App of the Day - Xbox SmartGlass

Microsoft are keen to promote the Xbox 360 as a one stop shop device for all your media needs, as well as it's core use as a games console. Over the last year we have seen on demand TV services added, Netflix support and a refreshed Zune store for downloading films to your device. The Xbox 360 interface has recently had a slight refresh, bringing it inline with the Windows 8 Metro menu system. The previous incarnation of the Xbox UI was so similar, they where probably using it as a way of introducing the live tiles interface we see in Windows 8 and Windows Phone. For Microsoft's next trick: Xbox SmartGlass.

Microsoft's new phone/tablet app: Xbox SmartGlass is compatible with almost all devices (Windows 8, Windows Phone, iOS & Android 4+) so what you have you can probably get connected. And theres no real set up to do, as everything is linked to your Microsoft (typically hotmail) account. This app replaces "My Xbox Live" on iOS.

The new apps as the remote control function of the My Xbox Live app, but much improved. No need to tap arrow keys anymore, just swipe left to go left, and tap anyway to press A. This makes using the remote much more intuitive. X, Y & B have all move to the extremities of the screen so you can actually use it whilst looking at the TV, and not your phone/tablet. This is an experience much more like using an Xbox controller, as you don't need to keeping looking down.

Once you have a game or film running on the Xbox the SmartGlass app displays additional information. A synopsis of the movie, or the map when you are playing Forza Horizon. Even an onscreen keyboard for browsing the internet with IE9 for Xbox 360, and especially handing when using your Xbox to update Facebook, send a tweet or chat using Windows Live Messenger.

For more information check out: xbox.com/smartglass

Control your Xbox from My Xbox Live App

The My Xbox Live App was reviewed on Web Warp Blog last year, but Microsoft have added a new feature in the current version of the free iOS app - Xbox Control.

Exclusively from the iOS app users can remotely control their Xbox over the internet. In practice this enables you to launch apps such as Netflix or BBC iPlayer from your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch and choose to watch a movie/TV programme, without having to use your Xbox controller. When you are in these Xbox Live Applications you can navigate through the on screen menus in the normal fashion because the app displays virtual Xbox controller buttons for you, as shown in the screen capture below.

This is similar to Apple's Remote App for Apple TV but it's missing one vital feature. When you go to search for content on an Apple TV using the the Remote app the iOS on screen keyboard appears for quick and easy searching. Trying a Bing search using the My Xbox Live app and you still have to navigate using the left, right and A buttons. Not really making best use of the iPhone's capabilities, and almost rendering the app little more than just a really neat way to launch a game (assuming the right disk is in the Xbox).

My Xbox Live is now also available for Android devices via Google Play, but doesn't include the ability to control the Xbox remotely - yet.

Halo 4 - More News

[UPDATE: Halo 4's release date is 6/11/12]

With Halo 4 still at least 6 months from it's release date of Holiday 2012 you wouldn't expect too much information about the game, but here's a quick round of what we know so far.

Halo 4 will be the first game in a new trilogy, set in the aftermath of Halo 3. It is rumoured to feature a new foe that will justify a new story line. You will be playing as the Master Chief himself and the game will feature that hugely popular multiplayer mode. There will also be a new multiplayer mode called Spartan-Ops, similar to Call of Duty's Spec-Ops, co-operative missions. These will be independent of the campaign story.

Halo 4 sports a new soundtrack composed by Neil Davidge. The games makers, 343 Industries, insist that they will keep Halo 4 true to the Halo series, but make it better in every way. New weapons, re-imagined old weapons and even a new ability, will all make for new and exciting game play for hardcore Halo fans and newbie's alike.

Feel free to comment below, and share your excitment for Halo 4! Web Warp Blog will keep you up to date with all the latest news, you can follow on Twitter, Facebook and Google+, so you never miss a post.

More information on the Halo 4 official site.

Here's the teaser trailer, which was featured on the blog back in June last year.



Video from IGN's Halo 4 YouTube Channel

Kinect for Windows

Microsoft's Xbox 360 accessory Kinect comes to Windows PC's.

Kinect is an array of sensors which allow you to interact with technology in a completely new and intuitive way. There is no ergonomically designed controller... there is only you! Kinect works by using a variety of cameras, both visual and infrared to detect your position in 3D. The software can identify and track your joints/skeleton to allow for a 'virtual' you to carry out movements in an Xbox 360 game. Kinect is also a microphone and can accept data input as spoken word.

In May 2012 version 1.5 will bring greater power to the Kinect software. This will enable skeletal tracking of seated people and great language support, as reported by Engadget. The update will also include "Kinect Studio" to give developers more tools to develop applications for use with the kinect sensor.

Microsoft have removed the limitation of using the Kinect sensor on an Xbox 360 games console and allowing it's use for Windows PC's. This technology is really powerful when applied to all sorts of applications. Microsoft highlight on their webpage, Kinect for Windows Features, applications such as in stroke patients recovery, interacting with presentations in schools and interacting with computers in "minority report" stlye.

For more information see Microsofts Kinect for Windows page.

Do you use Kinect for Windows? We would love to hear from you about your experiences. Feel free to comment below or contact Web Warp Blog using Facebook or Twitter.

My Xbox Live App

Microsoft have launched a mobile app as a companion to the latest Xbox live software update which launched yesterday. The new app, called "My Xbox Live", features social contacts, achievements and your avatar. The app is free and available for iOS and Windows Phone 7 users. The app is optimised for the iPad too. Details from Microsoft.

Halo 4

Halo 4 - enough said!

Check out the trailer from E3!


Thanks to my mate @Alec87 for sending me the link to this :-) This is going to be epic!!!

Excess Instructions

Now most people tend not to read the instructions that accompany their new technology purchase, be it a clock radio, HD TV or a new Windows 7 Laptop, so why do (some) companies insist on supplying paper instructions in every language in the world! This is quite an exaggeration but my point is that a wireless headset for an xbox 360 doesn't really require an entire forest worth of paper for instructions!

Xbox 360 Facelift

It's a couple of months now since the launch of the new xbox 360 hardware featuring a shiny slimline body and Kinect ready port. Now they have updated the on-screen look too. The new system is a compulsory download from the 1st November 2010 and brings the required settings and compatibility for the new Kinect system which will be in stores before Christmas.

The new look is based on the NXE which replaced the old Dashboard system in November 2008. The xbox website has also undergone a refresh, and is much quicker too. Check it out at www.xbox.com.

Kinect, xbox's controller free gaming experience hits the shops in the USA on 4/11/2010. For more details: Xbox 360 Kinect

NEW XBOX EXPERIENCE

The New Xbox Experience (NXE) has arrived! I've downloaded it through Xbox Live (which was quick and painless) and am immediately impressed. As previewed on the Xbox website the NXE is a slick and stylish update of Xbox 360 user interface (UI). The improved UI features avatars (similar to the Nintendo Wii avatar's) and improved usability. The 'spotlight' channel (that used to be a slow news feed) is fast (if not instant) to load with new and upcoming content. The general Xbox options such as music playing and settings are now much easy to access through the revised Xbox Guide button, which means almost anything can be done in game/in movie/etc. There are several new features that include 'Party' which lets you private chat with up to 7 other Xbox friends at once and the burn disc feature which can speed up loading times and reduce disk noise.