Lumia, your Xbox and Smartglass: best buds
Whether you’ve got an Xbox 360 or an Xbox One, you’ll want to download SmartGlass – the perfect companion app for your Lumia.
There are two versions of SmartGlass, one for Xbox 360 and another for Xbox One.
While both are designed to connect your Lumia to your Xbox, they work slightly differently due to variations in both the hardware and software of the two consoles.
Xbox 360 SmartGlass
Sit back, turn on your console and use your Nokia Lumia smartphone as a remote.
The Xbox 360, while almost nine years old, has received several software updates over the years that now give it the ability to go beyond ‘just’ playing games. It’s now a fully fledged entertainment machine.
With on-demand internet streaming services such as Netflix, and Xbox Music (to name but a few), and Internet Explorer built in, there’s a whole lot to play with.
Xbox 360 SmartGlass can’t be used as a control pad during gameplay, but you can use it to navigate around your Xbox 360.
Using the on-screen keyboard of your Lumia, tap out a URL or searching for new content.
Using either the Home, Discover, or Bing sections, you can also look-up media content on your Lumia and launch it right on your big-screen TV, via your Xbox 360.
Xbox One SmartGlass
With much newer hardware, and software to match, the Xbox One and Xbox One SmartGlass app are the ultimate partnership.
It’s similar in function to the 360 version, but brings a newly designed UI and loads more features that give you a much richer experience.
For example, behind-the-scenes commentary can be played on your Lumia as you’re watching a movie. You can even bring up things like maps when playing games.
Xbox One SmartGlass can also be used outside of the home.
Using your Lumia, search the entire Xbox catalogue for new content, such as games or music, and then pin it to your Xbox One console. The next time you come home and switch on your TV, you’ll find all that content waiting for you.
You can also track your gaming achievements, message friends and watch game DVR clips.
Do you have an Xbox 360 or an Xbox One? Do you use SmartGlass with your Lumia? What do you think of it? We’d love to know!