YNN.com

Syracuse / Oswego / Auburn

Change region

  80º

You are not signed in  |  Sign in here  |  Help

You're viewing a lite version of ynn.com

Time Warner Cable customers: Sign in with your TWC ID for video access.

Get my TWC ID. | Get TWC service. | Read the FAQ.

06/05/2012 08:05 AM

Tech Beat: Microsoft announcements at the E3 video game convention

The big E3 video game convention is kicking off in LA. As Adam Balkin reports, Microsoft is announcing its plans to have all your mobile devices play nicely with its Xbox 360.

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

In its traditional role as the E3 party starter, Microsoft got a bit literal in its effort to ‘Usher’ in the next generation of video games. There were lots of first looks at hardcore games, casual games, but perhaps the most anticipated first look for Xbox 360 enthusiasts - the next iteration of its marquis, exclusive title. Halo 4 is set to hit shelves in early November.

Since its beginning, the Xbox 360 was designed to be more than just a gaming machine. Microsoft had always envisioned it as the entertainment hub of your living room, and now it's trying to become the entertainment hub of your life outside the living room, too, through a new feature called SmartGlass.

“With SmartGlass you can watch a show on your TV and your tablet will indulge you with related content. You can use your tablet to write a better play in Madden, you can control the web with your phone, and Xbox SmartGlass works with all the devices that you already own, the TV you already own, the phone you already own, and the tablet you already own,” said Marc Whitten, Microsoft Xbox Live.

Microsoft also unveiled among other things a new music service, Internet Explorer for the Xbox 360, and new multilingual support for its voice controlled Kinect sensor.