Microsoft launched the first version of the Xbox SmartGlass mobile app for Windows 8 in October and since then ports of the "second screen" app for the Xbox 360 have been released for Windows Phone, iOS, and Android platforms. This week, Microsoft revealed that the app has been downloaded over 17 million times, across all platforms.
The numbers came as part of a lecture during Microsoft"s BUILD 2013 conference. As shown on the Channel 9 website, Microsoft seemed pleased with how app owners are using it. On average, Microsoft says a person spends about 16 minutes using the Xbox SmartGlass app for each specific application it controls on the Xbox 360.
The lecture, conducted by the Principal Program Manager of the SmartGlass division Rosa Thomas, also revealed some interesting features for how the app will work for the upcoming Xbox One console. One change is that each Xbox One console can handle up to 16 simultaneous SmartGlass app connections, versus just four connections for the Xbox 360.
While much of the session is highly technical, it offers a solid glimpse on how Microsoft plans to evolve Xbox SmartGlass on Xbox One to give more "second screen" experiences for the apps and the games that will be released for the console.
Source: Channel 9 | Image via Microsoft