October 26th 2012 8:12 am PT

Windows 8 is now available

Today is a big day for everyone here at Microsoft, as Windows 8 and Surface is now available.  If you haven’t had a chance to play around with Windows 8 yet, you should check out the Windows blog on what to expect. If you are an Xbox 360 owners will be using Windows 8 you have a lot of great stuff in store for you and I wanted to take a moment to highlight a few of them.  Xbox is being delivered as the premium entertainment experience on Windows 8, with four Windows 8-style apps launching today: Xbox Games, Xbox Video, Xbox Music and Xbox SmartGlass. Xbox Games, Xbox Video and Xbox Music are preinstalled and the default experiences on Windows 8 and Xbox SmartGlass is available now as a free download in the Windows Store.

These apps will be available today on Windows 8 tablets and PCs and will become available on Windows Phone 8 when it ships.

Xbox SmartGlass
The power of companion scenarios come to life in new ways with Xbox SmartGlass, a new free Xbox app which enables your PC, tablet and phone to connect to your Xbox console in an intelligent way. Use your tablet to launch and navigate a movie on your TV and get rich details on the cast, crew and storyline. Pull the movie back to your tablet to finish watching it on the go. Use your phone or tablet as another great remote, and easily navigate your entertainment and menus by simple flicks, gestures and pinch and zoom.

 

Xbox Music
Xbox Music is the ultimate all-in-one music service, and features free streaming music on Windows 8* and Windows RT devices, as well as the ability to buy songs and albums**, an Xbox Music Pass**, artist-based radio via Smart DJ, plus comprehensive discovery from one of the world’s largest music catalogs. It’s a brand-new service, built from the ground up to meet all your music needs across your tablet, PC, phone and TV. Xbox Music is one of three pre-installed Xbox apps in Windows 8.

Xbox Video
With Xbox Video, you can browse and search the latest blockbuster movies and last night’s episode of your favorite TV shows, with more than 150,000 movies and TV shows available globally. You can buy a TV episode and rent or buy the movie of your choice. In addition to having access to the latest movies and TV shows, you can also see your videos in your local collection and play them back in a touch-optimized playback experience on your Windows 8 PC or tablet.

Xbox Games
 Back in August, I posted the list of the first wave of games coming in Windows 8. With Xbox on Windows 8, we created easy entry points into the types of entertainment that you’ll enjoy, including games. The Games app prominently features your Avatar, profile, friends and Gamerscore and allows you to explore your friends’ avatars, compare gamer stats and browse any of the top panels including Spotlight, Games Activity, Windows Games and Xbox Game Marketplace. Through these panels, learn about new games for your Windows 8 PC or tablet, or purchase digital Xbox 360 games and queue them to download on the console. The Games Activity Panel includes all of the games you own, with Xbox LIVE titles played on the console, phone and Windows to help you easily find games with Achievements, leaderboards and a connection to your friends on the Xbox LIVE service.

More from the Xbox Chief Marketing Officer

Update: Xbox SmartGlass for Android is now available

 

*On Oct. 26, Xbox Music offers free streaming music on Windows 8 and Windows RT in: France, Germany, Italy, Australia, Spain, Canada, Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Austria, Ireland, Portugal, New Zealand, the U.K. and the U.S.

**On Oct. 26, Xbox Music Pass and Xbox Music Store are available in: France, Germany, Italy, Australia, Spain, Canada, Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Austria, Ireland, Portugal, New Zealand, Brazil, Mexico, Sweden, Denmark, Argentina, Finland, Norway, the U.K. and the U.S.

Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox Live By Larry Hryb, Xbox LIVE's Major Nelson

permalink: http://majornelson.com/2012/10/26/windows-8-is-now-available/

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1840226156 Łukasz Str

    Omg not for Poland, Xbox Music ;/ sadly.

  • http://www.facebook.com/DrunkenShaolin Stacy Daniels

    any love for android or ios support this year.

    • massline

      Do yourself a favor and upgrade to a Lumia.

      • http://twitter.com/KallyndaNai Kallynda Nai

        Get out.

        • Russell Gorall

          You, too.

      • http://twitter.com/karlcramer Karl Cramer

        As soon as my contract expires.

    • http://www.facebook.com/chris.grub.5 Chris Grub

      How about support today!

  • http://twitter.com/Chaosprower Chaosprower

    Why isn’t half of the first wave of 40 games announced in August available yet?

  • tceffErorriM

    When will we see the Smart Glass app for Android?

  • http://twitter.com/DCOneFourSeven David Clarke

    Are there any ETAs for the iOS & Android SmartGlass apps?

  • 3RI

    IOS app?

  • http://www.majornelson.com Major Nelson

    When the iOS and Android SmartGlass apps are available, I’ll let you know. I do not have an ETA.

    • http://www.facebook.com/DrunkenShaolin Stacy Daniels

      ＴＨＡＮＫＳ

    • http://twitter.com/DCOneFourSeven David Clarke

      Understandable. I’m looking forward to it.

    • http://twitter.com/dibils dibils

      oh ok i was wondering where it was

    • Avatar Roku

      Smartglass is awesome on Windows Phone. It will definitely be pinned at the top of my Lumia 920.

    • http://twitter.com/sevenalive Robert Baker

      Please support Android Tablets!

    • Shawn McLeod

      The Android App has been available for a few days.

  • uberlaff

    If you purchase music on Xbox Music on Windows 8 (or Windows Phone) can you stream the music to your Xbox?

  • http://twitter.com/Quickos Grant Quick

    I thought the Xbox Music app was supposed to include SkyDrive music streaming for those of us with our music stored in the cloud? Is this a planned feature?

  • Russell Gorall

    Any ETA on the new Zunes?

    • JoeGrahamcracker

      zunes are underrated man! Ipods are half the quality, but people are more worried about being “koo”

  • http://www.facebook.com/luke.england.9 Luke England

    I’m curious as to the relationship between my Lumia 900 and Xbox Music. If I subscribe to Xbox Music, can I use my Zune client still with my phone and get unlimited downloads, etc?

  • http://twitter.com/ChicoEdge Chico Edge

    If I have a game on the Xbox 360 (say Dragon’s Lair) will I also be able to play it in Windows 8 or would I have to purchase it again? Will we be able to access cloud saves?

    • Russell Gorall

      LMAO.

    • http://twitter.com/karlcramer Karl Cramer

      Different platforms. Xbox 360 games DO NOT play on Windows 8. Windows 8 games connect to Xbox LIVE the same way Windows Phone games do. You can earn achievements. The games are not cross platform.

  • JoeGrahamcracker

    My windows 95 is still holding up

    • http://twitter.com/ciprodriguez ciprodriguez

      Try and run 1080 p full screen

  • http://twitter.com/Halloween__Wolf Mythical Wolf

    Cr4p.

  • http://www.facebook.com/magnus.lindberg.1420 Magnus Lindberg

    Hi. There is so much different information about the release of smartglass on IOS. From 26/10 to spring 2013. There is even a guide about how to download the smartglass app on appstore on the official xbox site. At least give us a releasedate. This is very confusing for us customers and even for the gamedevelopers as well. Thanx for listening and best regards from me.

    • mcmax3000

      Everything I’ve heard indicates that the iOS update is with Apple for certification, so they likely can’t give a release date, because it’s up to when Apple pushes it through.

      Would be nice if they could at least confirm that they’re just waiting on it to get posted, even if they can’t give a date.

  • http://www.facebook.com/DemileeNimmo Demi-Lee Nimmo

    I hope it come as soon as possible becouse I’m really wanting it

  • http://www.facebook.com/sascha.zeisler.10 Sascha Zeisler

    Without iOS and Android at launch, Smartglass is already dead. Not very clever. Again false promises were made at E3… :-/

  • http://twitter.com/Vincent604 Vince

    Dear MajorNelson, give us Adobe Flash for Internet Explorer app on Xbox 360.

  • http://twitter.com/quakeguts Skip M

    Funny, the people who PAY for the Gold Live subscription are the only ones who have to PAY for Xbox Music.

    • http://twitter.com/ENich1 E.Nich

      Yeah, I’m with you. Xbox Music should be “Free” to Gold members.

  • Frank Costanza’s lawyer

    I bought Pinball FX 2 and ALL the tables on my Xbox and now I have to buy all the tables again in Windows Games? Riiiiight. Thanks for that but I’ll pass.

    • http://twitter.com/karlcramer Karl Cramer

      Different platform. Would you expect them for free if you got a PlayStation 3 or a Wii U?

      • ungeheier

        “Xbox on Windows 8″ shouldnt be considered a ‘different platform’. If it WAS they need to remove the ‘XBOX’ from the title.

      • http://www.facebook.com/kevin.giguere.5 Kevin Giguere

        Yes, it’s called “Crossbuy” and it enables people who buy the PS3 version to get the Vita version for free”

  • drdavewatford

    Lack of ios or Android support at launch is crazy….how do Microsoft intend to get developers to buy in to SmartGlass if 99% of the potential market can’t use it ?

  • Russell Gorall

    Any ETA on when Microsoft is going to fix the W7 thing for WMPlayer that has the player recreate all music libraries every time it pops up and makes it useless? I was waiting for that fix before I invest in another new OS I don’t need.

  • AndyMP

    I’m excited about this Windows 8. I definitely need one of those touch screen devices though.

  • http://www.facebook.com/GeminiAce Rane Pollock

    SmartGlass should be exclusive to Windows 8 and WP8, imo.

  • http://twitter.com/MiXiE468 Jack Larsson

    I’m so dissapointed the Android version isn’t atleast minimum 2.2 instead of 4.0

    • http://twitter.com/karlcramer Karl Cramer

      Blame Android fragmentation and its lack of upgrades for older models.

      • http://www.facebook.com/kevin.giguere.5 Kevin Giguere

        That’s not Android’s fault, it’s the phone companies responsability to push updates to their users.

  • Thomas

    I just want to echo the calls for tablet support for Android. I have a Nexus 7 and an iPhone and it would be a lot nicer to be able to use SmartGlass from the Nexus 7 with its larger screen. I doubt I will use it very often from my phone but I think there is a lot of potential and I hope a tablet version for Android is at least in the works.

  • http://www.facebook.com/jhewitt12 Joshua E. Hewitt

    sad that my phone – the first galaxy S isn’t supported :(

  • http://www.majornelson.com Major Nelson

    Update: Xbox SmartGlass for Android is now available

    • http://www.facebook.com/chris.grub.5 Chris Grub

      Thanks for keeping us up to date. Any word when FIFA 13 functionality will come in.

      Being able to change tactics and formations without pausing will be a dream!

      Also, typing for Netflix from your phone’s keyboard? Things of that nature.

      Brilliant idea, great job!

    • http://www.facebook.com/densml Sam Dennis

      not here it aint guvnor!

    • consumedesign

      For Android 4.0+ you should also add… and guess Nexus is having issues.

    • http://www.facebook.com/charles.schaefer Charles Schaefer

      Its a big disappointment that only people with ice cream sandwich or better can use it excluding nexus 7, but here’s to hopeing they will expand the user base cause I know i’m not getting a new phone for another year, and why no Android tablet love?

  • http://www.facebook.com/DemileeNimmo Demi-Lee Nimmo

    Do you have any idea when the iOS version is going to be out please?

    • http://www.majornelson.com Major Nelson

      I do not

      • http://www.facebook.com/DemileeNimmo Demi-Lee Nimmo

        Thank I hope it comes really soon

  • http://www.facebook.com/jfate John Fate

    Love the Xbox SmartGlass for Android app!!!!

  • HAWK1430

    So Smartglass is out for Android & Windows phones but not yet for iPhone. When will it be available for iPhones?????

  • ElektroDragon

    Wanted to install, but it tells me that Bioshock 2, Fallout 3, and even the MS published Gears of War for PC are incompatible! Pathetic. Get those compatible, then we’ll talk.

  • Caleb HANSEN

    FAIL

  • http://www.facebook.com/FlunkYou2 Christopher BlueNose Fendick

    Never mind lol

  • Russell Gorall

    When is the Xbox New IP’s app launching?

  • Daniel Bateman

    You should really consider axing Xbox music ‘passes’. Xbox Live Gold is already a subscription to your services, just tie it in. If people don’t want Xbox Live, then charge them for the specific service but don’t eliminate a market of already paying customers. Just a thought.

    • http://twitter.com/korahn Eric Starr

      Seriously. “Let’s charge them for Live. NOW let’s charge them for music” I’ll just stream from my computer instead.

  • http://twitter.com/fcviotto Fernando Coli Viotto

    I have that iOS “Xbox Live” app installed in both my iPad and iPhone and can connect them with my Xbox but… is that it?
    I mean, I cant do ANYTHING while connected besides wandering in the dashboar. When I try to access Xbox Internet Explorer he asks me to download it again and once it is downloaded and I try again, the same happen.

    To be honest, this entire Windows 8 launch was the most confuse thing I’ve seen in years and the only thing I though would be working (SmartGlass) is not.

    What is the point on launching something that isn’t available for 99% of the users?

    • mcmax3000

      The iOS app is going to be updated to add SmartGlass support, so no, what you can do now is not “it”.

      Everything I’ve heard suggests that they have submitted an update to add SmartGlass support to Apple, but it hasn’t gotten through certification yet.

      • http://twitter.com/fcviotto Fernando Coli Viotto

        Thanks! I thought it was since there is an smartglass option enabled in my Xbox :)

        • mcmax3000

          Yeah, they renamed the options in the new dashboard update. I was confused the first time I booted up the My Xbox Live app while in the beta, because it popped up a message about SmartGlass.

  • Zrorro

    When is the SmartGlass App going to support the Google Nexus 7 Tablet. I was really looking forward to using it.

    • http://www.facebook.com/steve.bryce Steve Bryce

      It already does – just search for the apk on google rather than through the Play store.

      • Zrorro

        Ah thanks, I found it. Yeah it looks like it works fine on my Tablet!

  • bill

    Anyone getting the error (your windows 8 pc is on a different network than your xbox?

    Xbox is wifi, PC is hardwired into router…

    • bill

      i rented a movie on my windows 8 pc and can’t stream it to my xbox………..grrrrrr

    • http://www.facebook.com/steve.bryce Steve Bryce

      I have the opposite setup (XBox hardwired into router, Phone and Tablet connected by Wifi) and I don’t get the same error (I have seen other applications which are sensitive to this though).

      • bill

        hopefully some more documentation or a discussion board pops up with solutions and hints

  • http://www.facebook.com/steve.bryce Steve Bryce

    Although the Android application is limited to certain phones (not tablets) on Google Play, the apk is now widely available with a google search. It works nicely on my Galaxy S2 phone (via Play) and my Asus Transformer TF300 tablet (via the apk).

    However has the Forza Horizon functionality been enabled yet? I have started the game using the Smartglass controller functionality, but it doesn’t show the map when playing the game. Am I doing something wrong?

  • http://www.facebook.com/DemileeNimmo Demi-Lee Nimmo

    Is there any news on smartglass for ios

    • http://www.consouls.com Slim

      I hope it will be released soon! can’t wait

  • http://twitter.com/boe2BE Boe2

    It’s puzzling. The store logs you in on your live account, but it doesn’t check wich games you already bought on xbox live. I like hydro thunder, but not THAT much that I would buy it twice.

    Xbox music is nice, but on Windows 8 it’s simply called “Music”. A bit of a branding problem or are we looking at different apps here?

  • http://twitter.com/boe2BE Boe2

    MajorNelson, trying to install Xbox SmartGlass for android in Belgium shows the following message:

    This item cannot be installed in your device’s country.

    Is there any particular reason for this lockout or will it share the same fate as indie games here (aka “don’t know, don’t care”).

  • http://www.facebook.com/stephen.c.griffiths Stephen ‘charlie’ Griffiths

    Still no ios app……… What a massive disappointment, I understand they want to try and force people onto there own smart devices, but ios as the largest customer base out there and not supporting it is dumb …smart glass not so smart….

  • StormRaging

    It’s been almost a week now and still no information on the update for the iOS app. Considering with iOS you have less to worry about compatibility wise there is no reason this shouldn’t have come out the same time as Android.

    • http://www.facebook.com/sascha.zeisler.10 Sascha Zeisler

      Yes, it’s getting ridicolous… So much about “don’t trust what you read on other sites”…

      • http://www.majornelson.com Major Nelson

        When I have information to share, I will do so. No further details are available right now.

  • Guest

    This really is the onlive app all over again… Iv pretty much given up expecting it anytime soon now for ios…which means iv pretty much given up on ever using smart glass…but from the sounds of my android using friends, sounds like i ant missing much anyway… Tip for Microsoft, don’t brag about something unless you can back it up.. Smart glass works on any smart device.. Interesting ….

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