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!
cc_star
Smartglass has the potential to be amazing, will need to see/hear more about the details, but definite potential to be a game-changer there.
colossalblue
And something Sony should have been doing since the PSP/PS3/Ericsson era. SIGH.
Kamokazi-UK
I agree, hence the ‘like’ box which in turn I ‘Like’.
blast71
me 2
ThoughtPolice
Sounds like just a proprietary version of DLNA push..
It also sounds like someone hasn’t tried the PS3’s browser lately. It’s ALOT better than it used to be, it even outscores Internet Explorer on HTML5Test.com
colossalblue
tested it out about four months ago and it barely worked. Java support was abysmal, HTML5 not great either. Only thing worse was the Vita browser. Have they made it work since then?
TROPtastic
Yeah both the PS3 browser and the Vita browser actually score higher than Internet Explorer 8, but to be fair, that isn’t that hard considering IE 8 is garbage.
As far as usability goes, I cannot vouch for the Vita browser since I don’t have a Vita, but the PS3’s browser is actually pretty good. The main reason (apart from having a good computer with Chrome) I don’t use it more often is that I can’t seem to get YouTube videos to display in HD…
Other than that, it’s a decent browser for something running off a console.
bluetemplar
Think I’m missing something about this – if you’ve got a phone or tablet in your hand – why would you use it to control IE on your console rather than just use the browser on the device??
fattyuk
it’s more than that you can use smart glass as a 2nd screen for games
bluetemplar
Yeah I got that bit, it seems pretty cool – I just didnt get the bit about using the browser, with the emphasis being on using a second internet connected device – seemed a bit redundant
fattyuk
Only for windows phones and tablets?
it said iPhone and iPad aswell
Spence1115
And Android.
Kennykazey
It was confirmed for iOS, Android and Windows Mobile OS (whatever it’s called) as well as Windows 8.
colossalblue
yep, they brushed over it a bit and then talked a lot about “tablets” and “smartphones”.
It’s easy to miss things when you’ve got three screens of stuff to keep track of and you’re trying to write up the story! Amended the article now :)
Mickey2010
The Internet explore stole the show for me! Also Tomb Raider looked epic
hazelam
“the xbox will never have a browser” they said.
HA.
TROPtastic
But, but, Xbox still won’t have a real browser… :P
Joking aside, if Microsoft can put something akin to IE 10 on the 360, then that would be pretty impressive. However, if they put something like IE 8, then that’s not very impressive.
stage1
Matt and Trey ripping on this was hilarious.
For me, these were the only two things that were great about the conference. Everything else was a bit ‘meh’.
Kennykazey
I also liked the embarassing silence that came every time after the word “Kinect” was spoken during the “hold for applause”.
hazelam
yeah, definitely the most entertaining couple of minutes of the show.
Kennykazey
Smart Glass, it’s like a big middle finger @ Nintendo’s Wii U.
“With the devices you already own.”
This could be huge, I wonder if Sony has something similar up their sleeve.
seedaripper1973
Well colour me unimpressed, here’s hoping the other shows (mainly Sony) come up with the goods (6 years for a bloody browser, woopdeedoo)
gazzagb
Having iOS, Android capability is brilliant, they’ve smashed the Wii U controller. Sony can utilise remote play with PSP + Vita, although the downside is they’re expensive to buy.
The Lone Steven
Why the heck did they have to spoil Promethus!? WHY!? Why not show a clip from a film from a few years ago or even better, from Aliens?
It has potential if used correctly but i think most gamers would prefer to use one device at a time. I know i do. As for IE, still better then the PS3 browser. But i wonder if we can download FF or Chrome onto the 360 to replace it?
stage1
With MS known for locking down the 360, I don’t think it will be an option.