Xbox One owners will now be able to control their console with a smartphone or tablet thanks to Microsoft’s SmartGlass technology.
Microsoft announced today that it is rolling out Xbox One OneGuide functionality to its SmartGlass app for selected users, giving gamers a universal remote to control their television, cable and Xbox One.
With SmartGlass, Xbox One owners will be able to click a DVR button to access recorded shows, view entire OneGuide listings, and see a “recent channels” layout built just for the second screen. These new features are all in addition to the ability to change channels, volume and other basic functions that come with SmartGlass.
While it has been available for U.S. users since launch, Microsoft is also now rolling out the OneGuide TV guide service with Kinect voice commands in Europe and Canada to select users.
These updates come a day after Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced that Phil Spencer, former chief of Microsoft Studios, will be the new head of Xbox. Spencer is filling the hole left by Marc Whitten, the longtime Xbox leader who recently joined Sonos, which makes entertainment equipment for the living room.
Here’s a video that explains some of the new Xbox One features:
