Microsoft’s AirPlay Clone “SmartGlass” Coming Soon
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At the Electronics Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles this morning, Microsoft demonstrated its all new AirPlay competitor, SmartGlass, which will allow the Xbox 360 to connect to the iPhone and the iPad.
SmartGlass, much like AirPlay, will allow users to stream content from the iPad and the iPhone to the Xbox 360 connected to a television, as well as display related content on the tablet or phone itself.
To show off the upcoming cross platform functionality, Microsoft displayed a user watching the hit HBO show “Game of Thrones” streaming through the Xbox to the television. As the user watched the show, an interactive map of Westeros (the fictional world the show is based in) was displayed on a tablet in real-time, and continually updated in sync with the program.
Microsoft also demonstrated a new version of Internet Explorer for the Xbox 360, being controlled by a smartphone used as a remote control. SmartGlass will allow users to browse the web using a smartphone or a tablet, which looks very slick.
Upcoming Xbox 360 games, such as “Madden NFL” from EA sports will support SmartGlass, allowing users to use their tablets in conjunction with the game. A video demonstration showed a tablet used to draw and select plays in the game.
In addition to enhancing games and television shows, SmartGlass functions a lot like AirPlay. It allows users to stream content, including movies, television shows, and videos, directly from an iDevice to the Xbox with an included iOS app.
SmartGlass, which is coming later this year, is also designed to work with Google Android, the Microsoft Windows Phone, and Windows 8.
