Microsoft’s Xbox SmartGlass app made its debut on iOS overnight, released as an upgrade to the Redmond company’s previous Xbox Companion app — giving iPhone and iPad users the ability to use their devices as remote controls and second screens for Xbox Live on the Xbox 360.
The experience is similar to Xbox SmartGlass for Windows 8 and Android, letting users navigate the Xbox Live menu by swiping the screen in their hands, search for content including movies and video using text and voice input on the iPhone or iPad, launch programs and music from the device, and control playback, as well.
I’ve been trying it out this morning on my iPhone 4S and there’s something awesome about using an Apple device to control and interact with the Microsoft console.
For the most part, the experience has been seamless, very similar to what I’ve experienced on my Microsoft Surface tablet. That said, the app did crash a couple of times in about an hour of usage. Also, one of the big complaints from iPhone users in the initial App Store reviews is that Microsoft didn’t come out with native support for the iPhone 5’s taller screen.
The free SmartGlass app for iPhone and iPad is available here.
