This is pretty ballin stuff if you ask me. As a gadget geek/gamer, next gen console race isn't even close for me due to cool Xbox One features like this.

http://www.theverge.com/2013/8/21/4643746/microsoft-previews-xbox-one-dashboard-gamescom-2013

Despite having seen plenty of impressive Xbox One games in action, we're decidedly less familiar with the console's user interface. To this point, Microsoft has only demonstrated the UI in small doses, both at the Xbox One unveiling and later E3. Aside from brief glimpses of a live programming guide, snap functionality, and other features, Microsoft has largely focused its promotional efforts elsewhere. Thankfully the company is putting a larger spotlight on the Xbox One dashboard at Gamescom 2013. The software shown off to journalists today was non-final, but paints a clear picture of what gamers can expect this November. The flat menu design is a clear evolution of the Xbox 360's current dash, though it's looking closer to a full-blown Windows experience than ever before.

XBOX ONE'S FRIENDS LIST GOES THE TWITTER ROUTE

It starts with logging in; Pocket-lint reports that Xbox One permits up to six accounts to be signed in simultaneously, with Kinect able to distinguish between those users by the sound of their voice. You can tell the console to display your friends list, for example, and if another player makes the same request moments later, Xbox One is smart enough to know which list should be on screen. And you'll likely be looking at those lists frequently on Xbox One since they're getting far more useful. You can "follow" up to 1,000 friends, but the number of followers you can ultimately tally is limitless. Your favorite multiplayer pals can be pinned to a favorites section to speed up party formation and get you into a game.

YOUR XBOX ONE WILL PRETTY MUCH DOUBLE AS A HARMONY REMOTE

There's good news for home theater enthusiasts, too. Microsoft is taking advantage of the console's IR blaster in a big way. The Xbox One can control individual components of your living room setup — a TV, receiver, etc. — recognizing commands like "Xbox, volume up" to make quick changes. The configuration process reportedly resembles that of a Harmony remote; you simply search for a device in your home theater chain rather than dealing with codes or other cumbersome menus.

And as far as the in-game DVR goes, "Xbox, record that" is the prompt you'll be saying to capture your last 30 seconds of gameplay. From there, clips can be shared to a variety of video services via a dedicated Upload app that can be snapped to the side of your screen. Gameplay is preserved in 720p at 30 frames-per-second.  We expect to hear even more about the Xbox One dashboard as that November launch draws closer, so keep it locked for the latest

Not that I wasn't sold already but that's the final blow.... I will never buy again a device without voice control or able to be controlled by one.... remotes are for loserssszzzz loll :) no more wasting money on harmony remotes.... this is so 20th century... my last question has been answered....

Haha...yeah.

Shocked this didn't get more replies as its quite a huge thing... but I guess on AVS Forums it would be appreciated a bit more than here. 

yeah people saying "are you too lazy to grab a remote and press button" probably never saw what a real home theatre set up is supposed to be...
they probably buy some all in one shitty altec or Sony kits....

I have 3 remotes just for my sound system set up between amp, pre amp and subwoofer and that's not the worst.... then I have the TV remote and the cable box remote...

yeah sure I can have a universal remote.... but a decent one for a set up like that is an harmony remote and those are almost more expensive than a PS4 for the high end ones... and no less than 80 bucks for the low end model MSRP... and I still have to press buttons and on such a remote it is not that easy for everybody....

http://www.logitech.com/en-us/harmony-remotes

so yeah I'd take an XB1 with Kinect packed in for even 600 bucks if not more.... cause it is well worth it for real media entertainment enthusiast....

I really hope this works as promised. I'm worried though since they include an IR blaster port on the system. I feel that if Kinect IR blasting worked 80% of the time, they wouldn't build a backup into the system. Could just us a USB port for that. Or they could sell a mirror.

I'm tempted to set up a big old IR light and test if it works with my room.

YOUR XBOX ONE WILL PRETTY MUCH DOUBLE AS A HARMONY REMOTE
my phone already does this.

So how does that work? Where do you point the IR blaster, since my projector, amp and cable box are all in different places.
I've never got along with universal remotes, program a sequence to turn everything on but still have to point it in the right directions while it's going through the steps, pointless.

Definitely another cool feature that people will enjoy using, as long as it's a smooth experience.

Also, about the "Xbox record that", will you be able to continuously give the command after another 30 seconds and essentially splice together longer sequences?

phone apps are shitty as hell as far I have seen so far, nowhere close to an harmony remote and I still have to use buttons on a touch screen on top of that.... which even shittier 90% of the time

and what happens when I'm using smartglass and need to use the app at the same time if I didn't have kinect.....

so yeah it will double as an harmony remote for a 100 bucks more sign me up right now eyes closed

OMG this is so awesome... Seriously, the differences between the 2 next-gen offering is huge for my point of view.
I cannot wait for November!