Kinect-for-Windows
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Rumor mill: next gen Xboxes + Kinect 2 to read lips, track fingers, make unicorns real
Pinches of salt at the ready, folks. According to the latest speculation, Microsoft's sequel to the Xbox 360 will actually be two models, a pared down set-top box for casual gamers and a heftier model for the hardcore. Either way, Xbox 720 / Xbox Loop's getting paired up with a revised version of the magnificent Kinect hardware. The digital grapevine's saying that Kinect 2 will be able to read your lips, track your fingers and sense the tone of your voice to determine if you've come over all angry. It can't do that currently thanks to its USB cable, which can only transmit 16MB/s of data -- limiting the camera's resolution to 320 x 240 at 30fps. We don't know what protocol the new sensor bar will use, but we do know that either USB 3.0 (which can transmit 400 MB/s) or Intel's Thunderbolt (700MB/s) would remove such limitations. In related news, 2012's Kinect for Windows is getting a shorter USB cable for better data integrity and a refocused image sensor that will switch to "near mode" to see objects 50cm away -- which means a whole bunch of classic Kinects and Nyko Zooms are gonna wind up as a filling for a New Mexico landfill.
Kinect for Windows uses a new Kinect camera
Microsoft's Kinect for Windows program doesn't just involve new firmware for PCs. There will be a new version of the Kinect hardware designed for Windows, with "improvements" like a shorter USB cable ("to ensure reliability across a broad range of computers") and a smaller USB dongle to better share space. The firmware includes support for a new "Near Mode," designed to see objects as close as 50 centimeters away from the camera ("with graceful degradation down to 40 centimeters," Windows Kinect GM Craig Eisler notes). It makes sense for a device you would use while sitting at the computer. In advance of the Kinect for Windows launch (early 2012), Microsoft has launched the "Kinect Accelerator" program, which will give $20,000 each to ten startups using Kinect, along with Microsoft development tools, "marketing visibility" and mentoring.
Evoluce sends a gesture of its own to Microsoft's Kinect SDK
German tech company Evoluce loves messing around with Microsoft's toys and sales plans, playing with the Kinect to create user-friendly, gesture-based interfaces for the home and office. Now, Evoluce's Kinect SDK is available for download, rivaling Microsoft's own SDK to be released in early 2012, and offering devs a bit of old-fashioned market competition. Evoluce plans to release a commercial version of its dev kit "at a later date." We're all for innovating existing hardware, but to truly create the future we think it helps to look even further into the realms of almost-science-fiction and M. Night Shyamalan movies.
Kinect for Windows is coming early 2012, beta 2 of SDK now available
The Kinect peripheral celebrates its first birthday this week, and Microsoft has been hard at work to offer Kinect for Windows as a commercial product. An update on the Microsoft blog says to expect it sometime in early 2012. Microsoft has also made available an updated version of the beta SDK. If you're the type of person who can actually mess around with that thing, you can snag it from the newly-launched Kinect for Windows site. You know, if you want -- we don't care either way. We're too winded from this afternoon's Dance Central 2 session and need to lay down for a bit.
Kinect for Windows SDK beta 2 out now, celebratory celebrations cleared to commence
It's only been a few months, but already the Kinect for Windows SDK beta is moving from stage uno to stage dos. (That's one and two, vaqueros.) Microsoft's outing it in commemoration of the Kinect's one-year anniversary, and it's also launching a Kinect for Windows site and blog, too. We're told that the Kinect for Windows commercial program is still on track for an early 2012 launch, and to date, some 200 companies have agreed to take part in the pilot program. Ask for the beta 2 piece, the refreshed build includes "faster skeletal tracking, a better accuracy rate when it comes to skeletal tracking and joint recognition, and the ability to plug and unplug your Kinect without losing work / productivity." Hit the source links to get your download on, but be warned -- we've seen it off and on throughout the day. Update: Just in case you need even more info on the movement, the official KinectforWindows.org website is now live too.
Kinect for Windows software development kit beta released
It turns out that yesterday's report was true, as today Microsoft released the beta version of its Kinect for Windows software development kit. While certainly not the first development software released for Kinect, the beta SDK does mark the first kit officially offered by Microsoft. The kit is available in both 32-bit and 64-bit flavors, requires Windows 7 and is for non-commercial use only. The Kinect for Windows SDK can be downloaded directly from Microsoft here. Now get to work on those Kinect hacks ... er, applications.
Kinect for Windows SDK beta to roll out tomorrow?
Microsoft's been talking up its forthcoming Kinect for Windows SDK for quite a while now, and it looks like developers might soon finally be able to get their hands on it. According to WinRumors, Microsoft will roll out the beta version of the SDK during a special event on Channel 9 at 9:30 AM Pacific time (12:30 Eastern) tomorrow -- something that's now been backed up somewhat by the Channel 9 website itself, which is simply promising a "special Kinect focused event tomorrow." WinRumors is also reporting that the President of Microsoft Spain said during an appearance at a conference today that the beta SDK would be available "this week." So, it certainly seems like things are lining up for a release -- it's just a shame that "Kinect applications" doesn't have the same ring as Kinect hacks.
Report: Kinect for Windows SDK beta launching tomorrow
Spring may have already sprung, but Microsoft appears ready to finally deliver its promised Kinect for Windows SDK to coincide with a live web event tomorrow, Thursday June 15. According to a report by WinRumors, the release is being timed along with a special Microsoft "Channel 9" streaming presentation on the Microsoft Developers Network site. Microsoft Spain president María Garaña reportedly slipped the news during her presentation at the Red Innova conference in Madrid today. The MSDN site is currently hosting a countdown to tomorrow's announcement, which is when we'll presumably learn the full details of the beta.
Kinect for Windows SDK promo video is full of inspirational music, excited devs
This spring, Microsoft will release the Kinect for Windows SDK, presumably opening up the hardware to mind-boggling possibilities beyond those we've seen in mere hacks. In the meantime, check out this featurette promoting the SDK and recounting some of the impressive uses already conjured.
Microsoft details Kinect SDK for Windows PC, promises 'robust skeletal tracking' (update)
Sure, a lack of first-party tools never kept you from bending the Kinect to your diabolical whim, but Microsoft's taking some time out at MIX 11 to talk about the official Kinect SDK for Windows and show off a few demos. Mind you, all of that's going to happen on stage over the course of the next hour, so we don't have many details for you right now, but Redmond says devs will have access to not only the basic color and infrared depth cameras, but "robust skeletal tracking" of two simultaneous individuals as well, and perhaps most excitingly, full access to the Kinect's array of four microphones for noise canceling and voice recognition complete with API support. Hate to say it, Kinect hackers, but the bar's about to be bumped up. Keep it locked right here and we'll let you know if the Microsofties reveal anything else fun! Update: Yep, we're getting some Kinect SDK details now -- Microsoft says you'll be able to write Kinect apps for PC in Visual Basic, C#, and C++, and they're showing off basic coding now... with just a few minutes of work in Visual Studio, they had a program that could draw lines using the wave of a hand. Update 2: Okay, we just saw some straight-up Minority Report fun here -- a guided astronomical tour of the universe controlled by Kinect, and a motorized lounge chair! Connection permitting, we'll have video up soon.
'Kinect for Windows' SDK coming this spring from Microsoft
Turns out "the right time" is going to be this spring. As rumored, Microsoft is busy prepping the release of an official, non-commercial Kinect for Windows Software Development Kit this spring in the hopes of advancing the work already being done unofficially by hackers, scientists and of course, musicians. Would-be German SDK creators may want to hurry things up. Revealed during Microsoft's internal "show-and-tell discussion" known as TechForum, Microsoft chief research and strategy office Craig Mundie, along with Interactive Entertainment Business pres Don Mattrick, announced their plans to release the SDK as a free download this spring. The project is a "collaboration" between Microsoft Research and IEB and promises to "give academic researchers and enthusiasts access to key pieces of the Kinect system -- such as the audio technology, system application programming interfaces and direct control of the Kinect sensor itself." Of course, being a non-commercial offering, we expect to hear more about the commercial counterpart for those who may want to charge for Kinect-enhanced software. Us? We're just interested in seeing the next evolution in our ongoing Kinect Hacks series!
Microsoft to release Kinect for Windows SDK this spring
Looks like we're not the only ones enjoying all those Kinect hacks being dreamed up and implemented by hardworking enthusiasts the world o'er. That's right: it was rumored early this year, and now it's been confirmed -- Microsoft will be releasing the Kinect for Windows SDK. According to Microsoft, "It will be available this spring as a free download, and will give academic researchers and enthusiasts access to key pieces of the Kinect system-such as the audio technology, system application programming interfaces and direct control of the Kinect sensor itself." Commercial licensing details will be made available at some point thereafter. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
