'Xbox Companion App' lets you control an Xbox 360 from a Windows Phone

by JC Fletcher on Oct 5th 2011 7:30PM

Microsoft just announced that the Xbox 360 is connecting to all kinds of TV and movie services. At the same time, quietly, it announced a new way for Windows Phone devices to connect to the Xbox.

The upcoming Xbox Companion App allows users to browse the Xbox Live Marketplace on their phones, and then, having found content, play it on their Xboxes. For example, you can control video playback and navigate Xbox menus from your phone -- just in case, we suppose, your controller happens to be out of reach and you don't have a Kinect.

There's no date on the app -- only "coming soon" -- but whenever it does launch, it'll be free.

[Thanks, Menzlo]

Source: Windows Team Blog

Tags: microsoft, mobile, windows-phone-7, xbox, xbox-companion-app

Reader Comments (55)

too bad nobody owns one.

get us the app for android!

I own one. Earlier this year when I was due to get a new phone, I started looking at smart phones. My dad offered me his super nice Android phone, but after using it and then trying a Windows Phone, there was no chance in hell I was getting stuck with an Android.

All the Xbox integration, marketplace growth, and Mango update have been making me glad I made the choice I did. Here's to yet another reason to look into getting a WP7.

@aray48 Yea.. nobody owns one, no one at all...
*slips phone back in to pocket*

@Mouthsmasher

I'm not saying the platform is bad, because I know it's not. It's just that I wish they would be open to getting stuff like this on Android. More people own android phones than windows phones and it's sad that people like me don't get this cool stuff =[

@Mouthsmasher I love my iPhone, but if I had to choose a different smartphone I would have to go with Windows Phone.

@aray48 How did my second comment get downvoted? I said the platform is great but not lots of people have it...god people are idiots

@Mouthsmasher I think I'll make the switch to Win phone when I'm ready for an upgrade. I've got the Evo and an iPhone. I'd have to drop the EVO to get it. How does gmail do on the Windows phones? How about the calendar? I use that a TON to remind me of anything and everything. How about the battery life?

@aray48 Owned it for a week now and it is an excellent phone compared to my former blackberry.

@aray48

I've owned mine for about 2 months now?

Office intergration alone makes it indisposible for work.

@Mouthsmasher owning and loving mine as well.

Smooth UI, and earning an achievement on my ride to school feels oh so awesome.

@AFATALERR0R
Also, battery life is somewhere close to the iPhone 4. It varies person-to-person obviously and the device you choose. But my Samsung Focus holds its own well.

@AFATALERR0R
Gmail integration is seamless, I combined my gmail and yahoo into one inbox. The calendar is also intuitive and easy to use. Just click a date and write in your event.

I've had my HD7 since last November, and I love the damn thing. Now with the mango update, it feels like an upgraded phone. It feels like something different, and it's just fun to use.

K I'm done :)

@aray48

Add me to the list of happy WP owners. Microsoft has released a lot of apps for iPhone and Android if you care to take a look, so its not totally out of the question for them to port this app.

But I really couldn't blame them if they kept it exclusive. Last I checked Apple wasn't trying to release an app to allow Android/Blackberry/WP devices to control Apple TV...

@Mouthsmasher
The xbox stuff is the only reason I would want one. lol

@aray48
hope you continue to enjoy the force closes and occasional lag (or a lot of lag) depending on the device u have. i had a captivate (galaxy s) and a evo4g and cannot tell you how aggravating force close is. i will not pay my good money for something that is seriously half baked and unpolished

@AFATALERR0R; To answer your questions, Gmail works great on the Windows Phone. There's an e-mail app, and I have it set up to both my gmail and hotmail accounts. Microsoft treat's it as fairly as it does my hotmail account, and it's a top notch application. I love it.

The calendar is also great. Visually it's quite nice, and very easy to organize and use. If you so desire, the phone will link it to either your google and/or facebook calendar's as well. I've got mine set up like that, so all my facebook events and facebook friends' birthdays show up on the calendar.

As for the battery life, I don't know how it compares, but I easily make it through the day on a single charge. The only time it's run out has been during long car rides without a charger, or when I watch multiple full length movies. I'm sure it varies from phone model to phone model though. Mine is the HTC Arrive.

I'd urge anyone to visit the phone's site: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsphone/en-US/default.aspx

Sorry if my comment sounded like a personal attack (because it wasn't meant as such)... But Microsoft kind of wants people to buy THEIR phone, and exclusive apps and features is a great way to do that. Office, Xbox Live, bing, Zune and other product exclusivity is PART of WP7's draw.

When someone buys a phone, part of their decision is whether they want all of Google's "cool stuff" on Android or Microsoft (and Xbox)'s "cool stuff" on the Window's Phone. Frankly, those who purchase an Android (or iPhone) forfeit their right to Microsoft's "cool stuff" in favor of whichever platform they deemed better.

You can't have it all, so choose whichever has more of the features you want. In my case, Windows Phone had much more to offer, and thus far I've been 100% satisfied with my decision.

@aray48

Also have one

@aray48
You beat me to it.

So DOWNVOTE ME TOO!

@aray48

Agreed! I could use an app like this on my iPhone. If it was a pay app for proper Xbox Live integration (friends lists, messages, gamerscore, achievements, etc) - I would definitely invest my dollars into it (no more than $2 of course!).

I'm willing to bet Microsoft would probably make more money creating this kind of app for multiple platforms then leaving it as a Microsoft Phone only product. But I guess if they did that, there would be even less reasons to invest in a Microsoft Phone...

You lost me at "Windows Phone".

Do want.

.....

On Android.

Speaking of Apps....

Steve Jobs is dead....

@Timjoy I know i read it on Gizmodo and thought now way...sad

@Timjoy
lol why is this downvoted?
He is seriously dead. Not figuratively, but literally.

@Timjoy

I have no idea why your downvoted man. I just read the news just now. Be you a Mac fan or a PC fan. This is a sad day for the Computer Industry.

Hat's off to you Steve, may you be in peace knowing what you gave the world.

@wunwunx

My guess is because, while timely, it's kind of off-topic. Though I guess it's natural to want to discuss something while it's fresh. I didn't vote either way, just guessing as to why people did. I can see it.

@wunwunx
He really did die
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Apple-says-company-cofounder-apf-2413458028.html?x=0

@wunwunx Probably because it not on topic, at all.

@Timjoy

Just read. Very sad news.

@Timjoy I guess the new iPhone is to die for!

Too soon?

@Ainwaith

What is this world coming to when people think it's okay to post a joke online in response to a death immediately after it's announced? Too soon? Yeah! Good Lord.

Proof that Steve can only be in a better place than this now.

I have a Windows Phone, and it's awesome. Looking forward to the app.

I have an Android, and want a Windows Phone.

Not too exciting....
Now if it could integrate games with the device, like letting people scroll through and pick a song out my Rock Band catalog while others were playing, then push that over to the XBox to add to a playlist....that would be sweet.

@mkrajew
That would require Harmonix' support as well. This is just Microsoft stuff. So instead of adding to a current Rock Band playlist, it could [buy/]queue a download of a new Rock Band song from the marketplace.

This is great news for those 28 people or so that own Windows Phones.

@houstons85 it's bad enough that this joke is lame, but you couldn't even be the first in this thread to make it!

@premiumdude

It looks like all 28 of them are also repeatedly downvoting anyone who talks badly about that crappy phone

"Hey let's put a lamer version of our bloated p-OS on a phone!"
"That's brilliant!"
"Then we can push a even more bloated and poorly designed version of THAT back on to the desktops!"
"High five!"

@FredMC; How is it that our faithful "28" seem to be outnumbering your endless hoard of mindless droids?

@FredMC
"That's brilliant?"
"High Five?"

Too much guiness and Borat, methinks.

@FredMC

So have you actually used the phone?

R.i.P. Steve. You were a genius.

@FippyX

He helped save PIXAR as part of his legacy. Yes, he was.

To hell with this story, sad news indeed about Steve Jobs

I love my Windows Phone.

@MouseChristmas

I've thoroughly enjoyed mine as well for the 3 months or so that I've had it. Nice to see all the positive comments about WP on here and the downvoting on the negative ones! I feel validated!

Kewl.

I must be one of those 28 people that has a wp7..... AND I LOVE IT! My wp7 rocks! I love my Zune pass!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Looking forward to using Xbox Companion App!

I love my WP7 for reasons like this. Can't wait.

| 1 | 2 | Most Recent | Next 50 Comments

'Xbox Companion App' lets you control an Xbox 360 from a Windows Phone

Reader Comments (55)

Posted: Oct 5th 2011 7:32PM aray48 said

Posted: Oct 5th 2011 7:45PM Mouthsmasher said

Posted: Oct 5th 2011 7:49PM Mazrael said

Posted: Oct 5th 2011 8:11PM aray48 said

Posted: Oct 5th 2011 8:31PM mguniverse said

Posted: Oct 5th 2011 8:35PM aray48 said

Posted: Oct 5th 2011 9:12PM AFATALERR0R said

Posted: Oct 5th 2011 9:13PM Fire Walk With Me said

Posted: Oct 5th 2011 9:24PM R Planteer said

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Posted: Oct 6th 2011 1:26AM simbadogg said

Posted: Oct 6th 2011 1:42AM Mouthsmasher said

Posted: Oct 6th 2011 2:11AM Mouthsmasher said

Posted: Oct 6th 2011 10:56AM Vulok said

Posted: Oct 6th 2011 1:42PM Klearwater Killer said

Posted: Oct 6th 2011 1:47PM Axcalibur said

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Posted: Oct 5th 2011 7:34PM mikesanto said

Posted: Oct 5th 2011 7:39PM Timjoy said

Posted: Oct 5th 2011 7:50PM rambo8 said

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Posted: Oct 5th 2011 8:00PM Stevetrop Man of Mystery said

Posted: Oct 5th 2011 8:02PM TheBrainninja said

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Posted: Oct 5th 2011 8:16PM CaptainProtonX said

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Posted: Oct 5th 2011 9:40PM ItsameMatt03 said

Posted: Oct 5th 2011 7:42PM spaceghostinME said

Posted: Oct 5th 2011 7:48PM wunwunx said

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Posted: Oct 5th 2011 8:18PM wunwunx said

Posted: Oct 5th 2011 7:51PM houstons85 said

Posted: Oct 5th 2011 8:13PM premiumdude said

Posted: Oct 5th 2011 10:50PM FredMC said

Posted: Oct 6th 2011 1:56AM Mouthsmasher said

Posted: Oct 6th 2011 2:33AM theSkillfull1 said

Posted: Oct 6th 2011 10:39AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 5th 2011 8:01PM FippyX said

Posted: Oct 5th 2011 8:19PM CaptainProtonX said

Posted: Oct 5th 2011 8:24PM Hoops said

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Posted: Oct 5th 2011 9:47PM tylerh1701 said

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