Yep! As well as the other uses. Works for me.

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  It's grest for me as well as the other uses.

I guess, when the competition offers a service for free I don't think its worth paying an extra $100 for a controller to get the same service, but that's just me.  Microsoft's way of playing off screen is way more practical than Nintendo's.

The Game-pad should cut simply because it doesn't always improve gameplay a lot. there are a huge percentage of gamers, even Nintendo fans like myself, who don't WANT to have to look back and forth from the TV screen to a secondary screen in front of them. that's what has always been nice about Nintendo controllers since th company's birth- comfortable controllers that were very easy to get used to mentally. I think the majority of gamers and Nintnedo fans don't mind clicking the start or select button to visit an in-game map or look through their inventory or whatever else. it's just not necessary. I'm diehard Nintendo simply for how great they've been in the past and the fact that they desperately try to maintain high quality- but for example with the Wii U, I just do not expect people to go out in hordes to buy a system that is probably overpriced and has components that do not make it better for the average gamer. I can understand motion controls from the Wii (as much as I didn't like them), because it was an experience you couldn't find elsewhere. but essentially a tablet with buttons as a controller?

  people already have handheld systems and literally big cell phones. just seems kind of forced, and when one considers that Nintendo already seems to be hoping to go in a route to combine their handheld and consoles together integration wise it makes sense. me? not a fan of the gamepad. not short and sweet enough like just a plain controller is

True but Nintendo is bringing games that will use the pad in more ways.  Plus the Wii U is not selling nowhere near as the Wii so there aren't as much shovel ware that would employ must of what you have said.

You mean smartglass? I never used it. How is it more practical? 

No I mean streaming X1 to PC through the Xbox App.  I think it even works on Windows phones and tablets.

Or streaming to the pad. Hardly see how X1 is more practical.

Because you don't have to pay for a controller that costs an extra $100.

Nope. Just for a PC, tablet, or smart phones. That run windows. Even if you already have either they still cost more than $100.