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Microsoft patent applications take Kinect into mobile cameras, movie-making
Microsoft has never been shy about its ambitions for Kinect's depth sensing abilities. A pair of patent applications, however, show that its hopes and dreams are taking a more Hollywood turn. One patent has the depth camera going portable: a "mobile environment sensor" determines its trajectory through a room and generates a depth map as it goes, whether it's using a Kinect-style infrared sensor or stereoscopic cameras. If the visual mapping isn't enough, the would-be camera relies on a motion sensor like an accelerometer to better judge its position as it's jostled around. Microsoft doesn't want to suggest what kind of device (if any) might use the patent for its camera, but it's not ruling out anything from smartphones through to traditional PCs. The second patent filing uses the Kinect already in the house for that directorial debut you've always been putting off. Hand gestures control the movie editing, but the depth camera both generates a model of the environment and creates 3D props out of real objects. Motion capture, naturally, lets the humans in the scene pursue their own short-lived acting careers. We haven't seen any immediate signs that Microsoft is planning to use this or the mobile sensor patent filing in the real world, although both are closer to reality than some of the flights of fancy that pass by the USPTO -- the movie editor has all the hallmarks of a potential Dashboard update or Kinect Fun Labs project.
Kinect Fun Labs adds Musical Feet, Battle Stuff coming soon
Microsoft has rolled out a new gadget for Kinect Fun Labs in the form of "Musical Feet." As the name implies, the app lets you play "music" with your feet, turning your floor into a virtual keyboard. You can also record your own sounds and, as you can see in our test video above, share videos of your compositions (so long as they're under 15 seconds, anyway). On November 28, another new gadget entitled "Battle Stuff" will be added to Fun Labs. The gadget promises to allow players to "watch [their] favorite household items step into the ring for bare-knuckle brawls." The app will actually scan items into the game, at which point players can "see what kind of fighters they become, and then coach them on to victory." Finally, we can settle the age old grudge between the lamp and the ficus tree. %Gallery-139611%
'Mutation Station' rated for Xbox in Australia
Mutation Station, what's your classification? "General," according to Australia's ratings board. Something under that title is being published for Xbox 360 by Microsoft, as the rating reveals. No details about the title have been officially announced, but a safe guess would be that it's another Kinect Fun Labs widget, one that lets you alter the appearance of anything you put in front of the camera, either by warping it or tacking on virtual tentacles and stuff. An unsafe guess would be that it's an app that causes your Xbox 360 to overheat, and then directs you to get closer to it and soak up the radiation it emits. [Thanks, Sacra.]
Self-explanatory 'Air Band' app hits Kinect Fun Labs August 22
When we first heard the name "Kinect Fun Labs - Air Band," it wasn't hard to conjure a pretty accurate image of what the widget would turn out to be: fake on-screen instruments that you play by gesturing. As revealed in these screens, Kinect Fun Labs summons neon phantoms of guitars, drums, and keyboards for you to play in your suddenly stage-like home. If mastering fictional instruments sounds like a good time, you won't have to wait long to start: Air Band will be out August 22.
USK rating outs 'Kinect Fun Labs Air Band'
You've been working towards this your entire life. Your air band, Draft Punk, is about to participate in the Nationals, competing against the best air bands in the world. But how do you know you're ready? How do you know you've had sufficient training? Well, you don't, because frankly there's never been a competent training tool before. That could all change, however, as Siliconera spotted a listing for Kinect Fun Labs - Air Band for Kinect, a new Kinect Fun Labs widget presumably geared toward silent rockers. Sadly, that's all we've got to go on right now. We've contacted Microsoft for comment.
Joystiq's video tour of Avatar Kinect
After it launched earlier today, we couldn't help but take Avatar Kinect for a spin. Using two clips recorded within Avatar Kinect and a little movie editing magic (on a Mac, somewhat ironically), we managed to create a simple talk show explaining the ins and outs of the app. Check out our talk show, featuring Joystiq's own Richard Mitchell and Chris Grant, in the video above.
Avatar Kinect sits down with Kinect Fun Labs today, Kinect Sparkler on Thursday
As Joystiq first reported at E3, Avatar Kinect – the make-your-own-talk show feature first revealed at CES earlier this year – is now a Kinect Fun Labs Gadget and is making its debut ... today! One-half technology trinket, showcasing some impressive new facial expression tech, and one-half talk show, Avatar Kinect offers the opportunity to invite up to seven friends to digi-kick it in a virtual e-nvironment. Finally, a platform to relive your glory days of being on the high school TV news team! While the free Avatar Kinect will ultimately be limited to Xbox Live Gold subscribers only, Microsoft is making the service available to all members from now until September 8. Also launching this week on Kinect is Kinect Sparkler, available this Thursday for 240 Microsoft Points ($3). This Gadget "transforms simple finger painting into an aerial light show, using brand new Kinect tech such as background removal and detailed finger tracking." As with most Kinect-based gewgaws, you can upload your creations to KinectShare.com and, from there, put them someplace people actually go, like YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.%Gallery-129075%
Rumor: Avatar Kinect launches July 27
WinRumors is reporting that Avatar Kinect will be released on July 27. According to the site, "company insiders familiar with Microsoft's plans" have revealed that the Avatar-filled, Kinect-enabled virtual chat room will become part of Kinect Fun Labs next Wednesday. The rumor jives with information Microsoft gave us at E3 last month, that indicated that Avatar Kinect was slated for July. There isn't much July left at this point, so next week seems like a reasonable bet. We've contacted Microsoft for confirmation.
Vote on the next Kinect hack to become a Kinect Fun Labs toy
You can be part of the ongoing experiments in Microsoft's Kinect Fun Labs. Six more well-known Kinect hacks are up for consideration as new Fun Labs apps, and Microsoft wants you to vote on the one you'd like to see first. The apps in question include Keyboard Anywhere, Virtual Conductor, Kinect Body Art, Hand Puppets, Digital Pin Art, and Music Visualizer. If you have a strong opinion about which hack you'd like to see on your Xbox first, hit the Facebook "like" button associated with your choice between now and July 6.
Kudo Tsunoda doesn't tell us a thing about Windows 8 support for Kinect
Microsoft asked us to drop by at E3 to chat up a generically identified "Xbox executive," imagine our surprise when we found Kudo Tsunoda hiding behind door number six. Wearing his signature shades, Kudo gave us a brief primer on what makes Kinect great, or at least a heavy endorsement of Kinect Fun Labs. While we can certainly dig the bite-sized gadgetry Fun Labs has to offer, we like to dig deeper -- will the Kinect hardware ever be integrated into other devices? Any plans for Microsoft's 3D tracking camera and Windows 8? Kudo did his best to feed our ravenous appetite for answers. It wasn't easy on poor Kudo, of course -- more than once we saw him glance longingly at his wrangler, a friendly PR rep keeping him from spilling the beans on anything too awesome. Probing about Windows 8 and Kinect produced one such look, and while our man very lightly suggested that Microsoft does more than games -- and that the dual-camera device might start showing up on other devices -- the big M had nothing to announce at that time. Kudo did go on to say, however, that we can expect to see new, innovative, "oh my gosh, I can't believe Kinect can do that" experiences at E3 year after year, citing this year's keynote for some recent examples. While we couldn't coax any leaks about Xbox or Kinect successors out of the man, it's good to see Microsoft's continued dedication to improving the platform.
Avatar Kinect coming to Kinect Fun Labs in July
One of the conspicuous absences from the Microsoft press briefing was Avatar Kinect, especially considering how hard the company hit the odd pseudo talk show service during its CES briefing in January. Tonight we managed to learn what's up with the feature (because we know how anxious you've been about the whole thing). Look for Avatar Kinect in July as a part of the recently released Kinect Fun Labs -- that's according to a representative we chatted up during an event to celebrate the service. If you're unfamiliar, Fun Labs is a sort of test bed available through Xbox Live where developers can show off experiences for the device that don't fit inside the standard game mold. It seems like a smart move too. As a marquee feature, Avatar Kinect is pretty forgettable, but it makes perfect sense as a "gadget" in the quirky Fun Labs lineup.
Kinect Fun Labs detailed, available today
With Kinect Fun Labs already detailed by Major's Minute on Xbox Live, Microsoft offered some more details during its E3 2011 press conference. The mini-game collection will be freely available via the Kinect Hub and allows players to participate in various activities, including scanning objects into the game world and creating Avatars using the Kinect camera. The creations made in Kinect Fun Labs can then be shared online with friends. Additionally, Microsoft's Kudo Tsunoda noted that more apps will be added to Kinect Fun Labs over time. Also, Major Nelson has tweeted that each app within Fun Labs will include their own Achievements. Finally, Kinect Fun Labs is available on Xbox Live ... right now. Go get it!
Kinect Fun Labs revealed, features creepy Avatars
With the contents of Microsoft's E3 website reportedly spilled, a new episode of Major's Minute on Xbox Live has revealed Kinect Fun Labs. The video (embedded after the break), showcases a number of Kinect mini-games, many of which we've seen rumored already, including Kinect Googly Eyes and Kinect Me. The various games allow players to scan objects and play with them on screen and, in the case of Kinect Googly Eyes, scan an object and add googly eyes to it. Kinect Me is easily the creepiest of the group, allowing users to turn an image of themselves into a customized Avatar. The Kinect Bobblehead app essentially does the same thing, only with more bobbling. The neatest app of the bunch is definitely Kinect Sparklers, which enables players to trace sparklers around a 3D image using finger tracking. Before you watch the vid, brace yourself for the inevitable chills induced by Kinect Me.
Rumor: Domains reveal new Fable, Dance Central and Kinect Sports
The announcement of sequels and spin-offs has become too routine to incur huge gasps of disbelief at E3's trio of biggest press conferences. A real surprise, then, would be in those titles staying under wraps until the very last moment. "Spoiler," says the internet, "but that's not happening while I'm around. Check out these domain registrations." As highlighted by Superannuation, the following Microsoft titles have been linked to internet domain registrars: Fable The Journey, which may be a new jaunt across the land of Albion, Kinect Fun Labs (first mentioned amongst other leaked Microsoft titles), and a pair of body-driven sequels, Dance Central 2 and Kinect Sports Season 2. Without the presence of a convenient "Kinect" in the title, it's difficult to say whether or not Fable: The Journey (colon assumed) is part of Microsoft's camera-sensitive lineup. The franchise has endured experiments with Kinect before, and it's not exactly difficult to imagine Peter Molyneux pitching it as the best, most amazing, mind-blowing way to experience a hero's life ever. You might already be envisioning it as a spirited on-the-spot march through the streets of Bowerstone, over the surrounding hills and across Milo's unmarked grave.
