The Xbox One has also taken its first steps into the world of video game streaming and sharing. While it doesn’t yet feature the Twitch.TV integration that’s found on the PS4, it does feature the ability to record gameplay on the fly and upload it to the Skydrive. Whereas the PS4 features a share button right on the controller, you’re able to simply tell the Xbox to start recording via Kinect implementation.
With the HDMI input on the back of the box, the Xbox One is also able to take in a signal from your cable box and run it through the interface. While I’m not an avid TV watcher, I have to admit that the approach being used here is pretty novel. The OneGuide essentially replaces the menu system for your cable box, allowing you to search for channels and even snap your TV to the side if you’d like to keep playing a game. The One will “learn” what TV you have as well as the specifications of your cable box and channel lineup, allowing it to control everything from one central location.
The issue here is that it’s not always easier to use as opposed to simply grabbing the remote and doing it on your own. I’ll admit, being able to tell the Kinect to switch to NBC was pretty fantastic, but I wonder how much time I was really saving here. If you’re more of an avid TV watcher than I am, you may get more use out of this feature than I’ve been able to, but it’s definitely a neat little aspect of the box.
It also has the ability to maintain a full audio system, but that’s sadly not something we were able to test at this time.
Unfortunately, there is a lack of music applications available for the Xbox One at the current time, the only one being Xbox Music and an audio CD player. I’m sure this will change in the future, especially if Microsoft wants the One to be your living room centerpiece, but it’s a bit disappointing. Having all of this power and not being able to fully utilize it by streaming music from my desktop or from Pandora natively is feels like a real letdown.
All in all, the UI of the Xbox One is attempting to compete with Apple for the centerpiece of your living room, and in trying to do a bit of everything it falls just short of being perfect at anything. I’m immensely happy with it as the new centerpiece of my apartment’s entertainment system, but I’d be lying if I said that the One didn’t still have some growing to do in order to meet its full potential.
