As an "all-in-one" entertainment hub, Xbox One offers more than just games. One such feature is web browsing through the system's built-in Internet Explorer app. In a post over on Xbox Wire, Microsoft outlined the basic functionality of Internet Explorer, explaining just what makes it the "best web on TV."
"So what’s the big deal? Three things. First, the sites you love on the web do more than just work in Internet Explorer for Xbox One. Because we built Internet Explorer for Xbox One with support for modern web standards like HTML5 and CSS3, your favorite sites are going to look amazing on a television. Second, how you navigate the web is up to you. With Xbox One you can navigate the web with your voice, use gesture input with Kinect, grab an Xbox One controller, or pick up a companion device with the Xbox SmartGlass app. Finally, any pinned sites or favorites you saved in Internet Explorer on your Xbox 360 will be pulled forward to your Xbox One."
Part of what makes Xbox One's browsing ability a much better experience is the new features that have been brought over from PC: website pinning, multiple tabs, inPrivate browsing, SmartScreen, Cookie blocking, Do Not Track, and increased integration with Xbox SmartGlass.
Of course, there's also the new Snap feature which allows you to simultaneously play a game and browse the web by snapping Internet Explorer to the side of your screen.
In terms of navigation, Internet Explorer on Xbox One allows for gesture and voice navigation. For example, you can say "Xbox, Select" when running Internet Explorer and you'll see a list of supported voice commands. Examples include "Browse to" and "Click on" along with the first few words of whatever you want to click on.
"Internet Explorer will still understand," Microsoft assures.
Xbox One Internet Explorer will also recognize gesture commands.
"Just reach out, and grab the page. Then move your hand up or down to pan around the page. You can also pull the page toward you to zoom in or push it away to zoom out. Move your open hand over a link and press it to click on it. And if the links are too close together on a page, the page will automatically zoom in so you can more easily choose one to press."
The Xbox One is set to launch of November 22 here in the U.S.
