Xbox One will soon stream video to phones and tablets

The Xbox One wowed gamers and other living room dwellers when it came out, and a new update should cause a little more joy — and help Microsoft extend further into your media life.

Xbox One preview members will be able to stream video to Microsoft, Android, and iOS phones and tablets one they install Microsoft’s SmartGlass app on their home network. Mobile device users will be able to pause, play and rewind, and change channels without interrupting gameplay on the Xbox One, according to an Xbox blog post.

The streaming functionality will debut in countries where Microsoft has already launched its digital TV tuner product, with U.S. availability following later.

However, consumers in the U.S. can already get mobile device streaming from the set-top box free from Time Warner Cable. Comcast customers can get the same thing for a small fee.

The dashboard on the Xbox One will soon be able to boot directly to the TV, and the programming guide will include a live mini channel guide at the bottom of the screen that can be used to change channels.

The update will also add a new media player that will happily play content from USB sticks.

The new interface will include a Snap Center that lets viewers run apps side-by-side with games. Users will be able to move easily back-and-forth from games to apps like messages, friends, parties, and achievements, Microsoft says.

A new Friends section will let users see their social stuff without necessarily having to open the dedicated app. They can stay up-to-date with the most popular games their friends are playing, and see a Gamerscore leaderboard containing friends scores over the last 30 days.

The new features will come to regular Xbox users “at different stages” over the coming months.

Via: The Verge and Microsoft