190°

Introducing Microsoft's SmartGlass

With the official release of the new Xbox 360 dashboard, we step closer to an additional feature that was announced at this year’s E3 press conference: Xbox SmartGlass. You know all your smart devices that you play around with while you are in a Call of Duty lobby or while watching the latest episode of Mad Men on Netflix? Well now you can integrate them into a new entertainment experience giving consumers the chance to breach traditional one screen form of entertainment into multiple screens. And I’m not talking about the 3DS.

Read Full Story >>
original-gamer.com
MultiConsoleGamer4202d ago

For browsing media content it's a great product.

For gaming it has no practical use that isn't distracting from the central gameplay experience.

andibandit4202d ago (Edited 4202d ago )

I mostly agree with you, though i can see some minor potential uses for it:

1. have it display whatever message you just received....saves me the hassle of pressing guide button etc etc.

2. use it as a keyboard, for those of us who dont want to have a keyboard connnected to the xbox.

3. as a touchpad while surfing.

4. Minimap, instead of having a minimap take up space on the screen. altho for games like COD where taking your eyes away for a nano second means death, it's less useful

5. as a map instead of having to press back/start constantly to figure out which road to take(Borderlands 2 anyone?)

6. watching a movie with someone, you dont have to pause it for 3 minutes because youre going in the kitchen to make popcorn.(watching the movie in parallel)

7. inventory management in any sort of RPG, coming from M/K and to using a gamepad has been a total backwards step, maybe smartglass could be used.

and so on, nothing breathtaking, just makes things easier.

MikeMyers4202d ago

1. I like it
2. this is true as the controller is very clunky to use for text
3. That could be distracting while playing
4. Kind of like the DS and its dual screens. Could have lots of potential.
5. You risk the distraction while playing and having to constantly look at both screens.
6. Those Google Glasses would do a much better job. I can't imagine having my buttery hands all over my tablet while making popcorn so I don't have to pause it for guests.
7. Yes, sort of like the other resources like mini-maps.

How about the ability to have some sort of reference available at all times. I know many like walkthroughs and now you don't have to go searching to figure out what to do. There are lots of applications that could make gaming more interesting and more involving. They just have to do it in a way that makes sense.

greenpowerz4202d ago (Edited 4202d ago )

You don't know what it holds for gaming(loading XBLA games etc on mobile devices from Windows or xbox plus games like watch dogs)

I really wish your name was reflective of your post history.

Lots of Sony fans in here ;)

Are you going to try smartglass on your xbox? ;)

Burning_Finger4202d ago

Microsoft needs a person that's good at naming product.

Window
Xbox
Smart Glass
Kinect

XD

GribbleGrunger4202d ago

I think that SmartGlass is a great name actually.

konnerbllb4202d ago

Yeah it fits it well. Can someone think of a better name without trolling?

slapedurmomsace4202d ago

@konner...I tried...I failed.

The Meerkat4202d ago

konnerbllb

I quite like the sound of FingerTip

DBergmark4202d ago

Windows is actually a great name because the Microsoft OS was like a Window to a new world. Kinect is a mix between the two words kinetic & connect. Kinetic is moving energy which connect would you with your gaming console; cheesy but logical. SmartGlass: smartphones & tablets. I don't know why they went with glass but it makes sense either way. Xbox doesn't really make sense.

Fez4202d ago

Xbox was named for it's use of DirectX. Pretty good name, nice and short too.

etowntwo4202d ago

Yeah, like WiiU and Vita are supposed to be any better?

nukeitall4202d ago

Actually I think all those names are pretty good. Perhaps you can suggest something better?

humbleopinion4202d ago

I heard the initially wanted to come up with the name "burning finger", but realized it was taken.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4202d ago
mickaelmc4202d ago

wow. while Microsoft is wasting our time with this crap, Sony is busy making exclusive triple A titles. Glad I sold my 360 back when there was a perceived value for it. Microsoft is already showing obvious signs of neglecting 360 gamers so they can sell us a new console next year. Even xbox fanboys have to admit this.

bodybombs4202d ago (Edited 4202d ago )

my lord you make it seem like they dedicate every single person on staff to one project at a time.

god forbid ms make something innovative. i for one am welcoming smartglass.

Since you seem so uninterested in the product and are happy to have sold it, why comment. go back to your bridge troll. you're not welcome here

also, if they were neglecting anybody what would be the point in putting halo 4 out, and developing OS updates for the console.

mickaelmc4202d ago

I was interested in the product. My roommate still has a 360. He likes it. Neither of us are too excited for Halo 4. lol... calm down.

jwk944202d ago

This isn't necessarily innovative. Wii U and PS3/Vita already do this. It's just a unified companion application.

bodybombs4202d ago

the idea may not be new, but the implementation of the idea is.

ItsTrue4202d ago (Edited 4202d ago )

"As an orange lover, I prefer oranges over apples. In fact, I love oranges so very much that if there was an article online specifically about apples, for people that like apples,
I would be a total jackass and post about how much I like oranges, and how everyone that likes apples are stupid."

mickaelmc4202d ago

I like what you were trying to do here. Sorry if my opinion hurts anyone. I'm a fan of video games. But yeah, I do have a preference but with good reason considering current events. Enjoy your smartglass.

bodybombs4202d ago

@mickaelmc bubble for being understanding

bodybombs4202d ago

see if i ever give a bubble again lol.

Blankman854202d ago

You sold your xbox so Microsoft doesn't owe you jack. Kindly leave.

AngelicIceDiamond4202d ago (Edited 4202d ago )

@Bodybombs is right you had no reason being in here. Saying that useless and offtopic statement. What you said didn't even contribute to this article in anyway.

Don't comment if you don't have nothing USEFUL to say.

As for this, it'll be interesting to have Xbox where ever you go and have touch screen functionality from your smartphone/tablets. Internet browse, play games, earn achievements, stream networks and manage friends/sort out beacons where ever you are in real time anytime, sounds very innovative.

See that's how you contribute since its complicated for you.

Knight_Crawler4202d ago

@Mickalomc - People who have to keep reminding them selfs why they got rid os something is usually signs of regret.

Dread4202d ago (Edited 4202d ago )

Forza Horizon
Halo 4
Fable Journey
Deadlight
Mark of the Ninja

All very recent xbox exclusives

you failed
try harder next time

TekoIie4202d ago (Edited 4202d ago )

MS did announce 3 new IP's which were completely overlooked at E3.

Ascend: New gods (This is F2P btw)
LocoCycle
Matter

They also showed their tops 3 IP's (Halo, Forza and Gears). So you know look at things in the real world in the future rather than whats currently being publicised.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 4202d ago
bubblebeam4202d ago

I still vaguely know what smartglass is. Is this the thing Usher was dancing to? Lol.

Animal Mutha 764202d ago

I'd quite like the in game score board of BF3 to be on my iPad whilst playing. I often hit back just to view for a second and I often get shot or miss a kill opportunity whilst doing so.

Excited to see what smartglass can do.

240°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.

Read Full Story >>
theverge.com
darthv7220h ago

Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.

solideagle7h ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Sonic18815h ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio4h ago

MS: "Xbox services and content without AB up 1%, with AB up 62%. Hardware down 31%. In total a loss of 350 mill."

darthv72: "Seems about right."

MS: "Excuse m ..."

darthv72: "I don't hardly play on my consoles directly."

MS:

Cacabunga7h ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

shinoff21836h ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

Cacabunga5h ago

Hardware sales are so bad that Sony and Nintendo are blowing the sales off the water with their hardware.

If Xbox are losers, others aren’t..
Xbox already tried everything with Xbox live then subscriptions went down so much that they had to find something else. Their fans subscribed then reached saturation rather quickly.

Hardware and exclusive games is where it’s at! Keep gamers excited, announce decent software and people will support you

itsmebryan1h ago

@shin
Well keep it simple Sony 's operating income is down 26% and Microsoft's is up 32%. No MS spin there, just facts. 😉
Cheers

romulus238m ago

Odd that a company that touts you dont need the hardware to play is already touting another console in the works.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 8m ago
purple10110h ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos9h ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

XBManiac8h ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad8h ago(Edited 8h ago)

"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."

That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.

purple1018h ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos7h ago(Edited 7h ago)

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Kornholic6h ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

Show all comments (27)
300°

Microsoft Seemingly Closes Bethesda France

As part of its plans to cut 1,900 jobs, Microsoft has reportedly shut down operations at Bethesda France, letting go roughly 15 people

Read Full Story >>
insider-gaming.com
Hereandthere1d 17h ago

Microsoft should have left them stay 3rd party

GamerRN1d 14h ago

If they are let go, they can be whatever they want. They ARE 3rd party now... 🤦

Barlos1d 12h ago

Yeah, they're also jobless.

GamerRN1d 5h ago

They can form a company if they want, they are just as jobless as if "Microsoft had left them as 3rd party".

peppeaccardo1d 7h ago

"MIcrosoft leaves Bethesda do what they know how to do best" ... close! Oh the irony ....
(Citation from a week old article)

ChasterMies1d 3h ago

I think Microsoft and other game publishers are letting people go because they think ai will replace them. Doesn’t matter how much profit they make. They were always going to be let go.

PassNextquestion1d 16h ago (Edited 1d 16h ago )

Bethesda France was made up of roughly 15 people... they couldn't of being doing much

Bethesda France mainly did publishing and marketing within the region

blacktiger1d 14h ago

that's a shame for you to say that, i'm sure Elite loves hearing what you just said.

Mr Logic1d ago

What a stupid thing to say. The elites give 0 fucks what we say on an obscure website in the comments section.

Crows901d ago

You can always reach out and give them jobs at your company man. Don't wait

Profchaos1d 16h ago (Edited 1d 16h ago )

Bethesda France focused on publishing and marketing in the region. And 15 people lost their jobs as part of the closure.

I wonder if this is part of Microsoft's strategy to abandoned physical media or possibly gamepass advertising makes their roles redundant you don't need to market a game as hard when the majority of players get the game as part of a sub which already promoted upcoming games

Tacoboto1d 16h ago

It's France too, there's a high likelihood only 1-2 people on the team even had an Xbox.

Profchaos1d 16h ago

Possibly guven all the leaks we know the Xbox brand is really struggling in the region.

Yi-Long1d 13h ago

Well, if your consoles and games are barely found in any stores any more, of course you're gonna struggle finding consumers ...

XiNatsuDragnel1d 15h ago

Tbh Microsoft I think Bethesda being 3rd party same with Activision would probably more competitive than thus scenario imo

Profchaos1d 13h ago (Edited 1d 13h ago )

I think it would have been better for all parties really especially gamers

TheColbertinator1d 14h ago

The recently purchased Activision French offices might take over all the licensing and marketing for Microsoft in France from now on.

Show all comments (21)
280°

Xbox's Preservation Step Sets A Much-Needed Example, Especially For Nintendo

Hanzla from eXputer inquires: "If Xbox can care about preserving its games and legacy, what exactly is wrong with Nintendo, trying to kill game preservation single-handedly?"

purple10112d ago

Ahh yes the good old game preservation of saving all your games to a removable hhd on the Xbox 360, taking it round your mates house, setting up multiple tvs to
Be met with “save data corrupted, please re download”

Or how about removing 360 games
From the store
, download them now or else, and, better hope to god that save data doesn’t corrupt, or it’s lost for ever

Nice one ☝️

Zeref12d ago

It's better than what Nintendo and Playstation is doing. It might not be perfect but at least they are TRYING. Unlike the others.

DarXyde12d ago

Trying? Take off the blinders for a moment, mate.

1. A failure to preserve games is just that: a failure to preserve games. Don't try to sugarcoat it: NO ONE is doing it properly. Better than awful is nothing to write home about.

2. At the time of this comment, isn't it the case that you need an internet connection to play Xbox games even if you buy physical discs that are hardly in circulation anymore? I don't have a Series X and I can't verify, but I think that is correct. I'm fairly certain you can at least play PS5 games at version 1.0 (not much of a win really when many games require day one patches). I think Microsoft's all digital, licensing approach is by far more aggressive than anyone else's. They really try to push you to game pass where you lose your entire library by umm.... Skipping a month of payments.

I don't think anyone is doing it right whatsoever. Don't get me started on Nintendo, who goes after anyone looking to preserve their games better than they ever would with extreme litigation.

Don't be a simp for any of these companies. Get it together.

PhillyDonJawn12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

@DarX never speak on Xbox again. You lost all credibility with your internet connection comment. Smh you have 0 clue and misinformed yet speaking on something you don't no squat about.

Einhander197212d ago

What has Sony done exactly? You guys keep deflecting to Sony but I am not actually seeing any results, and ai am certain nothing that you can come up with even comes close to what Microsoft has done and what they have tried and failed to do, like tie all your disks to your account on xbone.

Microsoft removed their whole indie section when they moved to the xbone because they were going to only allow games on the service that came from a publisher, id@xbox started after xbone launched and it only exists because Sony embraced indie and Microsoft was forced to cancel their plans and reverse course.

And every single game that was part of games for windows live including disk games (I have gta 4 on disk that won't work) so hundreds of games that use that DRM no longer work unless the company themselves patched it out which of course very few did.

MrBaskerville12d ago

Not trying. Tried. they killed of the backcomp program years ago. They set something up again, but sounds like it's more of an attempt to save the current library on whatever they are planning next. With luck they save everything and more, but let's see. I could see them killing off parts of the OG xbox and 360 libraries. Can't imagine that they would allow us to play Forza 5-7 in the future.

With that said, I do like what they've done and really wish they could have done more.

shinoff218311d ago

Zeref

So killing off physical media is trying what exactly. Ms don't really give a fk if you think they do your kidding yourself.

Profchaos11d ago

They are not trying this team is established for forward compatability the team is. It interested in preserving Xbox or 360 games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 11d ago
isarai12d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref12d ago

Just because it's digital only doesn't mean you can't preserve it. Just put it on an external and you have the exact same functionality of what a disc does.

MrNinosan12d ago

Guess you're trolling, but if you actually think that's how it works, I'd recommend buying some braincells.

mkis00711d ago (Edited 11d ago )

Volitile vs nonvolitile data. A disc will not corrupt either. A drive can be corrupted.

Einhander197212d ago

This is just a scammy PR move to distract from the fact they are going digital only and trying to push streaming and subscriptions only.

No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft.

Without discs there is no preservation, preservation can't be done by the rights holders it can only be done by the consumers, anything else is a lie.

12d ago Replies(3)
Einhander197212d ago

Anyone remember xblig which Microsoft removed their whole 360 indie section removing hundreds of games from people?

12d ago
12d ago
Zeref12d ago

Do you know you can put your games on an external and preserve them that way? There are no benefits to discs. ZERO. Idk why some of you are still obsessed with them.

DarXyde12d ago

Because games like Persona 5 exist. It's STILL V1.00. On Playstation, that's a win because 1.00 is installed on the disc—no need to download anything.

If a game does not require any updates, it's all on the disc.

Extremely low bar in the modern era, of course. It's not much of a win by any stretch.

But for now, physical media does have a purpose, at least on Playstation.

Einhander197212d ago

That is factually not how game licensing works, try plugging your hard drive into someone else xbox, It's not going to work, and it won't work if the licensing servers ever go down.

Einhander197212d ago

Anyone remember games for windows live.

I have around a dozen games, some on Steam itself that will not work because Microsoft shut off the licensing servers.

BehindTheRows12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

I do. I STILL have games (Gears of War being the big one) I cannot access because Games for Windows LIVE is total garbage and no one has held Microsoft accountable.

Zeref12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership.

Chevalier12d ago

"You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership."

Damn how many times do people got to explain your idiocy to you? You can take a copy of Persona 5 like someone used as an example and play that game on ANY console WITHOUT logging in which means I can lend the game to a friend without internet and they can play my game. Can you lend your hard drive to anyone without logging in for them to play? NOPE. That is a huge difference and if you think otherwise then sorry you're an idiot.

Tacoboto12d ago

"No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft."

Ubisoft is literally erasing games people bought from their libraries... My PS1-3 discs are useless on modern hardware. Nintendo's re-published and resold almost their entire Wii U library, and the eShop is completely dead with no BC mechanism in the Switch software. Microsoft publishes everything they make today day one on Steam and Xbox/Windows. Sony only brings to PC the titles they think you might want some years later and Nintendo won't even design a functional long-lasting joystick.

You're absolutely trolling and not serious if you think Microsoft today is the worst offender.

shinoff218311d ago

Yay steam

Not everyone fks with computers though. The disc is still the best way as a console player. Period.

Tacoboto11d ago

How do Sony and Nintendo feel about these discs from 2001-2013?

Don't be stupid, you know Xbox is the best at this today.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 11d ago
Hofstaderman12d ago

Nobody wants this. Sales or the lack of it in the case of XBOX is very telling. I wonder how the adorably all digital series X will fare. Adorably dismal perhaps?

crazyCoconuts12d ago

Only time will tell, but for from someone like me suspecting that Xbox is trying to gracefully exit the console market, that "forward compatibility" team is trying to get Xbox games playing on Windows PCs. I mean, it's nice that they're not planning on exiting with a "enjoy your games while the hardware still works" message, so that's nice. They still have a brand to protect via Microsoft so probably feel obligated to have a better exit strategy.

Xeofate11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

That is not their plan, their plan is to transfer users accounts to the cloud.

Phil Spencer himself said as much a few months back, plans could have changed but I think people are reading way too much into one statement where Phil said he would allow Epic on xbox because he wants to be able to sell xbox games directly on other platforms. Aka, instead of selling Sea of Thives through PSN he wants to have an xbox store to sell his games on PlayStation without giving PlayStation any money.

Again, it's extremely unlikely that Phil plans to put PC on xbox and licensing would prevent them from just giving out other publishers games purchased on xbox copies of thier games on PC, Microsoft does not own their games.

crazyCoconuts11d ago

The thing that doesn't align with the cloud strategy is the giving up on exclusives. You'd still need strong exclusives for cloud streaming - it's still a "platform" , just with a lower upfront hardware investment. I feel like they've learned what PS learned with PSNow long ago. We're not ready to stream games and it's only gonna lose them money to try at this point

FinalFantasyFanatic11d ago

I would love that, I'd buy up some of the Xbox games if they could run on PC, like the Rare Replay, Lost Odyssey and Dead or Alive Ultimate, probably a pipe dream though.

Show all comments (43)