Microsoft announces Xbox SmartGlass, an app for tablets and mobile devices

At E3 Microsoft announced Xbox SmartGlass, which is sort of their approach to what Nintendo is doing with the Wii U. SmartGlass is an app for tablets and mobile devices that will let users interact and view different content from the videos and games on their console. The app serves as a remote control which lets users to start video content on one SmartGlass device, and seamlessly pick it up on another. The most important feature is how SmartGlass will serve as a secondary screen which will provide additional content related to whatever video or game is playing on the Xbox 360. Microsoft demonstrated the app with a Halo 4 concept which allows players to view their stats, get notified of different waypoints, and initiate multiplayer gaming sessions from the app. It also looks like Microsoft will make the app available for Windows Phone devices as well as  iOS and Android. Although, the extended game functionality was specifically noted as being for Windows 8 tablets and Windows Phone devices. No availability date has been given for the app yet.