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!
Reader comments
Xbox One SmartGlass app for Windows Phone 8 is ready in the Store
I just wish it didn't insist on being on the same network. My 360 (and my One, when it gets here) is wired, but my wireless router doesn't have a configuration that lets me put wireless devices on the same network; they get their own subnet.
Can it mirror system audio and video like Apple Airplay?
Is it jst me or does the phone on the tutorial kinda look like something that Microsoft would be working on for a new Lumia line? Haven't seen a WP with that look at all.
Why can't I download this thing. Holland here.
Doesn't work here in Norway either ➖➖
Hope it's not one of those US ONLY STUPID F$%&*%$ THINGS again... ❕❗©
+xbox 1
we need to wait till 2014 :p Dutch and Belgian are always setback on everything. Xbox tv won't even work in Belgium for example. And let's not talk about apps
I own xbox now but dunno if i'll get the xbox one tbh. Would i live in US I would for sure. In Europe meh.
Yeah me too. I mean I really dig it but if it doesn't support everything I won't buy it. I'll get me a Wii U and have fun,playing it with my siblings! Thanks Microsofty!
Just waiting on my preorder!
I can't believe it... I'm actually surprised windows phone and windows 8 got it before other platforms.
Also I noticed it isn't a windows 8.1 app so I hope its updated soon.
It worries me it's not within the Xbox games app like the last one.
In the Bahamas and able to download. Now waiting for my XBONE!
Fellow Bahamian here.
Good I thought I was the only Bahamian on here. If BTC didn't suck more Bahamians would know the value of WP. I got my Nokia from AT&T because the Italian version they sell can't update to Amber.
I think the App is not available for Latin America, I can't download it. Damn it Microsoft, you always forgot in everything to Latino Americans. In here Windows Phone is the 2nd most used SO and you give us nothing? Xbox One release date until next year? Microsoft you are beginning to suck in this part of the world.
i know I'm in the Wp minority, but no WP 7.x love?
im in the same boat come on Ms make a 7.x version if you can do that for the original why not now?
Remote play would be awesome
Interesting 'Facebook-esque' menu. And modern design with light fonts. Quite nice actually. And it's an app now rather than a game (main menu rather than game hub).
Got it
"on the news system"?
Looks really cool. Hopefully the 360 version will have an update with a fresh UI to mirror the xbox one app.
Looks great, but I notice this doesn't run a background task, which most likely means we still won't get toast updates or notifications, when friends send messages and invites.
I'm honestly baffled by this! even with the Xbox 360 version... I don't get how this is constantly overlooked, and why Xbox messaging is not built into the messaging hub.
Toast notifications and tile updates don't require background tasks. They can be triggered by a web service without a task running. It's only apps that don't have a dedicated push web service (or lazy developers in some cases) that use background tasks.
Thanks for the info. The question then becomes, why does this smartglass app not have the ability to run under the locked screen or to be updated when it's offscreen? I mean... this is a Microsoft app.
I'm guessing it doesn't need to? I don't know. Time will tell I guess, to see how it runs with the games that use it.
Note that running under lock screen doesn't need a setting or background task. It may already do this in certain circumstances when using it with your Xbox (and games may be able to trigger this when required). Once the console is released I'm sure we'll discover more.
Also I don't think background tasks would be enough for Smartglass. Once every 30 minutes is not real-time. Considering games have dedicated Azure servers, and WP push notifications are built into these servers, I'd say true push is the way they'd go.
I doubt they built these in... Sadly, it seems like they push smartglass, but never truly use it to its full capabilities. Even the app feels sluggish and cheaply done. The data pulls very slowly and interface can be a bit funky when you actually start a "service" in the app. I think they need to rethink their strategy.
Not for WP7, though :(
Because wp7 is dead!
My Lumia 800 is doing quite well for being "dead".
Personally, I understand 3rd party developers for abandoning WP7 because of it's small marketshare, but MS themselves should show a little more love for their own platform.
Personally, I want a WP8, but I want one of the high-end devices. Spending 500 $ on the XBO now, I don't want to spend the same or more on a new phone if it's not perfect. For now, I don't see this device ... Lumia 1020 would be perfect if it would have wireless charging builtin ...
I have the money to get the free app, can someone hook a brotha up with an Xbox ONE to control with it?
No love for 7.8 users?
As with most apps that will come out from here forward, 8 gets the app, and 7.8 if they feel like it in the future.
Its because 7.x is being phased out of service.
Well I already see a problem with the Game Clips feature. One of the Game Clips for Ryse is a huge spoiler, showing the end of the game. They need a "spoiler alert" system.
oh i guess the other smartglass i use is for 360. nice. new interface
So excited!
I CANT DOWNLOAD IT MY GOD!
For which phones is this app available for ? I have 520 but cant seem to download it ..
Can't wait can't wait work wants to go slow all of a sudden I hate you work!!
So it's a different app than the regular one? Why didn't they just update the old one?
Ermmmm... Because the Xbox 360 and the Xbox One are different?
So that means they can't combine xbox 360 smartglass and Xbox one smartglass in one app? If connected to the 360, it will have the 360 smartglass features, connected to the One, it will have the One smartglass features. I think it would be better to combine both apps. But meh, I'm so excited for my xbox one!
Well they might be able to... But if the protocols are too diferent they might have to bloat it too much. Who knows, maybe at some point.
I also can't wait until the 22nd. Too bad Microsoft didn't give US a free game like in Europe. :(
You can be logged into the same Live account on 1 360 and 1 One simultaneously remember.
Not available to the ativ s???
I have it on Ativ S here in UK
Probably because Portugal. Ugh.
This is why WP users should get the Xbox one and not the PS4. We will never get an app or any support from Sony.
I'm still hoping for PS4 app even signed the petition.....
Its exclusive to the psvita
Will the new app go into location were my old smartglass app is ?
No, looks like it's in the main menu now.
Installed and ready to do the jump from PS3 to Xbox One and looking forward to interacting with multimedia.
Welcome aboard, just saw via this smart glass app that there is Kinect Voice commands for FIFA14... for even substitutions..... Sh!te just got real(er). Microsoft on point.
I am REALLY looking forward to that. This is going to be one hell of a ride!!! Glad I pre-ordered for Day One edition :)
You can direct link to http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-us/app/xbox-one-smartglass/c3a46cb8-e733-4579-b716-862e123fa831 from your surface or windows 8 device to download the Xbox One Smartglass app :)
You sir, are my hero.
:) Glad to help
Thanks man!
Ohhh yeah!!;
Anybody else annoyed that the design mimics Android and that the App is in the app list and not the Games Hub?
No
I just seen that its not in games hub .....sucks!
I'm not even surprised anymore.. :/ But hey, at least it works!
Not for HTC 8X in The Netherlands
My excitement is only tempered by the fact there are so few entertainment apps here in oz at launch. I hear we don't even get the "Xbox on" command until a later date. I hope I'm wrong. App looks solid though
where in the hell did you hear that garbage?
Cnet.
http://m.cnet.com.au/australian-xbox-one-entertainment-apps-announced-33...
Microsoft also reiterated that Australia will get a limited set of voice controls via Kinect. The famous "Xbox On" command still won't work at launch in Australia
I like to imagine that this is due to a hilarious Australian accent related reason
Probably not far from the truth :)
G'day Xbox!! :)
They were actually worried about what the Xbox would do when a user commanded "Xbox, mate!"
Yes, I hope Xbox supports a whole lot of slang like this. 'Yo Xbox' for America, 'G'day Xbox' for Oz, ''Sup Xbox' for NZ.
My only disappointment is the fact the tile is not flipable and I love my flipping tiles. Plus the app does not allow me to set as a lock screen....which is such a shame since the app is beautiful.
I love this app.....I love Xbox :-)
What about browsing Xbox One Games Store, buying games and all that?
Yeah was expecting that too. Ah well, maybe an update will bring it.
Try using the search feature. You seem to be able to access it from there
There is the XBOX VIDEO button, not able to access it now though.
The biggest change is an option to allow the app to 'stay awake' and keep the phone from going to sleep. As of now with the 360 version, each time the phone 'goes to sleep' it disconnects from Smartglass on the 360 which requires you to sign in again... Very frustrating... im glad they have included this new feature into the XBOX One version of the app.
Hopefully down the road, we'll see (maybe?) the two versions of Smartglass combined...
Yeah soo annoying. So are they gonna forget the 360 version now?
I agree. That is the only reason I stopped using it.
you can always set your phone to never "go to sleep". but yeah it is nice.
Why you need it combined? Are you gonna play games or watch movies on One and 360 at the same time? I dont think so
I wouldn't have to think about which one I need to open. And they are in two different places. It annoying.
Dude one said "Xbox one smartglass" another one "Xbox smartglass" plus in different places
Poor you and your first world problem.
Stop saying that please it degrades people with real problems. Don't think anyone in 3rd country's say that
Any word on the Windows 8.1 release yet?
Yea, most likely 18 october 2013
What?? How can this of come out one month ago??
He was, probably, talking about Windows Phone 8.1
one thing is for sure, s/he is asking such a off-topic question with a lack of details. lost in internet.
He's asking about the Windows 8.1 version of this App...
Oh my god, this was a joke by Devin, guys ^^
Early 2014
Cant wait for Xbox one o wonder can we send and play voice messages in the app now
^THIS^
Yep, connects successfully to my XBOX ONE. But I think I've forgotten something ...
Can't wait anymore :D
And I have to say it's great that MSFT starts releasing apps for WP first, like Smartglass now and this Office Online thing. Nice!
Office Online thing?
Office Remote, sorry! http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-launches-office-remote-app-for-wind...
You break my heart by linking to them vs us!
No doubt he'll change the link to WPCentral soon just to make you feel better. :P
Downloaded it. YAHOOOOOOOO! 3 days and counting.
It'll be amazing on my 1520, cant wait
Bing*
It looks good. Can't phucking wait until Thursday night. XBOXONE XBOXONE XBOXONE XBOXONE.......
920 got stolen yesterday :( crap buzz.... rockin a nokia luna now but i saw this and reached for my 920 and nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo......
What a time for it to get stolen...hang-in-there.
Just hang in there buddy, the Lumiambulance will be there shortly!
^^This MOFO. Love the WP Community. lol.
haha i know, its part of the reason my next phone will be my 4th WP device :P great community... well hopefully a 929 has the same GSM/Edge/HSPA+ frequencies as the 928 and it'll work here in Ireland, it IS a surface phone just not called surface... if not its a 1520
Haha, just doing my bit mofo! ;) and we love you too!
Locate and call the cops! (don't get shot over your phone)
Go to windowsphone.com click on explore and then find my phone. If you had find my phone on in the settings it will tell you exactly were your phone is. Call the cops, show them where it is, phone is back and broke-ass is locked up.