When I play games, I like to get immersed in the experience and enjoy the game. I’m not even entirely convinced about that whole “second screen” idea. However, there are apparently gamers who like to browse the internet or watch YouTube or TV while playing. For them, there’s Xbox Snap.
Here is a video of Yusuf Mehdi playing with the Snap feature:
For those of you who don’t watch videos, it begins with him playing Forza and commanding the Xbox to Snap the activity feed. This is followed by snapping Internet Explorer and later YouTube. Snap splits out about a quarter of the screen to show these other activities. The good news is that the voice commands seem to work pretty easily, and the functionality seems intuitive and well done.
I’m just wondering if this is really great for gaming. Will people have a YouTube video walkthrough playing through Snap while attempting the game themselves? Or will they try to split their attention between watching the big game and playing COD?
Honestly, I think the Snap function is more for use while using other Xbox features, like watching TV or doing Skype chat. I can’t imagine many gamers making use of this – just look at how poorly Mehdi drives in Forza while multi-tasking! Then again, gamers never fail to surprise me. Do you think you’d like to multitask like this, or do you prefer to focus on the task at hand?
Last Updated: November 13, 2013
ToshZA
November 13, 2013 at 11:35
I’m totally ADHD (diagnosed and everything) so this would probably see a lot of use from me. Its one of the reasons why Xbone is still contending for my money.
Tarisma
November 13, 2013 at 12:04
I’m the same, always have a episode of something going while I’m MMOing. Barring big fights.
ToshZA
November 13, 2013 at 12:05
You have no idea how glad I am that I”m not the only one on this website. I know I’m not the only one, because literally every person I play online with does the same thing.
Tarisma
November 13, 2013 at 13:00
well if your going to make me grind I may as well entertain myself with episodes of Malcolm in the middle
TiMsTeR1033
November 13, 2013 at 12:07
You can get pills for that man… Never understand how some people wanna watch a movie and play a game… You don’t give full concentration to either.. but each to their own.
ToshZA
November 13, 2013 at 12:10
The pills turn you into a drooling motionless zombie. The best cure I’ve found is no caffeine or sugar. Keeps me collected & focused. Mostly. Better than a mindless drool-covered zombie boy couch potato. Or just ‘Merican for short.
TiMsTeR1033
November 13, 2013 at 12:12
I am surprised this is still the case as an adult… Normally goes away alot when older, well some people I guess. A doctor once told me, ADHD people have triggers, often the hands… can keep hands calm mind will focus. but that goes out the window when comes to playing games lol.
Captain GUZ
November 13, 2013 at 12:14
Those starcraft players 500 APM 0-O
ToshZA
November 13, 2013 at 12:14
*fapfapfapfapfapfapfapfapfapfap*
TiMsTeR1033
November 13, 2013 at 12:15
Those guys are on whole other level…
Admiral Chief Wang
November 13, 2013 at 11:37
Will the XBone understand our Souf Efrican English?
ToshZA
November 13, 2013 at 11:40
I sound British in person, I’ll be fine.
You okes are lank stuffed hey.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
November 13, 2013 at 12:01
Aaait, same here, turns out my accent is pretty neutral (although I can Souf it up if I want to). Thank you Dr Who and BBC. If Siri and the Android version can understand me, than anything can understand me… even crazy lassies from Trinidad. AAR!
Captain GUZ
November 13, 2013 at 12:08
Can we be liking givfing dit kommaands
ToshZA
November 13, 2013 at 12:11
HEY! YOU SHURRUP WIF OUR ACCENT OR I BLOODY SMACK YOU TIL THE BLEEDING BECOME!!!
Captain GUZ
November 13, 2013 at 12:13
Almal staan in die PK lyn!
ToshZA
November 13, 2013 at 12:15
Jislaaikit bru, sommer een keer, almal gaan kak.
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 11:40
They think our English is a child of Australian English and Cockney. So even if they tried to make it understand us, they’ll probably get it wrong.
Admiral Chief Wang
November 13, 2013 at 11:44
EIERDOOS, SPELETJIES AAN
ToshZA
November 13, 2013 at 11:45
Dis flippin snaaks man!
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 11:48
Kak snaaks
Spathi
November 13, 2013 at 11:50
Eierdoos, gaan na Wereld Wye interWeb Luispeletjiespeler punt net!
Admiral Chief Wang
November 13, 2013 at 11:51
EIERDOOS, trol vir Brenda
TiMsTeR1033
November 13, 2013 at 12:05
Actually I have been told, we sound mix of Australian, new Zealand accent,American and well yeah..
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 12:08
Except that we really actually sound more English (British English)
TiMsTeR1033
November 13, 2013 at 12:10
Have you heard British people lately…
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 12:12
I work with a few. There’s quite a few dialects though, or accents.
TiMsTeR1033
November 13, 2013 at 12:14
The ones from London say “somefing” and Oi alot and list goes on…we sound nothing like them.
ToshZA
November 13, 2013 at 12:15
Rince says “oi” all the time.
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 12:16
He does. I think it’s kind of like a hiccup though with him when he’s startled.
ToshZA
November 13, 2013 at 12:18
Which is all the time. I imagine it looking like this:
http://cutegonewrong.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/scary-rabbit-31.jpg
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 12:19
Isn’t that Bane without his mask?
ToshZA
November 13, 2013 at 12:20
Nope, no muscles, and its fluffy. It’s Rince, no mistaking.
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 12:20
Ah, I see it now…
RinceandRepeat
November 13, 2013 at 12:26
Graduation picture.Yes, I was surprised.
TiMsTeR1033
November 13, 2013 at 12:25
hahaha You made my day man.. Just picture him getting a fright and saying Oi… for soo many occasions for example… “Freddy Kruger jumps out behind him… Oi!” “a loud thunder noise oi!” “a neighbour farts next to his door, OI!!”
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 12:25
Hahaha
TiMsTeR1033
November 13, 2013 at 12:23
He sounds British too mate.
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 12:24
I’ve met him, he actually sounds more like a Romulan
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 13, 2013 at 12:25
And similar ears.
TiMsTeR1033
November 13, 2013 at 12:26
Nope British! threw and threw.. Well that’s what I think, I play with him Gta online remember… but then again he is drunk alot then perhaps changes the accent…
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 12:27
Dammit man, you can’t just throw Master Rince!
RinceandRepeat
November 13, 2013 at 12:27
HAHAHAHAA
TiMsTeR1033
November 13, 2013 at 12:28
DUDE but I am Tanya I have his back in GTA online!
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 12:28
I’m sure you do 😉
RinceandRepeat
November 13, 2013 at 12:29
He said back, not beck…
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 12:29
Ah, my mistake.
TiMsTeR1033
November 13, 2013 at 12:29
just like the eyeliner…
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 13, 2013 at 12:30
Don’t be jealous because he looked pretty when he met your man, Tanya. 😉
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 12:31
Hahahaha
RinceandRepeat
November 13, 2013 at 12:31
Beck off! I mean back off!
TiMsTeR1033
November 13, 2013 at 12:31
You defend your boyfriend well I see..
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 13, 2013 at 12:33
Alas, #foreverSP
TiMsTeR1033
November 13, 2013 at 12:34
which means you have #timeforonenightstands
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 12:34
That would fall under co-op, so I don’t think the Emperor would bother.
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 12:31
That’s not a mistake! It’s genes.
And it goes with my majestic hair.
TiMsTeR1033
November 13, 2013 at 12:32
sure… man sure…
RinceandRepeat
November 13, 2013 at 12:28
Thank fuck you don’t have my Beck 😉 HAHAHAHAH
RinceandRepeat
November 13, 2013 at 12:27
Well, I have drunk Romulan Ale, nice 🙂
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
November 13, 2013 at 12:43
I’ve never met him, but I think he sounds like Legolas from Lord of the Rings.
TiMsTeR1033
November 13, 2013 at 12:43
Is that the dwarf?
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 12:43
You are dead to me.
TiMsTeR1033
November 13, 2013 at 12:45
I FORGOT!
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 12:47
Ag, it’s fine. As long as it’s not something against Star Wars or Firefly.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
November 13, 2013 at 12:48
If someone hates Firefly they’re dead to me. DEAD! I’m still pissed off that Numetro screwed us over with Serenity. But at least I imported the flick well before that.
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 12:49
Got it for myself on blu-ray too. Re-watching the series now actually.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
November 13, 2013 at 12:44
No! the blonde-haired girl with the bow and arrows, that seems to have be spadding the dwarf called Gimli
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 12:44
Sies
Weanerdog
November 13, 2013 at 13:43
If I remember correctly Legolas won the competition at Helm’s Deep. So keep your uninformed movie bias away from the Blonde-haired girl, I mean elf.
SpookyMossel
November 13, 2013 at 13:03
BTW, why are all dwarves portraid with a Scottish accent?! Seriously.
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 13:45
Because they drink well and eat well?
SpookyMossel
November 13, 2013 at 13:49
Shouldn’t they be Irish then?
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 14:07
Point made
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 12:44
Haha. Master Rince has a different kind of gracefulness.
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 12:16
Haha. Not all though. Very much like the way that not all Afrikaans people in the Western Cape sound the same.
Her Highness the Hipster
November 13, 2013 at 12:12
only on my big, fat, gypsy wedding!
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 12:13
Boom
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 13, 2013 at 12:22
We just thought you moved around a lot.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
November 13, 2013 at 12:42
aye nay gov’ milkey thar be hiney? <– typical greeting in the east end of London
TiMsTeR1033
November 13, 2013 at 12:43
translation: I am a young handsome boy..
RinceandRepeat
November 13, 2013 at 12:18
So basically a pavement special? BOOM!
ToshZA
November 13, 2013 at 12:19
I have a pic of you posted below. Save your booms, you need to whimper and oi me for a bit.
RinceandRepeat
November 13, 2013 at 12:26
Whimper at that? PLEASE bitch, that makes me look good!
Admiral Chief Wang
November 13, 2013 at 11:37
OH SNAP
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 13, 2013 at 11:41
I don’t multitask when watching a movie or playing a game. If you’re splitting your focus between the two then you’re not getting all you can out of either of them. I much rather concentrate on one.
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 11:42
I agree. Plus, Alt-Tab.
I only use it to maybe check on something though.
ToshZA
November 13, 2013 at 11:42
Yeah no, windowed mode gets used when available for me. I can’t just have 1 thing going at a time. Well, I can, but it’s rare.
Alex Hicks
November 13, 2013 at 11:44
Alt-Tab? Shift-Tab is used way more often … spot the steam player …
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 11:48
True, but can’t access my browser with Shift-Tab
Alex Hicks
November 13, 2013 at 12:27
Oh yes you can! Bottom of the pause screen is a link to a web browser – opens a mini instance of your web browser within the Steam pause game GUI.
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 12:29
You have just changed my life sir.
SpookyMossel
November 13, 2013 at 13:01
Mind blown.
Admiral Chief Wang
November 13, 2013 at 11:49
LOL, same here
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 13, 2013 at 11:52
Me too.
Although sometimes I wish it wasn’t so convenient. “What’s the cricket score now? Have a look.” “I’M BUSY WITH A DAMN BOSS FIGHT!” “Okay I’ll wait.”
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 12:02
Haha. It happens.
SpookyMossel
November 13, 2013 at 13:00
Have you tried WindowsButton+Tab. Do it.
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 13:45
O_O
SpookyMossel
November 13, 2013 at 13:46
IKR.
Captain GUZ
November 13, 2013 at 12:10
Unless its two blondes and your the filling
Martin du preez
November 13, 2013 at 11:45
I would rather snap my own neck before I “snap” to IE.
Admiral Chief Wang
November 13, 2013 at 11:46
LOL, snap
Admiral Chief Wang
November 13, 2013 at 11:46
Integrated Enema
ToshZA
November 13, 2013 at 11:47
You’re not alone in that mate.
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 13, 2013 at 11:47
Bing!
HvR
November 13, 2013 at 13:13
Do anybody watch Hawaii 5-0?
The MS product placement is obvious and bad.
“We have this new suspect, is CEO of Vanilla Tech. Any info on him or the company”
“Just hold on while I Bing him”
“We need to urgently call the lab to get the info”
Takes out Surface tablet, gets out snap on keyboard, assembles it puts it on a barrel and proceeds with a Skype video call
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 13, 2013 at 13:25
lol!
Unavengedavo(aka. IceCreamMan)
November 13, 2013 at 13:32
I actually read somewhere that Bing just copies Google’s search results…
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
November 13, 2013 at 12:02
What happens if you SNAP your XBONER?
TiMsTeR1033
November 13, 2013 at 12:03
have a problem that requires the emergency room.
ToshZA
November 13, 2013 at 13:06
Look on the bright side, you won’t need to pause your porn while snapping the emergency contact details to the screen via google.
TiMsTeR1033
November 13, 2013 at 13:08
Eish…
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 12:04
Only if it gets stuck on the red ring of death it happens. As far as I know.
Who knows what new STD’s will arise with the next gen.
Admiral Chief Wang
November 13, 2013 at 11:46
EIERDOOS, KLAP DIE VIDEOGREEP!
Rikus
November 13, 2013 at 11:50
Maybe its just me, but something is fishy when he snaps ESPN. When they show the guy talking, it looks like the framerate is insanely low, however, when it goes to show the football action, it is higher. I know a while ago there were some rumors that the snap-in feature for TV is almost unwatchable. I’m curious whether they sorted it.
Robert Hart
November 13, 2013 at 12:28
Kind of like alt-tabbing on a PC. I do alt-tab while gaming, so I cant fault this feature.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
November 13, 2013 at 12:35
In the immortal words of the South African version of Chopper Reid, “This is going to cause groot kak”.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
November 13, 2013 at 12:41
Meanwhile, in 2018 when the Xboner finally comes to South Africa:
“xboks… fok? Die fokken ding verstaan my nie.. Haai… jou moer.. xboks snep sewende laan… XBOKS! XBOKS jou doos! SNEP SEWENDE LAAN! Fok! Ek moes n’ Speelstasie 4 gekoop het”
TiMsTeR1033
November 13, 2013 at 12:45
2018 cape flats crime increase after Xbox one launch..
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
November 13, 2013 at 12:46
2018 is going to see an exponential increase in domestic disturbances across our strange country…. 😮
John's (JJ's) ????
November 13, 2013 at 12:47
Crime decrease possibly. Game violence has nothing on them.
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
November 13, 2013 at 13:35
LMAO that is classic!
Laughing too loud in the office 😀
CodeName Tailgunner
November 13, 2013 at 13:58
Step 1: After taking your xdoos out of the doos you first have to teach it what a doos is.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
November 13, 2013 at 14:26
doosception!!
CodeName Tailgunner
November 13, 2013 at 14:32
Xdoos1 is what I call my first girlfriend
Unavengedavo(aka. IceCreamMan)
November 13, 2013 at 12:50
This popped into my head when I saw the header image…
TiMsTeR1033
November 13, 2013 at 13:11
That is disturbing on sooo many levels
Unavengedavo(aka. IceCreamMan)
November 13, 2013 at 13:13
I feel sorry for the guy that has to clean that up 😛
HvR
November 13, 2013 at 13:01
I wonder if Avast, AVG and McAfee is working on their anti-virus versions for consoles.
The one big drawback for having so many features and compatibility with everything is that MS (and probably Sony) is accepting data in protocols not under their control which in turn opens up the system for malware.
ADDITION: And with all the extras, DLC and services on there that needs to be paid more and more people are loading credit card and account information on their consoles making future console owners a very lucrative target.
WhiteRock
November 14, 2013 at 07:24
“– just look at how poorly Mehdi drives in Forza while multi-tasking!” – Maybe he just drives badly as a rule?