The SmartGlass beta for Xbox One is pretty awesome

[Steve]

One new feature that I really like is the ability to access the OneGuide. When you install apps on the console, they automatically add themselves as channels, so you get a list like this: -

 

http://i.imgur.com/9NcYnzg.jpg

 

Then you can swipe up and down to browse them. When you tap on one, it expands like this: -

 

http://i.imgur.com/cz2Hb7R.jpg

 

Then you can swipe left and right to browse the content, in this case, the top movies on Amazon Instant Video. When you tap on a movie, you get this: -

 

http://i.imgur.com/MimJMDV.jpg

 

Then if you hit the play button, it automatically launches the Amazon Instant Video app on the Xbox One and the movie starts playing straight away, and the phone screen becomes a remote control: -

 

http://i.imgur.com/vceuG5L.jpg

 

If you've got a cable or satellite box connected to your Xbox One, you can also browse a complete TV guide and tap on programmes to play them in just the same way. You can add both TV and app channels to a favourites list.

 

You can also use your phone or tablet as a full remote for the Xbox One and all apps now, and you can set it to send notifications to your phone or tablet when friends that you've added to your favourites come online. They've done a really good job with this!

 

I don't know what other platforms the beta is available on, but it's definitely available on Android. You can download it here: -

 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.xboxone.smartglass.beta

 

It doesn't replace your existing SmartGlass installation if you've already got the regular version installed.

[Ryan]

Been using it as a remote since last week. Seems good