http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/
We totally believe you Microsoft. ;)]]>Jun 4th 2009 1:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/Jun 4th 2009 2:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/July 25, 2006 is the video post.]]>Jun 4th 2009 2:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/
It was a smart move to not reinvent the wheel.]]>Jun 4th 2009 2:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/Jun 4th 2009 2:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/Jun 4th 2009 7:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/and this wasn't suppose to be a reply to the first post though I'm pretty sure it's my bad... still, say it with me Engadget - E-DIT]]>Jun 4th 2009 7:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/
/facepalm slap

epic FAIL, I hang my head in shame]]>Jun 4th 2009 7:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/Jun 4th 2009 10:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/Jun 4th 2009 2:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/
If MS had not acquired 3DV, you can bet your mind that Nintendo and Sony would. This is how the industry works, and acquisitions take place on a daily basis. Apple too acquired a multitude of companies to make the iPhone become a reality. It's all about gaining ground fast and protecting your competitive advantage. All companies who diversify into new fields do this. NS has done nothing new or unusual. ]]>Jun 4th 2009 2:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/Jun 4th 2009 2:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/Jun 4th 2009 4:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/"this is the endgame" - another M$ exec.

Controllers are so 2009.

Project Natal]]>Jun 4th 2009 2:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/Jun 4th 2009 2:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/Jun 4th 2009 2:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/
Yeah, thats why you obviously wont use natal with some games, u'd use a controller. Genius...]]>Jun 4th 2009 2:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/Jun 4th 2009 2:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/Jun 4th 2009 3:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/
]]>Jun 4th 2009 4:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/Jun 4th 2009 2:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/Jun 4th 2009 2:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/
Homer: [reading Internet for Dummies: Remedial Edition] Oh, they have the Internet on computers now.
Marge: Homer, Bill Gates is here.
Homer: Bill Gates? Billionaire computer nerd Bill Gates? Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Get out of sight, Marge. I don't want this to look like a two-bit operation.
Bill Gates: Mr. Simpson?
Homer: You don't look so rich.
Bill Gates: Don't let the haircut fool you. I'm exceedingly wealthy.
Homer: [sotto voce] Get a load of the bowl job, Marge.
Bill Gates: Your Internet ad was brought to my attention but I can't figure out what, if anything, CompuGlobalHyperMegaNet does. So, rather than risk competing with you, I've decided simply to buy you out.
Homer: [softly] This is it, Marge. I poured my heart and soul into this business and now it's finally paying off. We're rich! Richer than astronauts!
Marge: [softly] Homer, quiet! You'll queer the deal.
Homer: Oh, right. [out loud] I reluctantly accept your proposal.
Bill Gates: Well, everyone always does. Buy him out, boys.
(assistants begin breaking things on Homer's dining table-turned-office)
Homer: Hey, what the hell's going on?
Bill Gates: Oh, I didn't get rich by writing a lot of checks. [cackles loudly] ]]>Jun 4th 2009 2:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/Jun 4th 2009 2:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/
Maybe they bought 3DV to guarantee that another companies had any patents that could be used to contest MS creations. Or even bought them as additional specialized dev workforce for their own projects.]]>Jun 4th 2009 2:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/
The 3DV camera uses infra-red time of flight measurements to get the distance of each pixel from the camera. However it decidedly not trivial to convert this distance image into a model of a person (or people). I expect that that is the part Microsoft have been working on. Indeed there are other ways to get the depth map (e.g. stereoscopic cameras, laser scanning, etc.)

Engadget comments seem to be halfway between Slashdot comments and Youtube comments.]]>Jun 4th 2009 5:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/Jun 4th 2009 2:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/Jun 4th 2009 2:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/
microsoft spends more money on R&D per year than some companies spend in their entire existance ]]>Jun 6th 2009 12:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/Jun 4th 2009 2:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/Jun 4th 2009 2:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/Jun 4th 2009 2:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/Jun 4th 2009 2:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/
]]>Jun 4th 2009 3:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/Jun 4th 2009 3:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/Jun 4th 2009 2:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/Jun 4th 2009 2:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/ "their operating system runs on 90% of the personal computers in the world," since a monopoly would be 100% you just proved they do not have a monopoly.. Also for them to have a monopoly they would have to buy out Apple for their OS, and buyout every linux vendor... as long as you have a choice in OS then they dont have a monopoly.. learn what something is becuase you show how much of a troll you are... ]]>Jun 4th 2009 2:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/
How much did Apple innovate when they said "I will pay you $x to buy your media player"?]]>Jun 4th 2009 3:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/
Microsoft bought it, so what?!?!?

its still epic, i have a mac pro and also an xbox 360 and a dell running vista. they are all good for their own things, stop being a stupid add fanboy.

is Microsoft didn't buy this company they would have copyright and patent issues, or another company would have bought it. its not microsofts fault its so epic, it just is. nobody forces people to use the microsoft OS, and nobody is forcing you.
GTFO]]>Jun 4th 2009 3:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/--------------------------------
In economics, a monopoly exists when a specific individual or enterprise has sufficient control over a particular product or service to determine significantly the terms on which other individuals shall have access to it.[1] Monopolies are thus characterized by a lack of economic competition for the good or service that they provide and a lack of viable substitute goods.[2] The verb "monopolize" refers to the process by which a firm gains persistently greater market share than what is expected under perfect competition.
--------------------------------
a coercive monopoly is a business concern that prohibits competitors from entering the field, with the natural result being that the firm is able to make pricing and production decisions independent of competitive forces.[1] A coercive monopoly is not merely a sole supplier of a particular kind of good or service (a monopoly), but it is a monopoly where there is no opportunity to compete through means such as price competition, technological or product innovation, or marketing; entry into the field is closed.
--------------------------------

In other words, so powerful that there's no way to compete. Microsoft IS a convicted monopolist in several countries. Due to corrupt politics though, they were not properly dealt with.]]>Jun 4th 2009 4:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/Jun 4th 2009 11:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/Jun 4th 2009 2:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/
]]>Jun 4th 2009 3:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/
I also think this tech is also coming to the PC. I bet MS has BIG plans for this technology.]]>Jun 4th 2009 2:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/Jun 4th 2009 3:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/
If MS was the true creator of this technology and owner of the patents then there shouldn't have been a reason to buy 3DV for any reason. Obviously 3DV owns the tech and MS doesn't want to get into a legal battle. It's much cheaper for them to buy the tech then to pay their lawyers, rival settlement fees and licensing fees.

They did the right thing so this product could be introduced and widely available to the consumer but they shouldn't blow so much smoke.]]>Jun 4th 2009 3:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/Jun 4th 2009 3:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://code.google.com/creative/radiohead/ ... at least that's the first thing that came to mind when I read about this.

]]>Jun 4th 2009 3:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/04/microsoft-says-3dv-acquisition-didnt-influence-project-natal/
Technically speaking, the problem of a motion capture system is:
a) price.
b) setup.
c) Precision.
d) cpu power needing.
e) lag.

May be MS cheated when showed Natal, after all MS is seasoned to do such things.
http://news.cnet.com/Xbox-360-demos-running-on-Macs/2100-1043_3-5706658.html

WiiMote works fine because it was the sum of proved technologies and still present many troubles, Instead to capture movement with camera is a real different thing,the technology is anything but 100% working and proved, even a expensive mocap system usually present problem with the precision.

]]>Jun 4th 2009 3:29PM