The Xbox One UI is for the multitasking gamer

The promo video for Xbox One shows a rapid fire of commands that the device is capable of swiftly accomplishing. It shows the user switching from a video game, to watching a TV show while browsing the web, then finally answering a Skype call, all accomplished by voice commands. 

Xbox is trying to expand its brand towards a market that likes multi-faceted devices where multitasking can occur across many platforms within the console.

Voice commands are integral in the marketing of this product. The voice commands allow users to share content directly through the Xbox. While gaming, you can record your in-game progress and share via social platforms. A TV app is accessible through the Xbox, so users can catch their favorite programs on the Xbox without having an external TV.

Image via Microsoft

Split-screen mode creates a great graphical user interface, where one can multitask by accessing 2 programs simultaneously. When tasks are commanded by the user, the programs flow smoothly with no lag. The Xbox One responds to the users’ commands more rapidly than Windows 8 keyboard shortcuts. There is no set-up required, so users can immediately plug in and play with the all-in-one entertainment unit.

The 500GB hard drive has a disclaimer, stating that a significant portion of the drive will be used by the console’s operating system, even before content is imported. One drawback that has arisen is that Xbox One games will take up a significant amount of space on the hard drive. Photos of game cases have appeared on the Internet, reading that up to 35 Gbytes could be taken up by each game that is played. Although the Xbox One hard drive is not replaceable, users will eventually be able to expand their memory capacity with a USB external drive that attaches to the console.

During a press conference, Microsoft CFO Amy Hood stated that the new Xbox is a “first-class experience” complete with a headset, a console, and Kinect. Hood also explicated how the Xbox One is “beyond what we’ve historically thought of as simply a gaming platform.” 

Just in time for the holidays, the Xbox One is set to release on November 22, starting at $499.

Article via Microsoft