Xbox SmartGlass update brings support for 7-inch Android tablets

Microsoft recently rolled out the Xbox SmartGlass app for Android in October, and now the tech giant has released an update that will enable the app to support Google's Nexus 7 and other 7-inch Android tablets.

The biggest change the update brings is undoubtedly the support for 7-inch Androids, but there are a few noteworthy features as well. Users had reported that the app crashed while trying to access the settings, and Microsoft has fixed this issue in this update. Apart from this, they software giant has issued a fix for crashes when a user goes back to the achievement screen, and other fixes for other minor bugs.

To download the update for the Xbox SmartGlass app, click here.

Now with support for 7-inch tablets

In late October, Microsoft released the Xbox SmartGlass app for Android after it was released for Windows Phone 7 devices. The app lets you control your Xbox 360 from your Android device. One of the major requirements for the app is that the device must run at least Android 4.0 and have a WVGA screen.

Here are some major features of the Xbox SmartGlass app:

• Navigate your Xbox 360 with swipe and tap
• Use your phone’s keyboard to type on your Xbox 360
• Browse the Internet on your Xbox 360 with full keyboard and zooming
• Play, pause, fast forward, rewind, and stop videos and music on your Xbox 360
• Search the full Xbox catalogue of music, video, and games
• Track and compare your achievements with your Xbox friends
• Change your 3D avatar
• Message your Xbox friends
• Edit your Xbox profile

Here's Microsoft's description of the app: "Xbox SmartGlass lets your phone work with your Xbox 360 console to bring rich, interactive experiences and unique content about what you’re watching or playing, right to the device that’s already in your hand. Interact with your favorite TV shows, movies, music, sports, and games, and bring remote control to a whole new level."

SmartGlass was shown off earlier this year during E3 2012, alongside Xbox Music. Xbox Music – Microsoft’s newest attempt to take on the likes of services like Spotify and iTunes – was launched earlier this month. This would be Microsoft’s second attempt at creating a music channel, the first being the not-very-successful Zune. This time, the company is focusing on integrating the service into as many of its devices as it can. While starting with the Xbox 360, the company plans to integrate the service into other devices that would be running Windows 8 or Windows Phone 8 through its SkyDrive cloud service.

Microsoft's Xbox Music aims to compete with the likes of Spotify by giving users the capability to stream music, and have a free as well as a paid account. The main attraction of the service would be the inclusion of a download-to-own music store. The store will include over 30 million songs in its catalogue, rivalling, and surpassing the catalogue on Apple’s iTunes. The service is also all set to have over 70,000 music videos, but these would only be available for the Xbox 360.