Extending your Xbox 360 to your Android smartphone or tablet is now possible, with Microsoft’s new Xbox SmartGlass for Android app.

Xbox Smartglass is an app which links your Android phone, or tablet to your Xbox Live account, and lets you browse Xbox Live content on your phone, control your Xbox 360, and even browse the web on the Internet Explorer browser on the Xbox. In short, Xbox SmartGlass turns your Android device into a smart remote for your console, letting you navigate the Xbox UI through touch-based gestures on your Droid.

In fact, Xbox SmartGlass is also designed to let you control some apps and games which have Smartglass support, although there wouldn’t be too many right now.

Here’s a more detailed list of features that the Xbox SmartGlass app comes with:

  • Navigate your Xbox 360 interface
  • Message your Xbox friends
  • Edit your Xbox profile
  • Change your Xbox Live 3D avatar
  • Use your phone’s keyboard to type text on your Xbox
  • Use your Android device as a remote for playback of videos and music on your Xbox 360
  • Use Internet Explorer on your Xbox 360 with full keyboard and zooming
  • Browse the full Xbox Live catalog of music, video, and games
  • Track and compare your achievements with your Xbox Live friends

As is the case with most things Microsoft, there is a small catch to this wonderful app. It is only compatible with Android devices with a minimum WVGA resolution (480 x 800) and running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. And oh, you also need to update your Xbox dashboard with the latest update.

Some users have reported that this app does not work with the Nexus 7 tablet, but works seamlessly with a Samsung Galaxy S3, as well as the Galaxy Nexus. Either ways, it’s definitely a step forward by Microsoft in the right direction. Windows Phones may have native Xbox SmartGlass integration, but with adoption rates still nascent, it makes a lot of sense to target the most widely used mobile platform in the world.

You can find out more about Xbox SmartGlass on its official page. And if you haven’t got it yet on your Android device, hit the download link below, to get it for free from the Google Play Store.