All Xbox dash apps must have Kinect functionality going forward

by Richard Mitchell on Dec 9th 2011 10:50AM

With Microsoft's Kinect-friendly Xbox dashboard update now available to the masses, it looks like users can expect a lot more Kinect functionality built-in going forward. That is to say that every future dashboard app will be required to have Kinect functionality, according to Kotaku.

We got the word directly from Microsoft. From now on, all apps must offer Kinect support in some form (and it may be optional for users). We were told by a representative, "With the new dashboard our objective is to bring the power of Kinect functionality to every experience where voice and gestures make sense." Controller support, obviously, won't be abandoned, but Microsoft wants to insure that "consumers can simply use gestures, voice and their controllers in a seamless way."

[Update: Adjusted the post to make it clear that support is required from developers, not users.]

Via: Kotaku

Tags: dashboard-update, dashboard-update-fall-2011, kinect, microsoft, xbox

Reader Comments (45)

That makes sense.

It doesn't necessarily dictate gesture controls as a necessity, I'm sure voice controls alone would be a passable "Kinect" feature as it has for some games including ME3.

Huh. This sounds to me like Microsoft is trying to force people to use Kinect.

"Look! We make new, awesome motion device! You use it!...You dont seem to be understanding what we are saying. You. Use. It. >:l "

@Billlop

Not really, Its more like they are giving the option of using it to people who own it...

Nothing evil about this.

@Billlop

"Look! We make new, awesome motion device! You use it!"

too bad they didn't use this tactic with their motion games.

@Billlop

Options are great.

This article is slightly confusing. Does this mean that Microsoft has an internal initiative to ensure that all dashboard apps have kinect features or does this mean that consumers have to purchase a kinect in order to utilize every app available on the dashboard?

@mcnerven

no. i think they mean it requires them to make it Kinect compatible, the standard controller option is still there.

@mcnerven
Right, that part where it says "Controller support, obviously, won't be abandoned," is extremely vague and confusing regarding whether controllers will still be supported.

@mcnerven

From the post: "Controller support, obviously, won't be abandoned"

It's just another option that developers of apps need to support.

@Author X

There should be standard "RTFA before spreading FUD" disclaimers on all articles like this.

@PR0F3TA Thanks!

the only people who should be a little mad is the people who have to program said app...

I love what they did with the netflix app. Watching HIMYM last night and right when the credits hit, the next episode option comes up, I say "XBOX Next Episode" and wa-la the next one is rolling!

@tdrwiega
I don't like it because I was watching Toy Story 3 and they minimized the credits which are really funny. Plus, my son is two so we have to start stuff over all the time and I can't find the "restart" option.

@tdrwiega "wa-la"? Sweet Jesus.

@tdrwiega

Didn't even realize that was on Netflix. Good to know, love to throw on re-runs occasionally.

@Roto13

Waluigi?

@Roto13
Ta-da! It's like magic!

@tdrwiega I too was using that feature while watching HIMYM last night. Ah... what a great way to watch television.

Incoming conspiracy theorists in 5...4...3...

Seriously though, this sort of uniformity seems to have worked for the basic LIVE integration this time around and doesn't split the userbase as much as make it more inclusive. If you have Kinect, EVERY app will work with it. If not, no problem because your controller still works.

@baby sea tuna

Yeah, it's basically the same thing as all 360 games having to support achievements.

This is the way to keep Kinect from being like Wii Motion Plus. If it's implementation isn't total, then people with Kinect won't use it.

I have major issues with the dashboard update for non-Kinect use, but making Kinect work well with everything is laudable.

@(Unverified)

Ues the RB LB "shoulder" buttons to switch categories. Makes using the controller a whole lot easier.

Good.

The wording of the headline sounds very much like you will need a Kinect, as if the requirement is on the consumer. This is not the case.

The requirement is on the creators to include optional Kinect functionality.

@Dick Socrates "Kinect support required" and "Kinect required" are two very different things.

@Dick Socrates

Unless you just skip right over the word "support" then no, it doesn't sound like what you're saying at all.

I miss being able to sort full, purchased games from downloaded trials. I also miss being able to pick an episode from a series in Netflix without the first episode starting before I get a chance. Not to mention actually being able to navigate the games marketplace in anything like an understandable way.

Voice commands everywhere are nice, but did they really have to screw everything else up just to make sure everything's visible on-screen to point at at all times?

I am getting more tempted to pick one up, just for the control functionality instead of the games. I almost jumped on the $100 Amazon deal, as that was close to my impulse price point. $150 is still more than I want to pay considering what I expect to be using it for. And having all apps from here on out requiring kinect compatibility just reinforces the idea that the next gen xbox will have kinect built in

@The Tim

I've had it since it came out. It's not worth it. Controlling menus with your hand is tiring. The remote or controller is more efficient. Unless you have young kids that are interested in Kinect games, save your money.

@Mr Hett

My 8 yr old son has actually told me he's not interested in a Kinect. We've both tried one before and he was frustrated over how it responded. A friend of mine told me his works better after he spent time setting it up for his specific living room and learning how it reacts. I remain on the fence. But the thought of it being integrated into the next system really makes me want to hold off.

Thank goodness. When I read the headline I thought it was going to be solely Kinect based.

This is great news, but uh, MS still hasn't even updated their basic video/music players. I'm still using the same UI as I did when I first bought my Xbox in Feb 2007. "Everything uses Kinect! ...except for these two basic programs that have been built in since the beginning."

That is of course not saying anything for new visualizations for the music player, let alone MKV support for the video player. It's been two or three years since the DivX/XviD patch, come on now.

Sounds great to me. I never understood people complaining about a company giving u more options! I have a buddy who I argued with about joe he though Microsoft was stupid and wasting their time by adding things like, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc. is argument was nobody is going to use that anyways, everyone has smart phones and laptops/tablets! While yes, many have those devices why knock Microsoft for giving u more for your money?! They aren't forcing u to use these apps but to have the ability is nice IMO. The one think I wish they would add is speech to text. U can go all the way to the "send message" by speech but then u have to pick up your controller to type the message. I understand this would require more programming or work but come on, everyone cell phone as the ability! Make it happen Microsoft!

@trunas
Man, my iPhone typing screwed that post up some...my apologies!

@trunas

Well you can send a voice message... I think Microsoft should focus on allowing us to listen to voice messages on Xbox.com instead.

Hopfully next gen, at least one of the big 3 focus on gaming, this whole kinect, move, wii motion gaming does nothing for me. Looking at 360 exclusives for next year, there almost all kinect games. It be one there if kinect games were good, but aside from a couple there all garbage. Maybe I should be pc gaming.

@SolidDuck

Sony is still churning out a good amount of normal thumb-twiddling games. Especially this past year

@SolidDuck It reminds me of 3D in movies. It's pointless and in most cases adds nothing to the package as a whole.

I think this is pretty smart of MS to implement. If I were a consumer of their product my only apprehension would be that kinect features aren't shoehorned into apps just to meet the requirements.

I don't see anything wrong with this. However, even as a Kinect owner, I think it'd be nice if you could specify what apps have Kinect privileges. I hate watching something on Hulu and it thinking I'm trying to access a menu every time someone in the room makes a hand gesture.

i hate the kinect, such a worthless piece of garbage

@A Toaster

Tell us how you really feel.

I'm glad, because they're not forcing it on those that don't have it, but giving the people that do have it the option to use it. +1 Microsoft

Some people will cry "evil MS is trying to force us to use kinect!". I think standardization is one of the reasons that xbox live is one of the best(if not the best option) for online gaming. I'm gla they are doing this. Using my kinect voice command functionality to navigate the dashboard and apps alone, is worth the price IMO. The bing search is a huge plus for me.

All Xbox dash apps must have Kinect functionality going forward

Reader Comments (45)

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 10:53AM BoBsS said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 10:54AM Billlop said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 10:56AM LEONLEONLEON said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:02AM PR0F3TA said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:24AM ItsameMatt03 said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 10:56AM mcnerven said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:01AM PR0F3TA said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:04AM Author X said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:06AM Truant said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:07AM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:22AM mcnerven said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:00AM PR0F3TA said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:03AM tdrwiega said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:26AM xxMayDay31xx said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:28AM Roto13 said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:36AM Vcize said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:37AM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 12:33PM Ebok007 said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 2:47PM Awesomaniac said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:04AM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:37AM Vcize said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:05AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 4:12PM Ordeith said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:05AM ungeheier said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:06AM Dick Socrates said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:30AM Roto13 said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:39AM Vcize said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:11AM Author X said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:13AM The Tim said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:31AM Mr Hett said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:39AM The Tim said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:26AM Prboi said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:38AM TheCodeNinja said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:44AM trunas said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:48AM trunas said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 12:02PM Saiyan26 said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:50AM SolidDuck said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 11:57AM eat it said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 2:56PM Teliko said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 12:09PM Johnnynumber5 is powered by cell said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 12:41PM RickGhastly said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 1:21PM A Toaster said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 5:29PM leobebes said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 2:45PM Awesomaniac said

Posted: Dec 9th 2011 7:09PM Wise Men said

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