Forthcoming Xbox One update will allow you to stream live TV to your SmartGlass app
Xbox One owners who happen to use the SmartGlass app on their Android devices will love this bit of news out of Gamescom this morning. Major Nelson has announced a new upgrade that’ll bring a ton of great new features, including proper DLNA support, the Snap Center and more. The bit that you Android toting folks will likely care about, though, is the ability to stream live TV from your Xbox One console to your Android phone or tablet via the SmartGlass app.
Here’s the bullet point right from the Major’s blog:
Stream TV to SmartGlass – launching first in markets receiving the Xbox Digital TV Tuner, Xbox One owners will be able to stream their TV across their home network to their smartphones and tablets using the Xbox SmartGlass app. They can also pause, play and rewind as well as change channels, without interrupting gameplay on the Xbox One. This will work for SmartGlass apps on Windows, iOS, and Android.
That “home network” bit means you won’t be able to drive 50 miles to work and watch your live TV, but if you or a loved one is at home and looking to watch some TV while the Xbox One is being used for gaming, this is a great way to compromise. There are a couple of things to note in terms of the feature’s availability:
- It will launch first in the markets where Microsoft is testing their new digital TV tuner accessory for folks who don’t have a cable TV or satellite setup hooked up to their Xbox One. Those test markets include UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. The accessory will become available for everyone else in October.
- It’ll be subject to you getting the over-the-air upgrade that’ll add all these goods, though Microsoft hasn’t yet given a timeline as to when this upgrade will be ready. We’re sure folks in the preview program will be first in line, but their only estimation is “in the coming months.”
Knowing that, though, you’re free to get excited for its arrival if you’ve been waiting for something like this. You can find out everything else being included in this upgrade by heading to Major Nelson’s blog here, and don’t forget you can check right here for all the Microsoft @ Gamescom coverage you can handle. And why not check out the SmartGlass Android app while you’re at it? A handy download link is sitting right below if you don’t already have the app loaded up on your phone or tablet.