CraigEisler
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Kinect for Windows SDK reaches v1.5, now works when you're sitting down
Microsoft is busting out version 1.5 of its Kinect for Windows runtime and SDK that includes a raft of new features for the Xbox-lacking hoi polli. The update includes 10-joint skeletal tracking that'll work even when seated, face following capabilities and joint orientation -- the latter enabling it to predict how your body will move for greater accuracy. It's also gaining four extra languages for speech recognition: French, Spanish, Italian and Japanese, not to mention Kinect Studio, which will help developers record and play back your movements to fine-tune their applications. In addition, Redmond is offering language packs to ensure the sensor will play harmoniously with your local dialect, cobber.
Microsoft kicks off Kinect Accelerator program to take 11 Kinect-centric start-ups to the next level
Microsoft unwittingly created quite the hacking cottage industry when it first introduced Kinect. Though it took awhile for the company to come to grips with the amazing inventions enabled by its sensor bar, Redmond eventually released Kinect for Windows. Now, the Kinect Accelerator program is here to take Kinect development even further. Kinect Accelerator is a three-month long incubator of sorts for folks with Kinect-basted start-ups. It works by providing the chosen ones with mentors from Microsoft Research, Microsoft Studios, Kinect for Windows and the Xbox team to provide support and knowledge to refine and improve their Kinect apps. Additionally, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs will be available to give advice help the teams craft business plans to help them become profitable. We had the opportunity to chat with Craig Eisler -- who heads up the Kinect for Windows team and is heavily involved with Kinect Accelerator -- about this new venture. Eisler told us that Microsoft's been planning the program since last summer after witnessing all the Kinect innovations that have been percolating organically. So, the Accelerator gives Microsoft the opportunity to find some of the best ideas and speed up their development. Microsoft wound up receiving almost 500 applicants to the program, and winnowing it down to a final 11 was no easy task -- the final 50 ideas were apparently all quite good, and the initial plan was to only take ten into the program. The 11 who made the cut hail from across the globe (US, Canada, Argentina, France, and Germany), and will receive $20,000 and office space, plus Kinect hardware and development software to get their ideas off the ground. Unfortunately, we couldn't get Eisler to tell us exactly what each team is working on, but he did say they'll benefit the medical, retail, fashion, and even farm industries when all is said and done. Specifics about the inventions will come later, once the mentors have worked their magic and the apps are closer to their final forms, so stay tuned. You can learn more about the Kinect Accelerator and the chosen teams at the source link below and PR after the break.
Microsoft Office 2008 for the Mac delayed until January 2008
Craig Eisler, General Manager of the MacBU and proud Canadian, contacted TUAW with some news about Microsoft's much anticipated Universal release of Office, Microsoft Office 2008 for the Mac. Craig let us know that Microsoft has pushed back the release of Office 2008 for the Mac to make sure that the suite is up to snuff. digg_url = 'http://digg.com/apple/Microsoft_Office_2008_for_the_Mac_delayed_until_January_2008'; Office 2008 for the Mac will be released for manufacture in December of this year for a US release of mid-January 2008 (just in time for Macworld 2008).Clearly updating a large suite like Office is always a major undertaking, and focusing on getting it right is great, however, January 2008 is 5 months away from now. I asked if there would, by any chance, a public beta in the coming months. Sadly, there will not be one. It would seem if you want to get your fix of Office 2008 you'll have to check out this gallery of screenshots Microsoft provided to us during Macworld 2007.%Gallery-1211%
Microsoft's MacBU gets new GM: Craig Eisler
I know it is traditional for Mac users to dislike Microsoft, but I think that's silly. Outside of Apple, Microsoft is the largest Mac developer and they do make some cool software (can you imagine a world without Office? I can't. And judging from what I saw at Macworld 2007, Office for the Mac 2008 is going to rock). I bring all of this up because there is a new sheriff in the MacBU (that's the Macintosh Business Unit at Microsoft) town. Gone is Roz Ho, former General Manager of the MacBU. She has been replaced by Craig Eisler, though don't worry about Roz, she is still at Microsoft and we at TUAW wish her all the best.Check out Craig's first post on Mac Mojo and this post on his personal blog in which he lists ten things he loved from Apple.Welcome, Craig, and when you get a chance could you make sure that Microsoft released a Universal Binary of Remote Desktop? That would make this blogger a very happy fellow.[via News.com]
