settings to the true version. Do that and you’ll see Xbox One SmartGlass Beta now at 2.2.1405.7009. We’re not seeing a changelog with this update, so we’re going to do this the old fashioned way.

Off the bat we’re noticing that the Activity Feed for your Friends list has been put on the home page of the app. It’s replaced the Featured content that has now been moved to the menu pane. You can now sort Game clips by recent or those saved. Also our name has been put under our Gamertag. Notice anything else new in this update? Do sound off below!

Download Xbox One SmartGlass Beta from the Windows Phone Store.

Everyone! Thank you so much for the tips. You all rock!

We just had a nice update for eBay on Windows Phone. Ready for a few more updates? Head to the Windows Phone Store and you’ll see new version of Wikipedia and Xbox One SmartGlass. Guess which of those two includes integration with Cortana now? Read on to find out.

Wikipedia

Head into the Windows Phone Store and you’ll see version 2.3 of Wikipedia from Rudy Huyn. Thankfully Rudy is one of those developers that likes to leave a changelog. Here’s what’s new:

• Cortana support

Want to take the voice commands for a spin? Try saying something like “Wikipedia, show me an article about bananas” and you’ll then be taken to the Wikipedia page all about Bananas!

Download Wikipedia from the Windows Phone Store.

Xbox One SmartGlass

Head into the Windows Phone Store and you’ll see the Xbox One SmartGlass app sitting at version 1.0.3.3. Any exciting changes here? Nope, not really. Unless you’re into bug fixes, because that’s what this update is all about for Xbox One SmartGlass.

Download Xbox One SmartGlass from the Windows Phone Store.

Thanks for the tips everyone! 

Team Xbox is busy updating apps today for Windows Phone and Windows 8. Head into the Windows Phone Store and you’ll see an update for Xbox One SmartGlass. Head into your Windows Store and you’ll see an update for Xbox One SmartGlass and Xbox Music. Let’s check out what team Xbox has been working on.

Xbox Music

We’re loving the continual love that Xbox Music is receiving on Windows 8. We’re now at version 2.2.800.0 of Xbox Music with the following changes:

• Songs and albums that aren't on your PC now appear disabled when you're offline, so it's easier to tell what you can play
• Minor fixes and improvements

Not a major update to Xbox Music, but again we’re liking the little tweaks that continue to improve the app. Check the screenshot above to see the aesthetic changes. Music in the cloud and not on your PC will appear grey-out when you’re offline. Making it easier to know what music is readily available and what music isn’t. Sadly, no update has been made to the Windows Phone version of the app since December. Though we bet that changes next week.

Download Xbox Music from the Windows Store.

Xbox One SmartGlass

We’re also picking up changes to Xbox One SmartGlass on both Windows Phone and Windows 8. Sadly, there’s no accompanying changelog with the update. We do see a changelog, but that was from when the apps were updated last to reflect changes in the March update for the Xbox One.

The Windows Phone version of the app is now at version 1.0.3.2 in the Windows Phone Store, but shows 2.2.1403.18001 inside the app.

The Windows 8 version of the app shows 2.2.1403.19000 inside the app.

If you notice any bug fixes or other improvements let us know in the comments.

Download Xbox One SmartGlass from the Windows Phone Store and Windows Store.

Thanks for the tips everyone! 

A few days ago, we mentioned that Microsoft had pushed out an update for their Xbox One SmartGlass app for Windows 8.1 devices. Falling on the heels of that update are similar ones for the Windows Phone apps, including the Xbox One and Xbox 360 versions.

Firing up the app for the Xbox One, we’ve noticed the version number has changed from 2.x.xxxx.14001 to 2.x.xxxx.26000 and no new features, at least nothing that popped out. Our guess is this update ties in with some minor bug and performance improvements, including some connectivity issues some users have reported (ours has worked flawlessly since day one).

Heading to the Xbox 360 version, which was last updated in August, and it has had a title change. Previously it was known as ‘Xbox SmartGlass’ but it is now listed as ‘Xbox 360 SmartGlass’, which makes much more sense with the Xbox One version being available. Curiously, it is still listed under Games whereas the Xbox One app is listed on its own.

For version numbers, we’re looking at a bump from 1.5.1307.3000 to 1.5.1311.22000. No other new features were observed, but we haven’t played around with it too much.

Pick up Xbox One SmartGlass here in the Store or Xbox 360 SmartGlass here. Alternatively, you can scan the QR codes below (Xbox One version is first).

Notice anything new in either version? Has it fixed any problems you were having or are you noticing the gratuitous “it feels faster” effect? Let us know in comments.

Thanks, Carlos S. and Armandraiz S., for the tips!

We’re not seeing it on Windows Phone, but the Xbox One SmartGlass app for Windows 8.1 has just received a new update. The companion app for your Xbox One is indispensable if you’re rocking out with Microsoft’s latest console in your living room. Let’s check out the new update for Windows 8.1.

You’ll currently see Xbox One SmartGlass at version 2.0.1311.15001 if you’re reading this right now and haven’t yet had the update automatically applied for you on Windows 8.1. Once you do update, you’ll be rocking out to version 2.0.1311.26000 for Xbox One SmartGlass.

So what’s new? Going off of the update numbers we’re going with bug fixes/performance improvements. We haven’t noticed any differences between the two versions just yet. If you do notice anything new, let us know below in the comments.

In the meantime, head to the Windows Store to get the Xbox One SmartGlass app for Windows 8.1. You can also grab it for Windows Phone.

Thanks for the tip @mike_martos!

The Xbox One launched in 13 countries last Friday, and early adopters (including much of the Windows Phone Central staff) have a fairly robust selection of launch titles to enjoy. That doesn’t mean we’re not already looking to the future, though. When you buy a console during the first month of its release, you’re investing in the games that will come later even more than the first wave of titles.

One of the most exciting early post-launch releases will be Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare from PopCap Games. Garden Warfare now has an official release date of February 18^th, 2014 for both Xbox One and Xbox 360. I actually played the game during our visit to Electronic Arts headquarters last week and came away highly impressed. Head past the break for impressions, gameplay footage, and our video interview with Garden Warfare producer, Brian Lindley!

Spin-off or spin out?

Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare is a spin-off of the popular Plants vs. Zombies games. Whereas the two mainline entries have been 2-dimensional tower defense games, Garden Warfare is a multiplayer-focused third-person shooter with 3D graphics. It plays a lot different from the titles that spawned it. You could be forgiven for worrying that PopCap and/or EA were stretching the brand too far with this one. I had the same fear.

On a rainy day in San Francisco just before the Xbox One launched, Electronic Arts invited journalists to try Garden Warfare for themselves. Eight of us crowded into a room filled with networked Xbox One consoles equipped with Astro Gaming headsets. After a short presentation, we joined a 24-player online match of Team Vanquish (the Plants vs. Zombies version of Team Deathmatch) against PopCap’s playtesting staff. Any doubts about PopCap jumping the shark with Garden Warfare quickly disappeared after that.

An unnatural fit made natural

To successfully spin a series off into a new genre, you need two things: proper integration of the original games’ characters and universe, and the new game must actually meet the genre standards for quality.

Garden Warfare captures the feeling of Plants vs. Zombies so very well. From a purely aesthetic standpoint, the many varied plants and zombies all translate perfectly to three dimensions. Anyone who has seen the toys or plushes would already know that, but the PvZ characters look even better in full 3D action. They radiate with personality - far more than you’d see in a typical FPS or third-person shooter.

On the sound front, the music comes from Peter McConnell, who previously composed the soundtrack for Plants vs. Zombies 2 and many classic LucasArts games. I didn’t get to hear much of Garden Warfare’s music, but it promises to feature new iterations of classic themes from the first two games. The sound effects (which I could hear just fine) have the typical PopCap zing, and Crazy Dave still makes the unintelligible voice samples he’s known for.

Characters and teams

Garden Warfare is unique among competitive shooters in that its two factions are asymmetrical in nature. The plants and zombies each have unique abilities that the other doesn’t. Owing to its predecessors’ design, plants are more defensive in nature while the zombies favor offense.

The two teams consist of multiple characters for players to choose from. On the Plants side, we saw the Peashooter (the basic all-around soldier), Sunflower (medic), Chomper (stealth), and Cactus (long-range). The zombies have a Foot Soldier, All Star (football player), Scientist (healer), and Engineer. Players can unlock variants of each unit such as the Ice Cactus, whose shots can slow and eventually freeze opponents.

Every unit boasts three special abilities in addition to its standard attacks. The Peashooter, for instance, can set down roots and become a Gatling Pea, fire explosive Chili beans, or become Hyper and move at super speed. The plants' Cactus gets to fly around as a Garlic drone, while the zombies' Engineer has a flying drone of his own. These abilities take time to recharge, so players will still need to do some old-fashioned shooting as well.

Venus zombie trap

My favorite class to play during the event was the Venus flytrap-like Chomper. Unlike other classes, the Chomper doesn’t get a projectile weapon. He’s melee-only. This puts the guy at a disadvantage in frontal assaults, where it could take him several bites to vanquish a zombie. But sneak up from behind and the Chomper can eat an opponent, scoring a delightfully-animated 1-hit kill.

As if the Chomper’s focus on sneaking up from behind wasn’t ninja enough, he also has a burrowing ability. Tap the Y button and your Chomper digs underground, at which point he can move around for a short while without being hit. If the Chomper manages to sneak up under an opponent, he gets another satisfying instant kill. Naturally zombies can see the Chomper coming and get out of the way, and some of them have abilities that force the Chomper aboveground. Still! Sneaking up on a distracted zombie and devouring him from below is way too fun.

Game Modes

Garden Warfare runs on Dice’s Frostbite Engine, the same framework that powers Battlefield 4. And like the Battlefield games of old, large-scale competitive multiplayer is this title’s main draw. It supports two 12-versus-12 game types: “Team Vanquish” and “Gardens & Graveyards.” The latter (which we didn’t pay) is objective based, with one side defending their base from the other’s onslaught.

As for Team Vanquish, the goal is simply to help your team reach 50 kills (called Vanquishes here). Team deathmatch has been done to death in first- and third-person shooters, but Garden Warfare never feels too samey. The bright, cheerful visuals, sense of humor, and delightful on-screen characters all grabbed me in a way that few shooters do.

Non-competitive gamers won’t have quite as much to do in Garden Warfare, however. The game lacks a campaign mode. PopCap wanted to focus on polishing multiplayer as much as possible with this first outing, and given the game’s release schedule there wasn’t time to do a proper story mode. But they do see Garden Warfare as a strong new franchise contender. Should the game sell well enough to warrant a sequel, the follow-up would very likely have a campaign.

Ah, but Garden Warfare does have an online cooperative mode for up to 4-players! We didn’t get to try it out, but teaming up as plants against the AI zombies and gigantic bosses like the Goliath should be almost as addicting as the versus modes. The Xbox One version even supports 2-player split-screen co-op.

All progress made during offline and online co-op contributes towards the player’s overall profile. Each character type has numerous challenges to work through, such as scoring kills with a specific weapon. Complete enough and you’ll level up with that character. Players also have an overall level that leads to unlocking goodies.

Coming soon to Xbox consoles

If you love Plants vs. Zombies or a good multiplayer game, mark February 18, 2014 on your calendar. That’s when Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare arrives at retail.

The Xbox One version will cost $39.99 while the Xbox 360 version will ring up for $29.99. The Xbox One version's split-screen and SmartGlass features (not present on 360) make up for its higher price tag. PopCap and Electronic Arts also have a PC version of Garden Warfare in the works, but it doesn’t have a release date just yet. Preorder either console version to receive two in-game card packs that will unlock various customization options.

We'll have more exclusive Xbox One game footage from our Electronic Arts visit in December!

With only a few days left until the hotly anticipated Xbox One arrives in stores, Microsoft has already unleashed their SmartGlass app for the news system.

SmartGlass, introduced at E3 in 2012, has slowly ramped up as a ‘second-screen’ service, allowing those with smartphones and tablets to augment what is seen on screen. The SmartGlass service is expected to get more robust with the power of Xbox One, and with this app available today, we should be ready for this Friday.

Here’s what you get with the new SmartGlass app for Windows Phone 8 devices:

• In the living room:
• Navigate your Xbox One console using your device’s keyboard and touch
• Control your media and set top box with the SmartGlass remote control
• Browse the web on your TV using your mobile device
• Enhance what you are watching or playing with SmartGlass companions
• Increase performance with faster connections and reliability

In the living room and on the go:

• Search, browse, and pin content to play on your Xbox One console
• Track achievements, get game help, message friends, and watch game DVR clips

So far, nothing seems radically different from the Xbox 360 version, but here’s hoping to improved performance with new high end Windows Phone 8 devices and the Xbox One system. Presumably a version for Windows 8.1 will also be made available soon for your Surface.

You can download Xbox One SmartGlass app now for Windows Phone 8 here in the Store. It won’t be of much use today, but come Friday (or whenever you get a One) you should be all set. Thanks, Adrian E., Joe S., and others for the tips!

Does it feel like you're forking out for tools and the means to create some content for the Xbox console (or any platform for that matter)? Microsoft may have a solution for you with its independent developer self-publishing program for Xbox One. Heard of Unity? The popular, highly rated and expensive kit will be available for free to those who are signed up for the Microsoft program.

When will developers be able to take advantage of the free Unity license? When the Xbox One add-on for Unity launches in 2014, it will be available for no cost to developers in the ID@Xbox program, as will special Unity Pro seat licenses. The idea is to provide a level playing field for all developers, while devoting marketing and promotion to promising looking titles in development.

Microsoft aims to have its Xbox One Store populated with high-quality content, whether it's produced by a 1,000 man studio or a teenager in his (or her) bedroom. This is a neat announcement for developers since the Unity add-on for Xbox One will support not only the console itself, but also Kinect, SmartGlass and even the new impulse triggers - everything's included, except the kitchen sink.

Microsoft has attempted to lower friction between the company and developers, removing as many obstacles between both parties as possible. This is just another step on that path. Here's what David Helgason, CEO of Unity Technologies, had to say on the deal:

The add-on is also available at no extra cost to developers on Windows Phone and Windows 8, enabling content creators to release top quality games on multiple platforms. Awesome.

Source: Xbox News

Do you have a love for the undead? How about a love for AMC’s "Walking Dead"? If you are watching this season of the hit horror drama, you are going to want to make sure to download the new companion app for Windows 8.

AMC’s latest application for Windows 8 PCs, StorySync, allows viewers to watch their favorite AMC shows, while interacting with other fans simultaneously. The first show available for AMC StorySync is the “Walking Dead” and engages viewers in polls, trivia questions, exclusive video, and more.

Application users can also view flashbacks, instant replays, and other information from previously aired episodes. So even those of us who are behind, can catch up on the fast packed zombie gore action.

Microsoft is working hard to create exclusive experiences with their SmartGlass technology, but other companies are beginning to see the benefits of a second screen.

Do you watch the walking dead – will you be trying out the new AMC StorySync app for Windows 8?

You can download "AMC SyncStory" by clicking here.

Source: Microsoft

SmartGlass was unveiled during Microsoft’s 2012 E3 presentation in Los Angeles. The service allows users to connect to their Xbox 360 in a variety of ways through their smartphones, tablets, and PCs. However, it was introduced late into the Xbox 360's lifecycle, something that impacted performance and features.

The Xbox One has been built with SmartGlass in mind, so we can expect a lot of improvements not just in performance, but new features to take advantage of the platform. Here’s what we can look forward to.

Ron Pessner is a general manager on Xbox Live and also happens to lead the engineering team responsible for the new SmartGlass. He recently sat down with Xbox Wire to reveal some details about the upcoming changes and additions to SmartGlass. Here are some of the exciting changes coming:

• Xbox One SmartGlass will be a separate app from the Xbox 360 version.
• Xbox One SmartGlass will be available for Windows 8, Windows Phone, Android, and iOS devices later this holiday
• Connection, speed and performance are 3.5x faster on Xbox One vs. Xbox 360
• Up to 16 SmartGlass devices can be connected to a single Xbox One
• Xbox One Smartglass will now connect directly to Xbox One via Wi-Fi or LAN connection
• Developers can offer Game Help for games through SmartGlass

The article on Xbox Wire goes into more details on the new SmartGlass experience coming this fall. It’s worth reading and the link is below, but we’ll highlight a few of the more interesting features. For example, when you’re away from your Xbox One that SmartGlass app can function as the dashboard. Here you’ll be able to see what your friends are playing, pin games to your home, and much more. While it doesn’t explicitly say this in the post, it’s not hard to imagine a world where you’ll download games to your Xbox One from the SmartGlass app when you’re not home.

What do you think of some of the upcoming changes to SmartGlass and the Xbox One?

Source: Xbox Wire

The last time the SmartGlass app for Windows Phone received an update was way back in January. For that release, we didn’t have a changelog and today, we bring the same news. Version 1.7.2.0 is now live in the Store, though you’ll be hard pressed to find any new features or changes. Our guess would be that the connection logic was probably adjusted to deliver a smoother experience when linking to the console.

In other words, we can consider this a maintenance update.

The official SmartGlass app for Windows Phone allows consumers to control their Xbox 360 with their Windows Phone device, like a secondary remote, including web browsing and searching. In addition, the app can act as a second screen for certain presentations, though as our recent UFC experience has revealed it’s still not being widely taken advantage of by Microsoft quite yet.

If we had to surmise, Microsoft is holding back on a new SmartGlass experience for the forthcoming Xbox One console due in the fall. Like many of the current features on the Xbox 360, the One appears to take those and fully refine them for everyday use. In the meantime though, users will have to stick with the current system, which is a great sneak peek of things to come.

Pick up SmartGlass for all Windows Phones here in the Store. Thanks, Simon B., and others for the tip!

This weekend, UFC 163 featherweight bout is going down on your Xbox 360 (www.ufc.com/event/UFC163) as a pay-per view event and we’re stoked, stocking up on beer and pizza for the Saturday night event.

Normally around this time we would break out our trusty official UFC app for Windows Phone, which lets you view all the upcoming fight cards, stats and it even allows you to choose who you think the winners will be (and by which method). That info could then be shared with your friends for friendly competition adding a unique social networking feature to the otherwise brutal showdown.

Last night though, we fired up the app only to be met with the above images. In essence, the app has now been officially discontinued with no plans on making a replacement for Windows Phone. Considering we’ve has zero tips on this, we’re going to guess that not many of you were using the app, which is why it’s being killed off. Regardless, despite the lack of updates, we rather liked the prospect of an official UFC app and saw a lot of potential with it.

So what do you use instead? Microsoft is advocating that you opt for their Xbox SmartGlass method as an alternative. When you purchase the HD ($54) version of a UFC fight, you get automatic Xbox SmartGlass support to enhance the experience. There’s nothing quite like breaking out Surface for some second-screening during the prize fights. The Xbox SmartGlass shows live hit counts across all levels and fighter stats, giving users more info than what is on their TV.

While that is all well and good, the feature has never worked on Windows Phone itself. Microsoft notes that the SmartGlass experience for Windows Phone is “coming soon”, but it’s been like that for months and months now. We’re unsure if it will be ready by this Saturday, but we’re not holding our breath. That means that Windows Phone users are now lacking any official UFC interaction via their smartphones with this double blow. Even if SmartGlass does work, it still omits those fighter cards and the ability to pick your winners, competing against your friend’s selection.

Hopefully Microsoft and the UFC will come up with a better solution, but for now, it’ll just be beer, TV and Surface with SmartGlass for UFC 163 this weekend. Need some MMA Windows Phone apps? Check out our mini-roundup from earlier in the year.

UFC 163 takes place on Saturday August 3rd, at 10PM ET/7PM PT with 12 fights scheduled

All of us use the World Wide Web every day to connect to our favorite services and we increasingly do so through mobile devices and tablets. According to Microsoft sources, everyday an additional 3.6 million devices are activated worldwide. If that is not enough proof to portray that we live in a connected world then consider this; that number is five times larger than the number of babies born each day. Because of this global expansion rate, Microsoft has introduced a concept known as “The Companion Web”.

The company’s Companion Web “is all about a world where experiences move seamlessly across the multiple screens around us”. According to Microsoft, more than 80% of smartphone users in America use their devices while watching TV; out of those users, 4 in 5 are using their devices to look up content about the show or program they are currently watching.

The problem that Microsoft sees is that using multiple devices together doesn’t create a rich enough experience. The company’s Senior Product Manager for Internet Explorer had the following statement to make:

“The majority of sites on the web are built for only one device at a time… we have to do the work to piece together a unified experience. But what if we didn’t have to search on our tablet when we saw something interesting on TV, but instead the information we were looking for came to us?

Microsoft partnered up with their friends at Polar to create an example of how “The Companion Web” idea can be implemented. The example demonstrates the use of a Microsoft Surface and iPhone during a TV show to enhance user experience.

From what we can piece together at the moment, “The Companion Web” simply seems to be a call to action to developers and nothing more. Microsoft has already made some headway in the field of multi-device simultaneous interaction with their Xbox SmartGlass product; it has yet to pick up the popularity the company had hoped, but there is still hope on the horizon.

What do you think about “The Companion Web” – an unborn dream or an unnecessary gimmick?

Source: Exploring IE, Thanks to Dustin for the tip!

Here we go folks, our last E3 2013 game preview. And you’d better believe I saved the best for last. Xbox One launch games will let players do lots of exciting things: shoot soldiers in Battlefield 4 and Wolfenstein: The New Order, bust zombies in Dead Rising 3, collect millions of LEGO blocks in LEGO Marvel Superheroes, and even beat down fighters in Killer Instinct.

Those are all great games, but they’re also established franchises and genres. Microsoft did announce a game during their E3 Media Briefing that is completely new in every way, though: Project Spark. On the surface, one might confuse Project Spark as being similar to LittleBigPlanet or even the indie title Kodu Game Lab for Xbox 360.

After seeing and hearing more about the game firsthand during E3, we discovered that Project Spark is simultaneously far grander in scale and more approachable than any game creation game that has come before. It’s due out on Xbox One, Windows 8, and Xbox 360 AND supports SmartGlass, so practically all Microsoft fans can get in on the fun.  We’ve got an exclusive hands-on video with Claude Jerome, Game Designer at Microsoft and open beta details after the break!

Make it or play it

Project Spark is a versatile game creation tool that lets anybody make their own games, from sparkly-eyed young children to crotchety old adults. Before we go into how the creation process works, let’s talk about playing and sharing the games themselves. See, any game you create can be shared online with other players – presumably across platforms, though we’re not totally positive on that aspect yet.

The sharing aspect is what will make Project Spark a must-download game even if you don’t have a creative bone in your body. The assortment of games that Microsoft employees have already made during their down time and triweekly game jams (content creation sessions) will provide players with lots to play through and learn from.

Three of those designer-crafted games stood out, each one totally different from the others. First we saw a black-and-white 2D platformer that looked startlingly similar to XBLA hit Limbo (and phone game Contre Jour). Like Limbo, this game’s narrative follows an ambiguous structure. Instead of text-based instructions, the only clear goal is to follow behind a mysterious creature as it progresses along a dark and lonely path. I can’t say how deep or full the Limbo clone will actually be, but it’s a great proof of the Project Spark engine’s visual versatility.

Project RPG maker

Next up, we saw an RPG called ‘Swan Song.’ Yes, a designer created a game that works exactly like a modern JRPG. The character runs around in a detailed 3D environment, interacting with other NPCs who deliver text-based dialogue. The camera pans and zooms dramatically as the adventure begins and the player hunts for food to last through the night.

Soon he encounters a monster, initiating a battle and switching the perspective to an angled view. Hero and enemy stand far apart and must run up to each other to attack. Initially the player can only choose to attack or taunt the enemy, though he’ll surely gain more abilities as he levels up. The game displays mainstay RPG stats like HP, MP, and an ATB (Active Timed Battle) gauge at the bottom of the screen. Other than a few UI elements here and there, ‘Swan Song’ looks just like a fully-fledged (but lower budgeted) Japanese RPG.

Play it again, Sam

Looks like a nasty sandworm infestation they've got there.

The final “game” that caught my eye isn’t really a game at all. ‘Synthesizer’ – as the name implies is an actual working interactive keyboard synthesizer built entirely within Project Spark. If playing with a touch screen or SmartGlass, you can just switch on the synthesizer, adjust a few nobs, and start twinkling away on the keys. It even has an automated demo song! And if you’re stuck with a controller, you’d just use a cursor to flip the switches and tickle the ivories.

Downloading and playing games like these would be cool enough on its own, but it gets even better for aspiring game makers. You can “peak behind the curtain” of any game you download and see how it was created. Then feel free to change things up a little and leave your own personal touch on it. For instance, our presenter switched the Limbo clone’s color palette to natural colors instead of black and white, instantly giving the game a wildly different feel. When he created a playable rock to jump around on the Synthesizer’s keys, I had to laugh.

World building made simple

Look, it's an Angry Birds clone...

Project Spark includes an amazingly simple game building mode called Crossroads. The idea is to answer a few simple questions about what kind of game you’d like to make, watch as the engine creates the game for you, and then play through your creation.

The questions couldn’t be simpler. First it asks what type of environment you’d like to build the game in. Use the interface of your choice to answer – even Kinect voice commands. Then choose a protagonist, a home for your character, and an objective such as completing a quest or defending against an invading army.

Next choose a destination like a Quarry, Observatory, or Fortress and draw a path from your base to the destination. Project Spark automatically populates the path with random encounters, sidequests, and objects to make things interesting for the player. Once you’ve completed the path, you can add a new chapter to expand the game or hop right in and play it.

Some of the events that unfold during your game will open up new items for you to use across all of Project Spark’s modes. We watched a player look through the telescope of the Observatory he had just placed on the map. He glimpsed a meteor falling from the sky and ran down to investigate. Once there he found a Flame Sword to use through the remainder of the game or as a building tool in Create mode.

Go as deep as you like

Create is the full-fledged editor where advanced users will style their own worlds and games. You’ll start with an empty blue world. From there, you can sculpt land up from the blue or erode down below it, which automatically fills the hole with water. Activate a smartpaint to spray the land with the texture set of your choice – it will cover the ground with grass and then automatically add rock faces to cliffs, for instance.

There’s too much to do in Create mode for us to discuss in this article, so I’ll give you a quick example of how fun it can get. Our presenter selected a bird to place within the environment. He then placed a whole flock of them with minimal effort.

By default, the bird AI will fly away when a player approaches it. You can paste that same AI in other character types and do silly things like have goblins fly into the air when they see you. Editing the bird AI a bit, the presenter added an extra behavior: explode. The birds then took off and burst like fireworks when they detected him. Player-created AIs can be shared with the world in the Brain gallery.

Beta and release details

When Project Spark debuts sometime near the Xbox One launch window, it will be a free-to-play game. Players will have to option of buying new objects and texture sets with which to enhance their creations. Since the game is coming to Xbox One, Xbox 360, and Windows 8, maybe we’ll get to buy an object once and use it across all platforms – Microsoft couldn’t say yet. They also promised to reveal multiplayer details at a later time.

If you’re as eager to play this game as I am, don’t miss out on the Project Spark Beta Program! Head to JoinProjectSpark.com and sign up today.

Yesterday at E3 2013 we managed to squeeze in an interview with Peter Orullian, Group Product Manager at Microsoft. Peter is a ridiculously accomplished individual. He writes books, sings opera, and somehow finds time to work with Windows Phone, SmartGlass, and Xbox Music. Leave some lifetime Achievements for the rest of us, big guy!

Anyway, I sat down on camera with him to discuss his contributions to Windows Phone and SmartGlass, plus the Xbox One and his favorite games of the show. Windows Phone Central’s Daniel Rubino and “Serious” Sam Sabri also pitched in on the interview questions. Head past the break for the video interview and a brief summary!

Windows Phone

It’s always interesting to directly hear how the different people within Microsoft view the state of gaming on Windows Phone. Peter rightly points out that Windows Phone games continue to flow faster than ever before, especially thanks to the massive OS changes and improved hardware of Windows Phone 8. We’d all like to see more games and titles that release on the same day and date as their iOS counterparts, but nobody can deny that the gaming situation has improved drastically this year.

The only way to inspire change is by asking tough questions, and so I made sure to grill Peter about how the Xbox certification process slows down game updates and keeps many Windows Phone games from having the same content and features as the same iOS games. You’ll have to watch the video for his reply.

We made more ground on the subject of independent volume control. Windows Phone is the only mobile OS that doesn’t allow users to control ringer volume and game and ap volume independently of each other. As I explained to Peter, this often leads to users turning down the volume during gaming sessions, forgetting to turn the volume back up, and then missing calls. Peter gave us an optimistic reply – maybe we’ll see independent volume control in the future after all!

SmartGlass

Microsoft made a big deal about Xbox One SmartGlass features during Monday’s Media Briefing, and for good reason. Peter informed us that the Xbox One was actually designed with SmartGlass compatibility in mind. As a result, said integration will be deeper and much more common in Xbox One games than ever before.

Two examples are Project Spark and Dead Rising 3. Project Spark allows users to build their own custom games, edit environments, customize AI, and lots more; all that can be done directly on your Windows Phone or tablet. We’ll have a more in-depth look at this highly unusual game soon.

Dead Rising 3’s combination of controller-based gameplay with creative SmartGlass features impresses just as much, if not more. The actual game is played on a controller as the protagonist navigates an open world filled with hordes of zombies. If players activate their SmartGlass phone or tablet app while playing, they’ll see the actual character on-screen using his phone. The game sends text alerts via the SmartGlass app that give you hints about where to go and what to do. It’s quite a meta combination. And of course, SmartGlass users can perform special in-game actions like calling in airstrikes in order to thin the zombie herds. These features are compelling enough that you’ll actually want to launch SmartGlass while playing.

With the Xbox media briefing the 2013 E3 conference is in full swing. This morning we saw Microsoft reveal its launch lineup for the Xbox One, new features coming to Xbox Live, and more. Full recap after the break.

Xbox 360 isn’t dead yet

While 95% of the Xbox media briefing was focused on the future, there was a small portion at the beginning dedicated to the Xbox that is currently in your living room – the Xbox 360. In fact, Microsoft surprised everyone by announcing a new, smaller version of the Xbox 360 that is available starting today. This slimmer Xbox 360 features a hardware design that’s similar to the Xbox One with duo-tone liquid black. Microsoft is still committed to supporting the console and expects hundreds of new games over the new few years. Pricing is the exact same too, with $199 being the price for the 4GB version and $299 for the 250GB edition or 4GB Kinect bundle. Anybody picking up this new Xbox 360?

Xbox Live gets even better and has new perks for Gold members

Microsoft is going to make your Xbox Live Gold subscription even better. Like the Sony PlayStation Plus, Xbox Live Gold members can look forward to two free games a month. The first in that lineup are Assassin’s Creed 2 and Halo 3. You can also look forward to a game that is coming to consoles for the first time – World of Tanks. This fun game comes from the PC world and is an online multiplayer game that pits players against one another in tanks.

Microsoft is also making some drastic (and needed) changes to Xbox Live as a whole. Some of the big changes include:

• Payment support for local currency (no more Microsoft points)
• Unlimited friends list
• Twitch.TV streaming
• Upload studio
• Improved SmartGlass experience
• Xbox Live Gold sharing

Microsoft is dropping their loathed Points system on Xbox Live. You can now purchase games with your regions local currency – Dollars or Euros, it won’t matter. Your limit of 100 friends on Xbox Live has been dropped in order to allow you as many friends as you want. No word on any sort of management system, but we’ll find out this week if you can group friends and set different privacy settings.

A new feature of the Xbox One and Xbox Live is Upload Studio. It’s a feature that allows your Xbox One to automatically save the last few moments of gameplay and allow you to edit it for sharing on various social networks. Speaking of social networks, Twitch.TV is working with Microsoft and allowing games to be streamed to the popular gaming service. It should help fans and players in the professional gaming scene to easily interact.

A move that will make Xbox Live Gold even more appealing is the ability to share. Up to 10 family members can get the perks of one Xbox Live Gold member. For example you could have Xbox Live Gold and your sister with a Silver account could still access Netflix and HBO GO.

Games, games, and some more games

Microsoft stressed that E3 would be about games and they weren’t kidding. We’ve got a full lineup of exclusive titles coming to the Xbox One at launch and in the year ahead. Here’s a big list of games that we’re announced this morning and coming to an Xbox One near you. It’s a mix of games coming right at launch and others that won’t be available until 2014 – like Halo 5. A few aren’t necessarily exclusive to the Xbox One, but will have exclusive content coming first to the Xbox ecosystem - like the Second Assault DLC in Battlefield 4.

• Metal Gear Solid: The Phantom Pain
• Ryse: Son of Rome
• Forza 5
• Kinect Sports Rivals
• Project Spark
• D4
• Killer Instinct
• Minecraft
• Sunset Overdrive
• Crimson Dragon
• Battlefield 4
• Dead Rising 3
• Below
• Halo 5
• Titanfall

We’ll be doing a full story on the launch titles later today and get hands on with them over the next few days at E3. Sound off below on which games you’re most looking forward to playing. And maybe the games you really want us to get a hands on.

The future of Xbox

The Xbox One will launch this November in 21 countries. It is priced at $499 in the United States, but don't forget that includes the Xbox One console and a Kinect sensor. Something that clearly adds to the price of $499 at launch vs. the $399 for the Xbox 360 in 2005. You can reserve your special "Edition One" version of the Xbox One today. 

While most gaming journalist, hardcore and casual gamers have been waiting for the end of E3 to make the final call on the Xbox One I’m not so sure. We have a better picture of Microsoft vision for the future of your living room and gaming. But I don’t think we have the full picture, that’s something that should become even clearer after Build in two weeks. That’s where smaller, independent developers can learn about their future making games and experiences for three screens and a cloud.

What they learn at Build will impact gamers as we start the next generation console wars.

Some good news for Halo fans out of the Xbox One event in Redmond earlier this morning. There’s a television series coming soon to an Xbox near you.

Details are light at the moment, but 343 Industries has partnered with Steven Spielberg to direct and produce a live action television series centered on the Halo universe. No word on the story or when we can expect to see the show, but we’ll update you when we learn.

On that note, Microsoft is taking a unique approach to content on the Xbox One. There are currently teams in Los Angeles, Seattle, and Vancouver working on new programming for the Xbox community. We expect to see new experiences centered around SmartGlass and Kinect.

And on that note, Microsoft has announced a partnership with the NFL to bring that new experience to the upcoming football season. There will be exclusive content with both Kinect and SmartGlass interaction. Users will be able to watch games live and snap their fantasy information to the side of the screen.

More as we learn.

We're still early on in the US election and while some in our audience are very enthralled with the politics we're geeking out over the technology. Tonight is Microsoft's first real widespread use of their new SmartGlass technology--the augmentation of their Xbox 360 media offerings via smartphone and tablets. In fact, SmartGlass just launched on iOS this very evening to coincide with the election coverage (provided by NBC).

We decided to give it a little video coverage ourselves, showing the service in action. The SmartGlass app allows you to participate in the live polling questions, get up to the minute electoral map coverage, details on various aspects of national and state elections and more. Overall, it's quite a fun experience and we're looking forward to more of these interactive and expanded events on the Xbox 360.

Kudos to Microsoft to really bringing something unique to our living rooms.

An update is being pushed through for your Windows Phone Xbox Companion app that transforms things into the Xbox Smartglass app. You get a change in layout too boot.

Xbox Smartglass continues to allow you to interact with your Xbox 360 console through your Windows Phone. Not only will it allow you to control your console but it also delivers unique content about what you are watching or playing to your Windows Phone.

Xbox Smartglass's key features include:

• Navigate your Xbox 360 with swipe and tap.
• Use your phone's keyboard to type to your Xbox 360.
• Browse the Internet on your Xbox 360 with full keyboard and zooming.
• Play, pause, fast forward, rewind, and stop videos and music on your Xbox 360.
• Search the full Xbox catalog of music, video, and games.
• Enjoy rich, interactive experiences from select game and entertainment content creators.

If you haven't seen the update pushed to your Windows Phone, you can find the Xbox Smartglass app here at the Windows Phone Store. It's a free app and does require an Xbox 360 console and Xbox membership.

Thanks, everyone, for the tip!

We wrote yesterday about the things to watch out for with the launch of Windows 8. One of those things was SmartGlass and Microsoft have now revealed more ahead of the launch. They have updated the Windows 8 apps and free streaming is now available for Xbox Music.

As part of a broader roll out of better entertainment services, SmartGlass aims to improve the ability to use tablets and smartphones to better control the experience with the Xbox 360.  The video goes on to show how internet sessions can be shared from Windows Phone 8 to the console, along with bouncing it back from the console to your tablet. It’s looking awesome, check out the video after the break.

"One browsing session travelling across three screens, that’s the magic of SmartGlass"

Samsung's ATIV S ushered into duty sharing a website with the Xbox..

During the video we can see a neat piece of integration between Windows Phone 8 on an ATIV S and the Xbox 360. While using IE on the phone he taps the context menu and selects share to Xbox, the browser session is sent over to the console and displays there. Text can be entered using the phones superior keyboard and gestures can be used to control the screen. Some of the features we have already seen but it’s nice to see them working as we hit the final stages. After that we see how using SmartGlass app on the phone, it’s possible to bring the browser session back to the tablet by pressing the Play Here button, launching IE on the tablet. In his words “one browsing session travelling across three screens, that’s the magic of SmartGlass”.

Expanded reach of Xbox entertainment services

In the announcement, Microsoft are keen to show that Xbox is evolving beyond a single device to a set of entertainment services. At present their services only reach 35 countries that looks set to expand to 222 with the launch of Windows 8 later this week. Essentially, Microsoft is expanding the service to encompass more of the territories that they sell Windows in, after all, how else will new Xbox Music users get their six months of free streaming? Regardless of the console being present they are keen to leverage the Xbox brand to market their revamped music and video services. Taking their user base from 70 million consoles to practically every new PC sold.

More affordable Xbox for US customers

They also announce that from this fall, US customer will be able to take advantage of the “Entertainment For All” pricing plan (mentioned back in early May). It will allow consumers to grab an Xbox360 for $99 when they sign up for two years of Xbox Live subscription. It will be available at Best Buy, GameStop, Walmart, Toys R Us and the Microsoft Store.

SmartGlass and Xbox Music Windows 8 Apps updated

Got Windows 8? Free streaming starts now, ends in six months time!

Microsoft have pushed out updates to the Window 8 Xbox Music and SmartGlass apps today. Quick take, SmartGlass functionality is now complete as per the video walkthrough, allowing the web sessions to be taken from Xbox to Windows 8 etc.

Free Streaming (Starting from today) - Now allows you to stream artist’s using Smart DJ or to select an Artist and play their content for free.

Xbox Music Cloud – “Keep music on this device in sync with other Xbox Music devices” and “when I add a song to my music on other devices, download here too”.

Previous Purchases - Also, as expected, all music purchased through Zune is now available to download thought Xbox Music to your tablet/PC or to simply stream. 

Playback screen - Updated

Playing to other devices from Xbox Music on Windows 8

You can’t use “Play To” from Xbox Music free streaming on your Windows 8 machine to send to your Xbox – you’ll need to get the Music Pass for that.

You can send free streamed music to a Bluetooth device so it’s not completely restricted.

Here are the key points of the announcement:

• Navigate your Entertainment – Your phone and tablet will become the best remote controls in your house. Use the touch screen on your smartphone or tablet to control your Xbox 360, and use your devices to pause, rewind or advance entertainment.
• TV & Movies – With Xbox Video, start a TV show or movie on your Windows 8 tablet and finish it on the big screen through Xbox 360; see the names of cast and crew for the film you are watching and discover related films. To give you one example of what you can expect, coming next season, HBO GO’s “Game of Thrones” will offer groundbreaking Xbox SmartGlass experiences.
• Sports – While watching the game, use a second screen to follow real-time stats, player bios, news and highlights you may have missed. All of this and more will be available for NBA Game Time, ESPN and UFC in the coming months.
• Music – Control your Xbox Music experience on the TV using your smartphone or tablet, discover related artists and songs, cue up additional music, read artist bios and more.
• Internet Explorer for Xbox - The Web comes to TV like never before with Xbox 360 and Xbox SmartGlass. With your smartphone or tablet, pan or pinch and zoom to explore the Web on the largest and best screen in the house, enjoy easy text entry with the keyboard on your tablet or phone, and then move your browser back to your device to take it on the go.
• Games – Get more from your game when you can use a second screen. Turn you phone or tablet into a virtual GPS in Forza: Horizon. Don’t stop the dance party in Dance Central 3 by going back to the menu to choose your next song. Instead, queue it up on your tablet or smartphone. In HomeRun Stars, use SmartGlass on your favorite device to throw a surprise pitch to your friend up at bat in front of Kinect. See detailed stats on how you are progressing in Halo 4, or check up on friends. All of these features and much more will be available when your favorite game extends to multiple screens.

Bing on Xbox Updates Arrive on Xbox Live

Also announced is a set of improved Bing updates for the console. Search on Xbox has been around for a while but with the update comes expanded reach so voice search will now work in the following regions: Australia, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Spain, Mexico, France, Canada (FR), Ireland, Japan, Austria and Switzerland (FR and German).

They claim to have improved the accuracy of voice searches along with expanded capabilities. Amongst them are the ability to search for music as well as search for movies by genre. A nice set of improvements to help make better use of that Kinect.

As we wrote yesterday, Microsoft’s “three screens” strategy will only be made possible with effective services. SmartGlass is one of those services, it’s looking great on Microsoft’s own products and more importantly for us as Windows Phone users we should be in line for some nice baked in abilities from the get go. Keeping that browsing session going between console, phone and tablet looks awesome.

We’re keen to hear what you think, so please so let us know in those comment below..

Yes folks it’s finally here, the week that will see Microsoft launch Windows 8, spearheading its massive 2012 product launch schedule. It’s keystone of the ‘Three Screens & Cloud’ play and this is where we see how it’s all going to shake out.

The pre-orders for Surface have started and even run dry in some regions, invites to the various launch events have gone out and now it’s time to put all the cards on the table. With such a wide ranging spruce-up of the entire product line from Xbox to Windows Phone, we’re in for a wild ride. Windows 8 will be at the centre of these launches, not just because it’s Windows but because with it we will see a whole host of services light up to enable the entire eco system.

The launch of Windows 8 affects us Windows Phone users deeply. Both are now locked together by their common core and more importantly by their set of backend services like Xbox Music and Video. It’s the set of services behind Windows 8 that will enable the overarching dream of three screens and the cloud to solidify. How well Microsoft can pull PC, console and phone together will rest on their ability to leverage cloud technologies to help enable a seamless experience across them all. What are we waiting for?

Will we see the Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8 sync client?

We have seen early snaps of the Windows 8 Metro style synchronisation app and it’s my hope that during launch we will finally hear more about this key piece of integration. At present we’re using the Zune desktop client which provides music management, playback, syncing and converting of music and video files. With the dedicated apps for music and video on Windows 8, will be see only a rudimentary client to sync photos and videos back and forth or will it be more fleshed out, allowing conversion and other capabilities?

While it would be great to hear more about this tie up during the Windows 8 launch, they may hold that one back for the full launch of Windows Phone 8 on the 29th. After all, there is so much we do know about the next version of the mobile OS having a few surprised might be a good thing eh?

SmartGlass

Some of that technology is already in place, we can control the Xbox from our phone or with Windows 8. What we haven’t seen is the “glass” experience in final form. That’s using your smartphone or tablet to fully navigate around the menus in Internet explorer. If IE on the console is to be in any way useful this experience will need to be top notch. Will they pull off a smooth and seamless effect when using it? I’d expect to see an updated SmartGlass app for Windows 8 on launch day to finally enable this. The potential to see Windows Phone 7 and 8 clients is there too but again this could be held off for the full reveal on the 29th. Either way, an updated Windows 8 app will show where this technology is heading to.

Xbox Music and Video Services

We’re about to see the Zune Music service dusted off and given a new lick of paint for the Windows 8 launch. Recently the lights were switched off over at www.zune.net and key features of Xbox Music were outlined but we have still yet to see them fully. The Xbox Music website is still only a holding page and while the broad stroke of the enhanced service are there we still could see much more get revealed.

Xbox, Windows and Windows Phone will all share Video and Music services. In many ways how these line up and play out will determine how well this eco system will feel like to use. Jumping between a movie on the 360, phone and computer or syncing playlists and songs to various devices, all of this will add to the feeling of harmony when using these disparate devices. We’d like to see some demos of how well this will all fit together. Will the combination of SmartGlass and synchronised starting and stopping of cloud based music and video files be enough to pull it all it? Could be, eyes will firmly be on these coming demos.

Fresh new start

Windows 8 is likely the most radical release of Windows ever, the changes run not only through the UI itself but in the devices and services that accompany it. The launch represents the start of a series of launches across their entire product line up and should point the way to what we’re likely to see when Windows Phone 8 launches the following week. By the end of this month we’re finally going to see how Microsoft’s ‘Epic Year’ is going to pan out.

Excited about Windows 8 or just keen to see it out of the way so we can get to the meat and see Windows Phone launch? What are you keen to see with the launch of Windows 8? Tell us know you feel in those comments below. 

Oooo...is that Usher?

We’re not big Dance Central fans around these parts but it’s kind of neat to see how the new game, launching tomorrow, will take advantage of Microsoft’s SmartGlass coming to the Xbox 360.

The companion app, which will launch on iOS, Windows Phone and Android (in addition to tablets) will augment the dance experience by letting users control the music playlist and difficulty settings when in “Party Time” mode. When dancing the night away and being forever alone, you can use the app to keep track of calories burned and a challenge tracker to help keep track of your progress during sessions.

Forever Alone mode

Although the main game for Dance Central 3 comes out tomorrow, the companion SmartGlass app won’t be out until the end of the month, presumably when Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8 officially launches. Although this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to SmartGlass apps for the Xbox 360, we’re excited to see what developers come up with next.

Source: Engadget

We've continuously seen Microsoft make use of video output from a Windows Phone when demonstrating features and functionality at past events. This is a feature we'd all like to see at consumer level for somewhat obvious reasons To make use of the big screen using nothing more than a USB cable would be handy in certain situations. While the likes of SmartGlass is on the horizon, it would be beneficial for Windows Phone owners to be able to make use of supposedly supported video output.

The folks over at XDA Developers Forum have since decided to investigate and see whether it's possible to get video output working on Windows Phone. Marsrogers heads up the team, which was formed back in 2011, and the progress made in the designated thread looked as though the project wouldn't pick up and would eventually stop dead in its tracks. Marsrogers has continued to publish updates to the thread and keep readers up-to-date with progress and findings regardless.

That was until a couple of days ago, when Marsrogers shared a handful of photos that either clearly illustrates working video-out from the attached Windows Phone - or displays a clever illusion through the use of image placeholders on both the device and PC. According to the update he published in the XDA Developers thread, a copy of an original build 7003 ROM from a prototype LG Panther was received, which made video-out functionality possible. 

According to Marsrogers, the source (who he believes to be fairly trustworthy) has indicated that Windows Phone 8 will support video-out functionality for consumers to utilize. As well as using a USB cable, we'll apparently be able to make use of Remote Desktop in Windows. We'll not be seeing this come to fruition anytime soon, but at least there's potential light at the end of the tunnel in Apollo. The big question will be, would Windows Phone 7.8 sport such a feature?

Source: XDA Developers, via: Windows Phone Daily

During my recent trip to Casual Connect Seattle, I enjoyed a fantastic visit to Signal Studios, the developer of upcoming Xbox Live title Ascend: New Gods for Windows Phone, Xbox 360, and PC. We’ve already posted a photos and video interview with studio president D.R. Albright III, and now it’s time to share something even more exciting: the first hands-on footage of Ascend: New Gods running on Windows Phone 7!

One world, three devices

First, let’s talk about the console and PC versions of Ascend. On the big screen, Ascend is an ambitious and innovative action-RPG with unique asynchronous multiplayer features. Players join one of three divine factions: Light, Dark, or Void. Each group of gods battles the others in an attempt to rule the game’s fantasy world.

On the surface, the console and PC version plays like other games in the genre: gamers explore the vast world, fighting monsters and tiny humans, and gathering all manner of loot and treasure. But Ascend’s multiplayer features take the experience to another level...

Each player gets to help or hinders his or her fellow players by sending them blessings and curses (some of which are elaborated on in the video). Additionally, gaining control of certain areas makes things easier for members of the same faction and harder for opposing groups. Even though you’re role-playing in your own, you’re always connected to a persistent world.

The ultimate companion game

Now then, give our hands-on demonstration a whirl! The build D.R. showed off for us is quite early but it gives a good impression of what Signal is going for in the Windows Phone game. The mobile version is combat-oriented and looks and plays similarly to Epic’s popular Infinity Blade iOS game. Here, players basically choose an AI opponent (some of which are characters created by other players) and battle him by swiping and tapping at the touch screen.

After the battle, you gain currency and experience which are shared with the Xbox 360 and PC versions of the game. Even equipment purchased on the phone syncs with the big brother versions. Additionally, every victory allows you to send a blessing or curse to players in the main game. Thus mobile players actually get to affect the experience of big-screen players. You can also check on the status of the ongoing metawar on the go to learn how your faction fares against the others.

The Ascend: New Gods Windows Phone has many more features going for it that you can see in our video. The game won’t launch until next year, so Signal has plenty of time to add more content and features before release.

Smart Glass too!

Signal clearly takes Ascend’s connectivity features seriously. Not only do all three games connect and interact with each other, but the main game even has SmartGlass features as well. The SmartGlass interaction is separate from the Windows Phone game and will enhance the console/PC experience while you’re playing those versions. The SmartGlass build was unavailable during our visit, but we know it displays detailed maps during gameplay, similar to the ATLAS feature in Halo WayPoint.

Prepare to ascend

Signal Studios is a cool place to work!

Ascend: New Gods comes to Windows Phone, Xbox 360, and PC in early 2013 – a long wait! In the meantime, check out our interview with D. R. Albright III and our E3 coverage of the XBLA game. To see how the XBLA game has advanced since E3, watch my new preview at Co-Optimus.

Update: Ascend is now known as Ascend: Hand of Kul.

Microsoft continues to flesh out their Xbox live app for those of us that have iPads. The latest update brings more of the once exclusive features of the Windows Phone Companion App to iOS users. Unlike Windows Phone, which has a combination of apps to take care of Xbox live business, the iPad rolls all the functions into one. Personally, I like it all integrated into one whole and have been a little confused as to why the Windows Phone has essentially stuck with the Xbox Hub plus the two addition apps called Xbox Companion app and Xbox LIVE Extras App.

The iPad app has the following features:-

• Access to Quickplay
• Now Playing
• Menu Bar
• Discovery

Whilst this is not quite SmartGlass just yet, it is certainly designed to bring the core technology closer for when that moment arrives. As an iPad owner myself I certainly appreciate these updates, the Xbox 360 should be accessible to all those in a living room and that means having a good cross platform story.

The only niggling thing for me is, I cannot help but wonder why MS is able to push out updates for iOS devices that in many cases have a better UX than for their operating systems. I will point the finger at Photosynth being available on iOS a long time before Windows Phone and also the excellent Bing  app for the iPad having no counterpart application for Windows.

As the Xbox Live Companion app and Xbox Live Extras app are effectively spun out of the core OS in Windows Phone it has allowed them to be updated more effectively than apps such as Maps. Not much is known about Windows Phone 8 yet, one would hope MS have a more reliable way to keep the built in features updated so hopefully Windows Phone users will always have the best experience using Microsoft technologies going forward.

Think MS is doing a good job with cross platform support for Xbox? Do you think they should be showing more love when it comes to their own home-grown app offerings on Windows Phone and Windows? Get in there and let us know!

Source: Apple itunes

In last decade there have been many great rivaleries: Tyson Vs. Hollifield, Baggy pants vs Skinny Jeans, Alien VS. Predator - the list just goes on and on. Now a new fight is brewing: Google's Nexus Q and Microsoft's Xbox 360.

Google has recently announced their new form of media consumption for their users. It's small, round, glows like Tron, and  looks a bit like the Death Star. This sphere will go head to head with the Xbox 360. Microsoft has been rebranding the Xbox 360 for the last few years, turning it from an exclusive gaming system to your main media device. More and more people have been using the console to watch movies, stream music, and to video chat. With Smart Glass coming out hopefully in the fall, Microsoft will be integrating your phone or tablet as both a second screen and remote control.

The Nexus Q is Google's attempt to make a device to stream your content to your stereo or television through the Play brand. Let's face it, no matter where you look, every OS is putting up walls to make sure you invest in only them. Apple started it, Android is now playing by their rules, and Microsoft is sharing Smart Glass with iOS and Android. Microsoft knows its platform, and people who own an Xbox may own iPhones or Android phones; they are making a smart move by making it available on all platforms to ensure its success.

Android has a large market share but most Android owners barely use Gmail, let alone the whole ecosytem. Nearly 75 percent of apps in the Android market are free and riddled with ads. Google is trying to expand their services and this device is their attempt. The Nexus Q streams media via tablet or phone. That is, you controll it from your phone, and then it pulls down music from your Google Play account directly to the device, or movies and TV episodes straight from Google. Anyone with an Android phone can sync their media to the Q through wifi -- so long as that feature is turned on in the device's settings. Or, if you don't want to hear that new Bieber song, just hide your Wi-Fi password. 

Google wants this to be a social experience, for people to invite friends over share some food, some drink, and their music. In theory, this sounds like a fun time. In reality, I have seen fights break out, relationships end, and friendships broken, all because everyone wanted to play the DJ. That is what I foresee with the Q.

There is no security feature, anyone who has an Android device that is running Android 2.3 Gingerbread (once this thing's officially released, anyway) can put their music or video into your Q and voila, they just interrupted your sweet party mix that took you spent all day on. I think it is a novel idea, but even Google said, "Hack it." They know this device has promise, but don't know how to expand on their idea.  They want the hackers to do what they will to make it usable. ... Another page taken from Microsoft.

The Xbox 360 has been refined to a media device, especially after last fall's Metro update. I love using my voice to control my console to stream music and videos. I catch myself using it more and more for media than actually playing games on it. This is Microsoft's goal, to turn their system into the ultimate media consumption device. With Smart Glass, their companion app, the media aspect is amped up to the max, enabling your device to connect to your Xbox 360 and push content onto it while turning the device into a remote or secondary screen with more info.

Microsoft has the advantage because almost every home has a 360. To make a free app available for not only Windows Phone but also iOS and Android is an incredibly smart move. They have already sold the hardware, so why not give the software away? With Smart Glass, you have access to the content on your device but also what is on your Xbox and Live account. 

The Nexus Q is going to sell for $299.99 for a Wi-Fi stereo with built-in amp. The Xbox 360 with 4GB sells for $199.99, a hundred dollars less and you get more out of the device. The 360 is a gaming system, media device, and with Kinect a personal trainer. (Or you can buy the 360 for $99 with a $15 monthly 2-year subscription).

When you compare both devices, the Q is just a tiny Death Star that will be destroyed eventually by Luke. The real hindrance for the Q is that it only works with devices that have Jellybean. Android is struggling to get Ice Cream Sandwhich on their devices, and that update has been out since December. Microsoft will hopefully launch their Surface Tablets and Windows 8 in the fall, and Smart Glass should be ready when they are.

In my eyes, the Xbox 360 has already won this battle. What do you think?

Top image credit of Nexus Q (back) via iFixit.com

If the information and videos in our E3 2012 Summary weren't enough to quench your thirst for content surrounding Xbox Entertainment, fear not as we've got the above video for you giving a run through of what will be possible with Xbox, Windows and Windows Phone.

Our own Mateo wrote up a great editorial on how Microsoft is bringing all the platforms together with "3 screens, 1 voice", which is well worth checking out if you're interested in making the most of your Microsoft ecosystem.

We'll certainly be looking forward to the fall when all these great announcements come together. Xbox Music, Video, TV, Sports, Internet Explorer, SmartGlass, and more. The best part is Windows Phone will be right there in the mist of the integration.

Source: YouTube

Phew! It's been a hectic morning / afternoon / evening for those who tuned into Microsoft's E3 media briefing presentation, which showcased Halo 4, Xbox SmartGlass, Nike+, Internet Explorer for Xbox, and more. Should you find yourself being in the dark and didn't manage to catch the broadcast that was streamed a few hours ago, fear not as we have you covered from the floor.

So what was announced? From top games to new sport media sources, there's a lot planned for Xbox this year and beyond. Head on past the break with a coffee and supply of biscuits.

Games, Games & Apps!

As one expected, Halo 4 took to the stage with an adrenaline pumping trailer (see above) showing off superb graphics and a sneak peek at what we can expect in the next instalment of the series. From what the trailer showed, Master Chief is back with Cortana (which looked to go rampant), and is battling what appears to be Forerunner constructs as well as the Covenant. It'll be interesting to see where the story goes from the ending cut scene of Halo 3.

Later on when Xbox SmartGlass was demonstrated, Halo 4 was used as an example how WayPoint on Windows Phone (or the tablet, etc.) is able to handle match invitations from friends, and should the user accepts, the app will then connect to the console, save the game and launch the lobby. Usual WayPoint features were present, as well as lore and other information that is presumably unlocked as the player progresses through the story. It's going to be one adventure to remember, that's for sure. 

A second large title for the Xbox system was showcased behind Halo 4 - Forza Horizon. Not much was revealed in terms of gameplay, but we can expect a more open world for drivers to cruise around in. It's set to bring a whole new experience that will immerse the player into the massive world that's being offered. 

Forza Horizon is looking to be released late October.

South Park: The Stick of Truth made an appearance, with creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone taking to the stage to introduce a trailer for the upcoming title. Check out the trailer for South Park below. Should you pre-order the title when it's available, you'll be able to grab exclusive DLC, with the 'Mysterion Superhero Pack' being entirely unique for the Xbox 360.

The first three episode packs (DLC) for South Park will be released on the Xbox before other platforms too. If that wasn't all, Kinect is supported for taunting, laugh attacks and the ability to call Cartman a "fat ass" to provoke a response. Check out the trailer below, and look forward to an early 2013 release.

If cartoons and fighting the Flood isn't your cup of tea, then how about Dance Central 3, Tomb Raider or Fifa 13? No? How about Splinter Cell: Blacklist? Controlling Sam Fisher and joining him on his adventure is always a challenging, but enjoyable experience. Using stealth and cunning tactics to overcome the enemy with minimal attention to reach objectives is the aim of the game.

Gameplay demonstrated at the E3 presentation saw new gameplay elements, including the ability to use voice commands via Kinect to distract the enemy, killing multiple targets in slow-yet-fluid motion, and intense realism.

As well as the above titles (and other games), Nike were at the event to unveil Nike+ Training for the Kinect and Xbox 360. The app (and service) will enable users to work out with body moves, physical strengths and athleticism assessed, areas for improvement identified, and a personalised workout plan to help achieve personal best created right on the screen. The app will help build motivation through challenges, social encouragement and connectivity via a mobile app (presumably for Windows Phone).

Xbox Services

Xbox SmartGlass took up a few moments to demonstrate how the service, which is set to launch later this year, will enable those with mobile devices to control their Xbox 360 and further extend their gaming experience. Xbox SmartGlass is set to turn a standard television in the living room into a smart TV that can pull down rich media content and more. Check out the article dedicated to the SmartGlass announcement for more information.

As well as connecting your Windows devices to the Xbox 360, Microsoft also unveiled the Zune music service replacement - Xbox Music.

The highly anticipated service refresh will see Xbox Music being released on Xbox, Windows 8, and Windows Phones. Microsoft demonstrated the upcoming service in a short video (see below), but has failed to provide a date as to when we can expect to see Xbox Music go live. If you're used to Zune, the interface looks familiar with Metro elements found throughout the experience.

From the demonstration we took away stronger social integration as well as a presumably improved post-Zune Smart DJ. A library of reportedly over 30 million songs will be available through apps on its platforms, but we might see competitor devices seeing an Xbox Music solution in the future when the service launches, especially if the Xbox app available for iOS is anything to go by.

Internet Explorer is heading to the Xbox console. Yes, you read correctly, Internet Explorer. The web browser is set to be released this fall in all countries that support both the Xbox and LIVE service. Kinect and Xbox SmartGlass will both be supported for navigation to be more user friendly, bringing the web to the big screen.

Moving onto entertainment on the Xbox, since it's a media centre as well as gaming console, some improvements to the UI and services were announced at the Microsoft E3 event.

Previously, as well as the Metro UI redesign, Microsoft added voice search functionality via Kinect and Bing to make searching for entertainment much easier for users. This feature is being made available in 12 additional countries: Australia, Austria, Brazil, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain and Switzerland.

The catalogue of customised sports, TV, mobiles and music apps from leading brands will continue to improve / increase with more unique ways for content to be delivered through the console. With this new entertainment content comes new sport partnerships, which is exactly what was announced during the presentation.

Sport sources will include a new WatchESPN app that will stream live video from ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, and ESPN U. A new NHL Game Centre app will boast 40 live games on a weekly basis, and the NBA Game Time app with League Pass will supply over 2,400 live games

Overall, Microsoft has revealed some superb plans for the Xbox system, as well as potential for Windows devices. With Windows 8 coming this fall, joined by more Xbox content and Windows Phone "Apollo", it could be a killer year for the software giant.

As always, be sure to keep updating our website and / or feed for more announcements and news from the floor at E3 over the next few days.

Xbox SmartGlass is Microsoft’s strategic move against Apple’s Airplay system (and preemptively against Google TV); it’s an evolution for your Windows Phone, Windows Desktop and Windows 8 Tablets. Why is it the evolution? Because Microsoft’s ecosystem is growing and they are focusing on inter-connectivity with all of their devices (and even those outside of their branding).  No phone left behind, no tablet ignored, no Desktop chained down. Windows 8 is bringing a fresh look and giving users a better feeling experience while they use these devices. 

Microsoft is effectively making their move to make your involvement a complete one with any of their devices. It’s a smart move because Windows 8 may be challenging for some people to learn and get used to. SmartGlass will give people the confidence in Windows 8, that it will not be another Vista, it is changing for the better. It's a straight up consumer feature.

Here’s the breakdown on how each device will pair with Xbox SmartGlass:

• If you are using a Windows 8 tablet, and are watching a video, you can pause on your tablet, and continue on your Xbox. The Tablet then becomes a companion device streaming live information about the movie you are watching, giving you access to the behind the scene details
• When you are playing a game, like the new Madden for Kinect, your Tablet can be used to make plays and actually play the game
• Your Windows Phone will do the same as the tablet, but there wasn’t any information that you will be able to control games with it, which is a little disappointing but I am sure more information will be released as we get closer to Windows Phone 8
• Use your phone to scroll web pages when using Internet Explorer for Xbox
• Your PC will be able to put up content to your Xbox, via video hubs, and also act as a companion device as well (but there was no demo, so we must assume there will be a few limitations when comparing using your windows phone or windows 8 tablet with SmartGlass)

Everyone knows about Apple TV and Airplay, but you need to buy separate devices and even then it is limited on how they interact. Airplay only mirrors your iPhone or iPad device but with SmartGlass your devices are much more than a mirror they become another opportunity for anyone to gain more content and control your Xbox. Everyone has an Xbox, and if you don’t, you’ll be needing one because SmartGlass is giving you what you always wanted; any Windows 8 Device to control and give you more information about what you’re watching on your Xbox.

This is great to see since Microsoft is adding more and more content to the Xbox Live experience, enhancing it to be your only multimedia device in your living room. As our culture gains more momentum in consuming content through the internet people are okay with paying for streaming services instead of traditional cable or satellite. Microsoft is giving the consumer the opportunity to have any kind of connected device they want, and their content will be available on all of it.

It's a smart step by Microsoft for growing their brand, and using it to its fullest potential. Needless to say, we like the future...

Microsoft held a fairly eventful press presentation at this year's E3, which saw the company unveil new services related to their best selling game console - the Xbox 360. More on these new services later, for now let's get through Xbox SmartGlass. As we previously covered, Xbox SmartGlass will connect the gaming console to other devices, including Windows 8 and Windows Phone as well as competitor platforms (Android and iOS). Think of the Xbox Companion app, but on steroids.

Apps developed for all supported platforms will enable users to control their Xbox 360 and interact with services on the big screen. Microsoft is attempting to transform the bog-standard home television into a Smart TV with the power and connectivity to pull down rich media content from the Internet. As mentioned above, SmartGlass will work with other Windows platforms, but will also be available for iPhone / iPad and Android devices. 

Example: should you happen to be watching a movie while on the go and would like to continue where you left off on the big screen, SmartGlass will enable you to resume the video on the Xbox 360. Gaming will also be taken to a new level with integrated through SmartGlass. A short demonstration was provided in the presentation with the upcoming title Halo 4. Halo Waypoint will come into play by offering lore information on in-game elements, as well as turning the mobile device into a companion device with match requests from friends being accepted on the handset, and then synchronised while in-game on the Xbox.

Internet Explorer was last to be announced with SmartGlass. The Xbox console will soon sport its own web browser, but instead of using the controller to navigate through the web, which could cause issues, Microsoft will use SmartGlass to allow users to choose Kinect or support mobile devices. Check out the video below for a quick run through of everything announced for SmartGlass.

Watch out for the release of SmartGlass sometime later this year. Be sure to check out our updates from the floor at E3 2012 where our Daniel Rubino and Paul Acevedo will continue to hunt down the latest news.