Microsoft has just announced that it is bringing Internet Explorer to the Xbox 360. This will be the first time that the Microsoft console has been home to a proper web browser and it looks like the most fully-featured console browser available (which is not difficult…)
The stage demo showed it working with voice control, smartphone and linking into their new “Smart Glass” system, essentially interactivity between your console and a second screen like a smartphone or tablet. It looks like Windows Phones or tablets only, which is a shame. Smartglass even provides peripheral information on the extra device, so you can get extra information on TV shows or movies.
Internet Explorer on Xbox 360 ran an HD movie trailer for Prometheus which actually spoils one of the best tense moments of the movie so perhaps skip ahead a minute or two if you’re watching a recap…
All in all, it looked very impressive but Smart Glass is going to need to embrace iOS and Android if they want it to hit a wider audience and there’s no surefire way to be totally confident in Internet Explorer on 360 – we’ve been burned by that particular browser many times before.
Update: We’ve checked and it seems that Smart Glass will also be available on iOS and Android, so that’s a bonus!
OneShotWook
Well if this is the big news this year i’m kind’ve glad,at least i can save some cash this year,maybe buy a new mouse.
hazelam
i would actually be happy about this news, but i know ms will require a gold sub to let me use it.
colmshan1990
At the end of the Smartglass section, he mentioned xbox games on Win8 tablets and PC…
Could be huge.
Didn’t show it though, might just be a possibility they’re throwing out there in case Sony announce something similar through a link-up with Onlive, Gaikai or somebody.
Or even open up Remote Play to have it show whatever the PS3 is doing.
DividSmythe
Exciting,Ok! I’m so glad I stopped in the PUB 2 hours longer than I did! Rite survival for another 6 hours. Maybe ;p
TSBonyman
Interesting, some of it might be useful. Nothing really to draw me in though.