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Report: Apple buys PrimeSense, co-creators of the original Kinect
Remember that Apple / PrimeSense deal that was rumored to be going down in July? It may have just gone through: according to Israeli news source Calcalist, Cupertino acquired the motion sensing technology firm for $345 million this weekend. If true, it could hint at future Apple products with natural, motion controlled interfaces, integrating the same kind of technology that PrimeSense used to help Microsoft build the first Kinect. In a statement to the TheNextWeb, PrimeSense refers to the report as a "recycled rumor," saying only that it "does not comment on what any of our partners, customers or potential customers are doing." According to the report, Apple is hounding after the motion sensing tech to improve Apple TV, noting that the original deal was delayed due to legal issues. Hungry for more? Brush up on your Hebrew and check out the source link below - but keep your salt shaker handy.
Watch Xbox One go from 'Xbox On' to signed-in dashboard in 13 seconds
By saying "Xbox on" you can turn on the Xbox One, log in using the new Kinect's facial recognition, and hit the system's dashboard, all within 13 seconds. At least, that's going by a video (see below the break) posted by Xbox spokesoldier Larry 'Major Nelson' Hyrb - and yes, we timed it. In this case, the console's being turned on from standby mode, rather than a cold boot; as Xbox Director of Product Planning Albert Penello explained on Reddit, the 'Xbox On' command works when the system's in standby. Also, it appears the Major's signed into Xbox Live (as well as the console itself) by the video's end. We'll all be able to test this out for ourselves in just over a week's time, when Microsoft's next-gen console launches on November 22, with a price tag of $500.
'Xbox On' command powers up and logs in Xbox One in just 13 seconds
The second major console launch this year is still just over a week away, but the folks at Microsoft are showing off another feature of the Xbox One. This video demonstrates its ability to turn on and log in using only your voice (for comparison, the PS4 can be turned off with a voice command, but not on), and your face. Major Nelson's "Xbox On" command leads to a fully powered up and ready system in just 13 seconds, and that's even using Kinect's camera with facial recognition to log into his Xbox Live profile. If you prefer privacy over convenience, the Xbox's ability to listen for its hotword while in standby can be disabled (or, you can leave the microphone and camera-packing sensor unplugged entirely), but if your couch is constantly eating gamepads and remotes, maybe this is a reason to jump in at launch.
Oh snap: Microsoft demos Xbox One's snap feature in new video
Microsoft's Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer Yusuf Mehdi guided players through a demo of the Xbox One's snap feature in the latest video for the home console slated to launch on November 22. The system's Kinect-based snap commands allows players to watch TV, surf the web and check on their friends list during games like Forza 5, the racing game Mehdi happens to play during the demo. Our recent impressions of the Xbox One's dashboard features noted that the system cannot snap two games side-by-side, as the operating system gives priority to games like Forza 5 and Dead Rising 3. Besides, you'd have to be some kind of secret octopus to pull off a feat like playing two games at once.
Now Playing: November 11-17, 2013
The PlayStation 4's launch gets revved up this week with Need for Speed: Rivals... Choose your platform to jump to a specific release list:
Xbox One 'His and Hers' ad is disruptive, cute
Microsoft's Xbox One hardware teaser wasn't the only video for the new console that it unveiled this morning. It also published a brief "His and Hers" ad in which a lady named Jennifer uses Kinect voice commands to begin playing Dead Rising 3 while her boyfriend is watching a soccer match.
Target's buy two games, get one free sale spans all consoles
It turns out the previously-reported buy two, get one free sale at Target stretches across all major consoles, and is on now through Saturday, November 16. The sale includes games like Pokemon X and Y, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, Grand Theft Auto 5 and Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag. We know what you're thinking: "What about all those launch games for PS4 and Xbox One that I want?" We filtered the platforms down on Target's sales page, and found that only four next-gen games are seemingly eligible for the sale: NBA 2K14 on PS3 and Battlefield 4, Fighter Within and Call of Duty: Ghosts on Xbox One.
Microsoft's 12-minute Xbox One demo shows off the dashboard, Kinect and apps
With only two weeks until the Xbox One hits the shelves, Microsoft's marketing blitz continues with a 12-minute video demonstration of its next-gen console in action. Xbox executives Yusuf Mehdi and Marc Whitten highlight some of Kinect's new features, showing how users can switch to their personalized dashboard using just their voice, or use its 1080p camera to engage in a live Skype video call. We're also treated to some real-world examples of the Xbox One's snappy multitasking features, which we first saw in the "Meet Xbox One" video late last month, reinforcing the speed at which the system can switch between the dashboard and a paused game (in this case Forza Motorsport 5). These features, of course, are just a few of the several fascinating abilities we got to witness this week -- you can digest it all right here.
Xbox One Kinect tracks head lean, voice commands in Battlefield 4
When Battlefield 4 hits the Xbox One, it will bring with it a few new Kinect options that make your own body movements part of the virtual firefight. Most novel are the device's head-tracking capabilities. According to Polygon, if your Kinect senses your head tilting far enough to the left or right, your in-game character will mirror this action, carefully leaning out of cover to line up a shot (or have his or her fool head blown off). Voice commands are likewise supported, allowing players to call for more ammo, medical assistance or a ride from any characters currently driving a vehicle. Though the Xbox One (and PS4) iteration of Battlefield 4 launches on November 19, the Xbox One itself won't debut until November 22. Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC versions of the game are currently available.
Microsoft shows how to redeem an Xbox One download code in six seconds (video)
How quickly can you redeem an Xbox One download code? Quickly enough to fit the experience into a six-second Vine video, apparently. Microsoft's Major Nelson has just posted one of the looping clips (after the break) to prove that you can scan codes with the console's Kinect sensor in mere moments. It's doubtful that anyone will need to grab content quite that quickly, but the demo is a friendly reminder of the time we'll save by ditching old-fashioned keyboard input after November 22nd.
Now Playing: November 4-10, 2013
Haunt your enemies this week with Call of Duty: Ghosts.. Choose your platform to jump to a specific release list:
Microsoft clarifies what Xbox One and Kinect do with your stored data
Ever since Microsoft revealed a Kinect 2.0 is included with each Xbox One sold, rumors have flown over what the company can and/or will do with the information its sensors pick up. The software giant's overarching privacy statement makes its case that you shouldn't have anything to worry about. That's because the info Kinect's unblinking eye gleans either never leaves your console, or in the case of "expression data" it's destroyed once you turn the system off. Furthermore, you can manually dive into the system settings and nuke all the locally cached data whenever you want. Voice command samples can go back to Redmond for "system improvement" with a choice to opt-out, just like the current Kinect. However, the company claims that in-game voice chat can be monitored "to the extent permitted by law," but it can't monitor all users and won't make an attempt to. Microsoft even went out of its way to point out that the One can't listen in on Skype calls -- anyone think that's enough to keep prying eyes out of their video chats?
Microsoft details data collection, sharing policies in updated Xbox privacy statement
Microsoft has released an updated version of its Xbox privacy statement, detailing its user information-sharing policies as the company gears up to launch the Xbox One. Microsoft specifically outlines how the console's Kinect camera collects data during gameplay, possibly in response to targeted advertising concerns raised recently. "You control what happens to photographs taken during gameplay and whether voice commands are captured for analysis," Microsoft explains. "You can turn Kinect off at any time." The updated policy also assures that Kinect's detailed facial recognition data will not be transmitted to outside sources, and will be deleted after each gameplay session. "Some game titles may take advantage of a new Xbox capability called expressions," the statement reads. "This feature allows you to use your defined facial expressions to control or influence a game. This data does not identify you, stays on the console and is destroyed once your session ends." Xbox Live's terms of use were updated earlier this week, explicitly stating how Microsoft's consoles will share user information going forward.
Daily Roundup: Xbox One dashboard, fresh Samsung SDKs, Rogers' Moto X and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Now Playing: October 28 - November 3, 2013
Fight on land, sea, and air this week with Battlefield 4... Choose your platform to jump to a specific release list:
Kinect Sports Rivals 'Preseason' free trial coming to Xbox One at launch
To make up for the delay of Kinect Sports Rivals to spring 2014, Microsoft will offer a free trial version of the game when the Xbox One launches on November 22. Called Kinect Sports Rivals Preseason, the trial offers players the game's wave racing mini-game along with monthly challenges until March 2014. Microsoft notes that players will need to download the Preseason trial before November 30 to start earning points to unlock a "Founder" player title as well as a wetsuit and wake racer avatar items. The free trial will launch alongside a Kinect Sports Rivals hub that distributes Preseason's monthly challenges and rewards, which carry over to the full version of the game.
Xbox 360 250 GB Holiday bundle is $239 today on Amazon
Microsoft's Xbox 360 Kinect Holiday Value Bundle is on sale for $239 as part of today's Gold Box discounts on Amazon. Those that act fast will get the redesigned Xbox 360 E console loaded with a 250 GB hard drive, a controller, a Kinect camera and three games: Kinect Adventures, Kinect Sports: Season 2 and a download code for Forza Horizon. The bundle normally costs $399, amounting to enough savings to pick up a few extra games, or better yet, groceries so you don't starve this month. Again, the deal is only on for today as long as supplies last, and is a great deal for people that haven't bought an Xbox 360 in the last few days like your humble Joystiq editor has. It's also a good deal for those that aren't picking up a PS4 or Xbox One this coming month.
Kinect eye patch for Xbox One will protect what's left of your privacy
If you couldn't bear the original Kinect staring at you all day every day, then you're going to be doubly unappreciative of the upgraded Kinect 2.0 module that comes with the Xbox One. Fortunately, as with the 360, a straight-forward fix is just a few dollars away. Accessory maker PDP has a privacy-protecting Kinect TV mount available for pre-order on Amazon for $20, which will serve the dual purpose of attaching your new Kinect module to any flat-panel display and hobbling its core functions. By adding a layer of solid plastic over the device's infrared and color camera sensors, the mount should bring some comfort to anyone not fully convinced by Microsoft's earlier assurances about how imaging data of our living rooms will be used in the future. Meanwhile, those all-important voice commands should still work fine.
Xbox One Kinect shrinks minimum distance requirement to 4.6 feet
Microsoft said it improved Kinect on the Xbox One, and now a leaked setup manual indicates how little space it requires to operate. The PDF NeoGAF spotted notes that a minimum 1.4 meters (just over 4.5-feet) between the user and Microsoft's new do-all sensor is all that's required. For those of us with cozy living quarters, this could be a bit more generous than the last one's recommended six to eight-foot gap. We've reached out to Microsoft for an official comment and will update this post if we hear back. Until then however, we're hoping that November 22nd will mark the end of us rearranging our living room to play the latest Dance Central.
Now Playing: October 21-27, 2013
Deliver fists full of justice this week with Batman: Arkham Origins... Choose your platform to jump to a specific release list:
