Microsoft SmartGlass aims to connect your screens

At the E3 conference, Microsoft unveiled SmartGlass that aims to connect all your living room screens via Xbox360. With AirPlay-style features, you can stream your media content between screens, and let a smartphone/tablet function as a second screen for your Xbox 360.

Microsoft SmartGlass
Microsoft took the wraps off of its latest projects at E3, including the all-new SmartGlass feature that will launch in the fall.


Microsoft presents SmartGlass – a multi-screen sharing technology

SmartGlass covers a range of features:
It lets users stream video/music/images from their smartphone/tablet onto the big screen via Xbox360. And it works for Windows Mobile, iOS and Android – and PC.
It allows Xbox360 games and apps to utilize the tablet/smartphone screen as a second screen, providing additional information.
It works as a remote / game controller for your Xbox360 games (and is open to developers)
It works as a touch pad / zoom pad for the upcoming Internet Explorer browser coming to Xbox360.

It sounds extremely promising and based on the positive feedback Apple’s AirPlay feature has received, Microsoft will surely wow many users. It is great to see cross-paltform support but we fear that integration on iOS / Android devices is somewhat limited, as we can imagine that you have to do all these things inside the app – just like on Smart TVs. Nevertheless, try to check out Microsoft’s SmartGlass presentation below. There is certainly something to look forward to.

Microsoft also gave an example of the second-screen implementation where a game is running on the big living room TV and the tablet screen is used as a “map” that helps players navigate inside the game world.

Microsoft SmartGlass requires an Xbox360 connected to a TV screen. SmartGlass will launch in fall 2012.