Microsoft talks more about SmartGlass and announces $99 Xbox for All Plan

SmartGlass will be released October 26 and Microsoft is talking about it and showing it off in more detail. It’s awesome and really adds a ton of functionality to an Xbox. You can move movies and music and even web browsing sessions between your devices. The more they talk about its functionality the more you realize how awesome this feature is. Check out the video:

Want some feature bullet points?

Navigate your Entertainment – Your phone and tablet will become the best remote controls in your house. Use the touch screen on your smartphone or tablet to control your Xbox 360, and use your devices to pause, rewind or advance entertainment.

TV & Movies – With Xbox Video, start a TV show or movie on your Windows 8 tablet and finish it on the big screen through Xbox 360; see the names of cast and crew for the film you are watching and discover related films. To give you one example of what you can expect, coming next season, HBO GO’s “Game of Thrones” will offer groundbreaking Xbox SmartGlass experiences.

Sports – While watching the game, use a second screen to follow real-time stats, player bios, news and highlights you may have missed. All of this and more will be available for NBA Game Time, ESPN and UFC in the coming months.

Music – Control your Xbox Music experience on the TV using your smartphone or tablet, discover related artists and songs, cue up additional music, read artist bios and more.

Internet Explorer for Xbox – The Web comes to TV like never before with Xbox 360 and Xbox SmartGlass. With your smartphone or tablet, pan or pinch and zoom to explore the Web on the largest and best screen in the house, enjoy easy text entry with the keyboard on your tablet or phone, and then move your browser back to your device to take it on the go.

Games – Get more from your game when you can use a second screen. Turn you phone or tablet into a virtual GPS in Forza: Horizon. Don’t stop the dance party in Dance Central 3 by going back to the menu to choose your next song. Instead, queue it up on your tablet or smartphone. In HomeRun Stars, use SmartGlass on your favorite device to throw a surprise pitch to your friend up at bat in front of Kinect. See detailed stats on how you are progressing in Halo 4, or check up on friends. All of these features and much more will be available when your favorite game extends to multiple screens.

Oh and about those cheap Xboxes:

Yes a 2 year Xbox Live plan is $360 but this is like a layaway plan or any other cell phone plan where you get a discounted price today for service over time. It’s a smart play and it will be available in Best Buy, GameStop, Wal-Mart and Toy R Us starting this fall (read – “very soon”).

Ecosystem…check