Xbox Cloud Gaming Lets Your Phone Act as a Controller on Smart TVs
Microsoft is previewing a way to use an Android or iOS phone as an Xbox controller on supported smart TVs, plus Wi-Fi cloud connect for the Xbox Nano Controller.
SUMO· the number puzzle
Dialo· learn languages by speaking
ediviewer· read EDI files like documents
giftdetect· the right gift in minutesMicrosoft has announced two new Xbox Cloud Gaming previews. The first turns an Android or iOS phone into a controller on supported smart TVs, with no app download required.
You connect by scanning a QR code shown on the TV, and the controls then open in your phone's browser. Some games will get control layouts tailored to how they play.
How to try the phone controller
Open the Xbox app on your smart TV, go to Settings > Account and switch on "Preview Features." When you start a game with no physical controller connected, an option to use your phone for that session appears. The preview is rolling out in every region where Xbox Cloud Gaming is supported, but the TV has to be compatible. Microsoft lists supported models on its Xbox support page.
Cloud connect for the Xbox Nano Controller
The second preview targets players who already own a pad, specifically the new $49.99 Xbox Nano Controller. In the US, it can now be tested with cloud connect. Rather than linking to the TV over Bluetooth, the controller connects over Wi-Fi straight to the cloud server running the game. Microsoft says this can reduce input lag and make games feel more responsive.
Setup requires the Xbox beta app on Android and iOS, or the Xbox Accessories app on PC, to connect the controller to Wi-Fi. You then sign in to a supported Xbox Cloud Gaming experience with the same Xbox account. Using the PC app requires enrollment in the Xbox Insider program.
Cloud connect is currently limited to smart TVs and the web, and it does not work with every cloud gaming experience yet. Detailed instructions are on the Xbox support website.
Both features are previews, so Microsoft is still testing them and some things may not work as expected. The company has not said when, or whether, they will reach all users.
Apps worth a look
SUMO: the number puzzleTap the right tiles, add them up, hit the target. Easy to learn, hard to master. Free, for all ages.
Dialo: learn languages by speakingTalk to an AI conversation partner; every sentence comes back corrected and explained in your language. 9 languages, A1 to C2.
ediviewer: read EDI files like documentsOpen EDIFACT and X12 messages, see every segment explained, convert to JSON/XML, export PDF and Excel. Runs locally, no upload.
giftdetect: the right gift in minutesPick who it is for, the occasion and their personality. The search engine reads product descriptions from local shops and ranks what fits. Free, no sign-up.
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