Microsoft: Xbox SmartGlass can be used "to spy on your kids"

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Microsoft has been pushing its Xbox SmartGlass apps as ways to offer consumers a "second screen" experience between the Xbox 360 console and mobile devices running on iOS, Android, Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8. But is there more to Xbox SmartGlass than just discovering more information about Game of Thrones?

As it turns out, the answer is "Yes." The Escapist reports that during a presentation this week at the Game Developers Conference, Microsoft's Rosa Thomas said that she had discovered that Xbox SmartGlass, when connected to the Xbox 360, can also serve as a way to check up on what other people who are playing on the console are doing.

She stated:

So, interesting enough, I was at work, testing my stuff, and I'm looking and I forgot that I had actually connected to my home Xbox, and I got to see what my kids were doing at home. It's a great way to spy on your kids, I'll tell you.
The implications for this feature are that parents who have the app installed on a mobile device could see if their children are playing games that they are not supposed to be playing. Of course, the Xbox 360 already has parental controls built in that can let parents set how much time their children can play games and which games they are allowed to play, based on their ratings.

One funny side effect of this Xbox SmartGlass control is being able to remotely control video streaming services like Netflix. Thomas indicated she got a bit of a laugh by pausing her husband's video on Netflix, which made him think there was something wrong with the app.

Posted:
Related Forum: Xbox Forum

Source: http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-xbox-smartglass-can-be-used-to-spy-on-your-kids

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"Microsoft: Xbox SmartGlass can be used "to spy on your kids"" :: Login/Create an Account :: 237 comments

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-DiffusersPosted:

Well i would be worried but i doubt my mom knows how to use smartglass

ReversuhLPosted:

They did this with Kinect too didnt they?

KTHPosted:

M60
Ero This is an invasion of privacy. Everyone deserves privacy or nobody does as simple as that.


Exactly hopefully not many parents see this article


Lets just hope they don't have intentions of making a TTG account anytime soon ;)

KTHPosted:

Mitzz who else thinks this is a stupid idea?


I mean, smartglass technology is already out there and I have it. It's pretty cool but I do think that by letting parents know that they could use it to "spy on their kids"... That's the part I don't like about it.

undisclosedPosted:

Mitzz who else thinks this is a stupid idea?


It's not that stupid if you are mature enough and you don't have to have your parents watch over you

MitzzPosted:

who else thinks this is a stupid idea?

AsifPosted:

I don't think it's a good idea at all since it's an invasion of privacy unless the parent's kid is like 10 or under. It would be helpful then because they can see if they're playing too much or playing games that aren't for them.

CearnsyPosted:

Ero This is an invasion of privacy. Everyone deserves privacy or nobody does as simple as that.


Exactly hopefully not many parents see this article

xPhotographPosted:

XxBockesxX My parents arent smart enough to do that :)


aha but mine are :/

-StitchPosted:

My parents arent smart enough to do that :)


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