Microsoft releases Xbox apps for Windows and iOS devices

By Jeff Hughes Published December 8, 2011

Coinciding with the Xbox Live dashboard update, Microsoft has released two new apps for smartphone users. While we knew about the Windows Phone’s Xbox Companion App, the iOS app was a bit of a surprise.

The official Xbox Live iOS app, dubbed My Xbox Live, is free and designed for both the iPhone and iPad. Not surprisingly, My Xbox Live is a slimmed down version of the Windows phone Companion app. Apple device owners will have a limited ability to modify your 3D avatar’s appearance, read and send messages to friends, edit profile, add new friends to the list and view achievements.

Recommended Videos

Interestingly, the iOS app has an interface similar to the Windows Phone Xbox Companion app, replicating that horizontal bar populated with circular icons at the bottom of the screen. Microsoft probably wouldn’t feel bad if it lured defectors over to its OS.

companion via major nelson — Image used with permission by copyright holder

PC World points out that one of the major features the official Xbox Live iOS app is missing is the ability to support notifications; no notifications for new messages or game invites and the app seems to be a ghost in the iOS settings.

Xbox Companion for Windows Phone connects to your console and functions as a sort of remote control. Most noteably, users can use the apps Bing-powered search to trawl through the Xbox catalog for TV shows, games, music, movies and apps, and can then use the Windows Phone to launch a selected search result on your console. Using the app on your phone to navigate the Xbox desktop, purchase content and even control the playback of media on your console. Your smartphone will also give you details about whatever you’re playing, as well as showing you what your friends have recently played. Just like the iOS app, the Windows Phone app is free.

Via Major Nelson

I'm a SF Bay Area-based writer/ninja that loves anything geek, tech, comic, social media or gaming-related.

Topics

Mobile

The iOS 18.2 update includes a special feature just for iPhone 16 Pro users

A person holding the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max.

If you have an iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro Max, updated to iOS 18.2, and regularly use the Voice Memos app, then your phone just got even better if you're a musician. Originally teased in September’s iPhone 16 event, Layered Recordings is now available in the Voice Memos app with the iOS 18.2 update.

What exactly are Layered Recordings? Basically, you can now add a vocal track layer on top of any existing instrumental recording without the need for headphones. In the iOS 18.2 update, users are now able to play original instrument ideas through the iPhone’s built-in speakers while simultaneously recording vocals with the studio-quality microphone on the iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max.

Mobile

iOS 18.2 is rolling out now with a ton of new Apple Intelligence features

Apple Intelligence on the Apple iPhone 16 Plus.

Apple has started the public rollout of iOS 18.2 and the corresponding iPadOS update, and they bring a handful of long-awaited features in its AI kit. The release notes are pretty exhaustive, and they reveal a few features that are minor improvements to the already available Apple Intelligence bundle.

The most notable addition is ChatGPT integration with Siri, which shifts things over to the OpenAI chatbot if Apple’s assistant can’t provide an answer. ChatGPT integration is also expanding within the Writing Tools set, thanks to the compose feature that lets users create fresh content and generate images.

Mobile

You can now use an external webcam with Microsoft Teams on your iPad. Here’s how

Home screen layout of the 2024 iPad mini.

For a lot of people, the iPad is the device they choose to work with, which may include taking video calls. Though the front-facing camera on iPads has gotten better over time, many still prefer external webcams because they’re often much better than the built-in webcam on your tablet or even laptop. And now, if you use Microsoft Teams on iPad, you’re finally able to use external cameras, as Microsoft has announced via a blog post.

When we say "finally," it’s because Apple has included support for external USB-C cameras on the iPad since iPadOS 17. So technically, Microsoft is a little late to the party with this feature. But if you have to use Microsoft Teams for work and you tend to use the iPad most of the time, then this is certainly welcome news.