Comcast's X1 remote app gains voice commands on iOS, Android update in the works
A little added interactiveness with living room essentials goes a long way. With that in mind, Comcast today announced it's boosting its iOS X1 remote control with newly minted voice commands, something the company's been working on since earlier this year. Xfinity TV subscribers using the X1 platform will now be able to search for content by (quietly) shouting different vocal orders at the application, including, but not limited to, things like "Record," "Watch Gossip Girl" or "Find the Yankees game." While the new feature is only available on iOS at the moment, Comcast says its devs and engineers are "also working on voice control features for Android phones and for traditional remote controls." The X1 app update doesn't appear to be live just yet, but be sure to keep an eye on the App Store as it should be arriving pretty soon.
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COMCAST OFFERS VOICE CONTROL ON THE X1 REMOTE CONTROL APP
New feature lets customers use voice commands on an iPhone app to control the Xfinity TV experience on the X1 Platform
PHILADELPHIA – May 29, 2013 – Comcast, a global media and technology company, announced today that it has enhanced its X1 Remote iPhone app with voice control. Now, customers can use voice commands to access the X1 platform guide, giving them more ways to discover content, including changing channels by network name, searching for program titles, sports teams and actors, as well as browsing various categories in the Xfinity On Demand menu.
The X1 Remote app first launched in mid-2012, giving X1 customers the ability to control the TV, navigate Xfinity On Demand choices, search for programs and tune to TV shows and movies directly from their iPhones. In addition to uniting the TV screen with customers' mobile devices, the latest version adds the ability to issue voice commands for guide navigation and content discovery. For example, users can say "When is the next Phillies game?" or "Show me all action movies on HBO."
"Voice control on the X1 Remote App is one of the ways we're continuing to change the dynamic of the traditional remote control while providing a seamless experience between the TV and customers' devices," said Charlie Herrin, Senior Vice President of Product Design and Development for Comcast Cable. "This feature lets customers get to the content they want to watch in fewer steps than it would take with a traditional remote control by simply saying what they want to do instead of translating that into a series of remote control button
presses. The X1 platform we've built and cloud services on our network are enabling us to deliver innovative, real-time updates like this to consumers faster than ever."
The X1 platform incorporates IP technology, using cloud servers on Comcast's network that enable the company to integrate interactive, customized apps and social media features with its traditional video services to create an entirely new television experience. This is part of Comcast's ongoing and evolving effort to take advantage of IP technology to constantly bring new innovations to market.
Voice control on the X1 Remote App is now available for iPhone users who subscribe to Xfinity TV on the X1 platform. Engineers and developers in Comcast Labs are also working on voice control features for Android phones and for traditional remote controls.
Watch a video demonstration the X1 Remote App Voice Control here.
About Comcast Cable:
Comcast Cable is the nation's largest video, high-speed Internet and phone provider to residential customers under the XFINITY brand and also provides these services to businesses. Comcast has invested in technology to build an advanced network that delivers among the fastest broadband speeds, and brings customers personalized video, communications and home management offerings. Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) is a global media and technology company. Visit http://www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.
