Why in the heck are we reporting news on Microsoft?  Good question.  As we briefly touched upon a couple of days ago, in an attempt to integrate seamlessly several media outlets through the medium of one device, your Xbox 360, Microsoft has brought to the table “SmartGlass”.  What is SmartGlass?  It’s quite a few services, features and benefits rolled up into one package.  For starters, it can be considered an application.  An app that allows your phone and tablet to be transformed into another screen, an extension if you will, for your television as well as a game controller and Internet access tool.  The feature will work with iOS, Android and of course, Windows, giving great flexibility and squashing for the most the necessity to go out and purchase a new device for compatibility.  Using your 360 console, your tablet, phone and even PC becomes a multi-screen companion for your convenience and at your fingertips.  For example, the company demo’d Game of Thrones on the TV via the Xbox, a SmartGlass enabled tab was showing a map of Westeros and other pertinent info related to the show.  In addition, the content itself can either be pushed from the PC, phone or tab to the Xbox or from the Xbox to the TV set.  SmartGlass seamlessly integrates all devices to work together to enhance the media experience.  Furthermore, in addition to these avenues , gaming was taken to another level as the company demo’d how the user could use the tab as a playbook while playing Madden on the 360 console.  The company is also reportedly adding Internet Explorer to the Xbox and will allow you to use your Android smartphone as a mouse.  Yes, a mouse I said.  This will allow you to surf the mighty web on the big screen using the smartphone as a mouse to navigate.  As most who follow Microsoft know, it’s no hidden agenda that the company aims to make their Xbox 360 the center hub to control all of your media, thus transforming your living room experience with their product at the helm.  It will be the hub that powers all, so to speak.  Only time will tell how the product ultimately pans out and whether or not Android devices will integrate into the mix with little effort.  Stay tuned and as we find out.  Feel free to offer your thoughts in the comments section below.

source: Gizmodo