Microsoft released the Xbox One chatpad on Thursday, making it easier to chat with friends and browse the internet thanks to the full QWERTY keyboard. The pad plugs into the bottom of the controller using both the proprietary connector and the 3.5mm audio jack. The chatpad then provides its own audio jack to plug a chat headset into.
The chatpad keyboard is back-lit features dedicated buttons to control the volume level, game and voice chat volume mix, and a microphone mute. it also has two user programmable keys (X1 and X2) that are usable only on the Xbox One although that functionality will not be available until "mid 2016" according to Microsoft. Currently, pressing the X1 and X2 function keys will take a screenshot and save the last 30 seconds of game play as a video clip respectively.
The chatpad is compatible with all Xbox One controllers provided they are running the latest firmware. It can be used with both the Xbox One and Windows 10 PCs. Note that the Xbox One must be running the NXOE (New Xbox One Experience) update and Windows 10 must be updated to the November Update. Function keys only work with the Xbox One.
The chatpad and chat headset are available now from Amazon for $34.99.
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Personally, I’m fine with
Personally, I'm fine with using the Smartglass app on my phone as it seems to work well. For the serious gamer that doesn't want to take their hands off of the controller during multiplayer though, I can understand wanting something like this.
If you’re seriously gaming
If you’re seriously gaming are you going to stop to tap out a message during a game? I don’t see a difference between doing that or doing as you say use the Smartglass app. Either way you have to stop to hammer out a message.
Presumably, the benefit is
Presumably, the benefit is that you get to keep your hands on the controller and do not have to look away from the screen to type on the physical keyboard. I never used the chatpad on the 360 but maybe someone that has can chime in here.
The 360 chat pad was a great
The 360 chat pad was a great product – except I rarely used it for chat. Typing in passwords, searching Netflix, typing in character names, etc. It made the experience of filling text boxes so much better. It barely weighed anything, so I left it on the controller all the time. It also had an auxiliary headphone jack so you could still use the headset with it. It was a great product… EXCEPT it didn’t work on Windows. The 360 controller works fine, the 360 headset works fine, but the 360 chat pad was never recognized. I went as far as to enable testing mode in Windows to load unsigned drivers, but could still never get it to work correctly.
It’s no different than typing
It’s no different than typing during a fps on a PC…
On that note, why do people
On that note, why do people itch to be heard? I have no time to be smashing keys, I just play until its over to say anything. Some people love to hear themselves talk I guess.
Some games require
Some games require communication. Sometimes it’s just fun. Microphones are annoying.
1) Some multiplayer NEEDS
1) Some multiplayer NEEDS communication. The consoles want a slice of E-Sport cash. This makes that possible.
2) (even tho it makes me shudder) Having a full PC is getting less necessary to be “Connected” X-Bone on the Telly and a phone is plenty for loads of people. Having a little clip on qwerty for big screen browsing makes it complete.
3)”On that note, why do people itch to be heard?” SERIOUSLY?!?!?!? Complex communication is at the core of our very existence as humans, it’s the reason you were compelled to communicate your opinions in the form of a post, AND the reason I read/lessened, considered and responded.
You have two hands to type in
You have two hands to type in that case. Chat pad is a mostly thumbs only experience.
Or maybe someone has
Or maybe someone has comically small hands.
Picked the chatpad up, but
Picked the chatpad up, but even after an hour on the phone with Microsoft it still wouldn’t work with Windows 10. I believe it’s an issue with the inability to update the firmware on the PC, as the orange button just blinks.
Same here, did you find a
Same here, did you find a solution?
ah-ha update the controller
ah-ha update the controller firmware:
https://support.xbox.com/en-GB/xbox-one/accessories/update-controller-for-stereo-headset-adapter#5fbb2cb1c46a426ab35104b7495269a3
firmware update doesnt fix
firmware update doesnt fix this anymore. you need to update it through an actual xbox one now