If you’ve got an Xbox One, you’ll be excited to know its companion SmartGlass app has a brand new update with a bevy of cool features. Among these awesome additions, is the ability to stream live TV, and record gameplay clips with the push of a button.Previously, Microsoft had been testing these features in beta. However, with SmartGlass now expanding to twenty-nine new markets in the coming weeks, it appears these worthwhile updates will hopefully push for greater global adoption rates.
I probably don’t have to explain why these features would be of use to any gamer or media enthusiast. If a family member happens to be hogging up the big screen, now you can grab your mobile device of choice and watch cable programming directly from there. What I mean is, there’s literally no reason to be interrupted from binges of your favorite shows.
As far as game DVR is concerned, the ability to record game clips via an in-app button is a huge welcome change. Previously, recording gameplay was mostly done by saying “Xbox record that” to a Kinect sensor. However, with Kinect recently debundled from the system, the updated SmartGlass offers a reasonable alternative for those that don’t want to purchase a camera attachment.
If you’re keeping score, it’s also worth noting that no features of this kind have crossed over into Sony’s PlayStation App for PS4. Considering PS4 can’t connect to live TV, SmartGlass has an easy advantage there. Still, it’s not impossible to add a Share button to the app to compete against Xbox One’s new mobile recording features. In case you’re still curious, SmartGlass is currently up for download on iOS and Android platforms.
