Xbox's Internet Browser Is So Good, It's Changed The Way I Watch TV

Not being able to install an adblocker on it makes it pretty rough to use.

It's good for a game console browser but it's lacking extension support which ruins it's appeal for me.

Unless you have a keyboard and mouse hooked up it’s horrible (just like any other tv browser that hasn’t got keyboard and mouse hooked up)

I mean it's a thousand times better than the old version, but it's basic at best. I've found it to be slow and very awkward to use with a controller, and issues when it comes to things like pop out windows or other tabs.

The biggest issue is that the Xbox doesn't allow for you to use a standard Bluetooth keyboard so typing anything more than a word or two is like pulling teeth. That one change would make browsing FAR better.

I use it all the time, but I'm flooded with ads.

I don't even use Microsoft Edge on my PC or phone.

I use Edge on all my devices. Just slinging any page from my mobile to any device is such an easy way to show stuff on the television.

I use Microsoft Edge everyday on my Xbox, It's absolutely amazing.. Actually im using Microsoft Edge on my Xbox to type this comment.. It honestly feels like I have a laptop hooked up to my TV

@JoyfulFire and @Lup
A great solution to this is to use Ad-Guard DNS service. It blocks ads, trackers, malicious sites, etc. at the DNS level, so an extension is not needed for ad blocking. I have my DCHP server on my wireless router handing these DNS addresses out, so all of my devices are benefitting from this. To originally test it, I loaded up a browser with no extensions and hit several site known to be full of ads. It works very well. I even changed my DNS servers on my Samsung phone to use these DNS servers and have had no issues.

https://adguard-dns.io

I never really use it, not much point when I have my phone and laptop/desktop PC.

Need to get yourself a firestick buddy, using a console for tv seems odd

No adblocker, no use.

@TheRustyGamer how do you install one of these things? I NEED this !

We watch media.

Before reward points got seriously nerfd along with me not having WiFi, a computer and a good phone back in the day, using the browser via an Xbox One was my primary way of browsing the internet & I accumulated plenty of reward points (atleast 150k) from it but back then it was super stuttery and unresponsive but I tried it on the current models recently and it's miles better thats for sure.

Edit: I even used a keyboard that fits on the bottom of the Xbox controller.

@HeavyHoggJP
You need to logon to whatever device is handing out IP addresses to you network. That is usually your wireless router or the modem supplied by your ISP. You'll want to change the DNS servers to 94.140.14.14 and 94.140.15.15.
You also should check the DHCP settings to see if you can specify DNS servers there.

Makes sense to me. People go oh Xbox/PC and games. I myself never really need to use it but I'm glad it's there and more accessible then the other platforms unless you have a PS4 around as Vita/Wii U browsers aren't great and 360 dropped Bing support with the eshop so..... unless PS3 it works well then I doubt it. I mean apps going away as internet related things change with apps/web broswers or devs caring to support old systems either. Youtube was janky on Wii U but it still technically worked.

A lot of things are possible on the web though. I said even if I never really use it, I said it's alright, not bad. It's not able to do everything & I don't expect it to but I think it's capable enough of a lot people just don't think about as they have other devices to do it instead.

So like with the media app push PS3/Xbox One and Wii U had it didn't really matter if smart TVs, phones and PCs already do it and consoles have the option and can be a good media/physical disk for media player but are still gaming machines to most people even if a PS2, PS3, 360, Xbox One and PS4 are still good media players and I mostly use my 360/Xbox One or PS4 as I prefer the menus of them more. PS2 it's got artifact-ing and not really into it while in modern consoles I don't see it with the same disk for that tv series I tested it with at all. PS2, PSP (UMD movies or music) and PS3 have the same menu and I just don't like it.

Can easily use a TV's browser or a console and find what I need if no phone/PC or 'access to them' if restricted for to others. Easily use a console/handheld to browse or experience entertainment then a phone/PC. Many internet devices these days people have access to.

It's why the what people do on with those web browsers on PS3/360/Wii wasn't a surprise other then the what they searched and how different each result was for 'adult searches'. It was interesting and kind of explained what audiences had each console in a way too. XD Especially for Wii.

I don't think about Edge on Xbox much but since PS5/Switch hide theirs I'm like hmm yeah it's nice it's here and accessible. PS4/Wii U ones do a fair job but PS4 more so Wii Us is a bit like Vita it's just too much for it to capture modern web design elements anymore.

The Xbox whether the dual app, TV TV TV period of 2013-2017 that OS feature was I loved it with Windows 8 so nope take that away. But oh PS5 can have picture in picture and that's fine. Who uses it no idea but no one cared when Sony showed it off in the PS5 early days at all with Sackboy A Big Adventure.

The Xbox whether BC to Edge to other stuff, CD player apps, any music serivce you want not ONLY spotify. Like the Xbox/Windows stores are great if you thnik about it and as a console and easy app access then having to look for it on a web browser the PC way because Xboxs are locked down Edge is very powerful for finding cough emu, or just writing up documents or doing other things.

They aren't perfect but they do offer a fairly about you can do with apps or the browser if you don't like the app versions of streaming services or other stuff probably, if you want a web version then an app only way to do things Edge is perfectly capable and underrated for sure.

Part 2:
People just don't think about it and don't care as it's always about the games or other stuff.

I mean a lot happens in tech but people don't care. I do and look around a lot and go oh this to this and that can do that. Whether gaming handhelds people never heard of or ignore, or just key features that made a difference. It's not always about the games. It's sometimes the apps, the features, the controller gimmicks and how some use them. It's exciting stuff the more I look at them.

Yeh I would agree with other people here and say not being able to use ad blocker sucks but I also agree with the article here, I absolutely love using the internet browser on my Xbox One console and do so pretty much every day for watching YouTube videos. I actually like it better than the app because you can open up multiple videos to watch one after the other.

internet on console is one of the best things ever . you literally have a browser on the big screen and can navigate with a controller from your bed or couch .

A billion ad popups. It's like using a browser from 20 years ago

Tried it once to see if it could block YouTube ads, but couldn't.

Not used it since.

We need PIN TO START SCREEN! Like PWA apps on PC.

They need to bring Play Store to Xbox

@nomither6 But that's where the ad blocker is needed!

@lechugajr LOL! You’re right 😂! That’s so true

I used it to watch AMC+ on my C7 a few years ago. There were some issues getting the video to play sometimes, but that always seemed tied to the site itself. I also use it for rewards points at times.

It does not make sense to use Xbox for anything else than playing games due to its high power consumption... It is better to use a media center, either a dedicated streaming device or a NUC PC or a NAS for streaming video and/or audio content.

It's not a great experience for watching streamed content for more than a one off and you would be better off getting a dedicated streaming device that has easy to navigate apps. Not only that but they used a fraction of the power to run and I find consoles consume way too much power to stream on in comparison they may use less than they used to but still more than something like a fire stick or Roku device. The two services you even mention in the article; Triller TV and the NHL both have much more useable experiences on every dedicated streaming device so why you would torture yourself and use a web browser on a console I have no idea.

@Zenszulu several reasons

@TheRustyGamer All sounds greek to me. Thanks for explaining anyway