Microsoft has just upped the ante in the console wars when it revealed its soon to be redesigned Windows 10 interface for Xbox One at Gamescom in Cologne. PS4 has once again been outselling Xbox One in the U.S., and remains a distant leader on the world stage, but perhaps Microsoft’s recent announcement might give Redmond a much needed boost.

Recording TV on Xbox One

In a blog post Xbox recently revealed that the console will soon have DVR for Over-the-Air TV, a facility that will allow users to record television that can watched via the digital TV tuner that was released in May this year in the U.S. Xbox reports that once the over the air TV feature is set up it’s just a matter of connecting a USB hard drive to your console and recording, allowing you to finish up your game or do something else. You can record until your heart’s content, or rather, until you’ve run out space on your hard drive.

Part of the recording feature includes scheduling, whereby recordings from OneGuide can be lined-up using your console, the Xbox app on Windows 10, or with Xbox SmartGlass on iOS and Android devices. While you’re on the go you can also make changes to your scheduled recordings. If you have the Xbox app on Windows 10 you can also stream television to other devices, which can then be downloaded and watched whether you’re online or not. The downside to this news is that these features won’t be available until 2016.

More features

Coming a little sooner, in November, is the news about backwards compatibility. Microsoft had earlier said that Xbox 360 games would run on Xbox One, and it has now been revealed that this fall that will become a reality – at least for a limited number of games. Also in November, and available as a pre-order today, is the Xbox Elite Wireless controller.

Arriving at the same time will be is Chatpad for Xbox One, also available as a pre-order today. Chatpad, which is a small keyboard that connects to your controller, allows you to write messages, search for games and apps, alter the volume and enter codes.

Lastly, Cortana integration is coming to Xbox One, meaning that you can talk to your console while you’re playing and find out who else is online, message them, and still focus on your game.

Photo credit: Xbox