Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Next-gen Kinect for Windows gesticulating in 2014]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/next-gen-kinect-for-windows-gesticulating-in-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/next-gen-kinect-for-windows-gesticulating-in-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/next-gen-kinect-for-windows-gesticulating-in-2014/#comments Microsoft has announced Kinect for Windows will receive the updated Kinect sensor shown at the Xbox reveal event for the Xbox One. The rub: it won't arrive until some time in 2014.

We already knew Kinect for Windows would be updated with the new sensor and a new software development kit (SDK). The improved Kinect sports a 1080p RGB camera, capable of 30 FPS in full color, and can even see in the dark through infrared. The new Kinect also has a greater field of depth which Microsoft promises will cut down on the required distance from the device. It can also read your heartbeat but we try not to think about that too much because it's scary.

JoystiqNext-gen Kinect for Windows gesticulating in 2014 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 May 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kinectkinect-for-windowsmicrosoftpcwindowsxboxxbox-oneThu, 23 May 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect for Windows SDK version 1.7 includes 'Kinect Fusion' 3D modeling, available March 18]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/16/kinect-for-windows-sdk-version-1-7-includes-kinect-fusion-3d-m/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/16/kinect-for-windows-sdk-version-1-7-includes-kinect-fusion-3d-m/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/16/kinect-for-windows-sdk-version-1-7-includes-kinect-fusion-3d-m/#comments An updated version of Kinect for Window's software development kit will be available from the device's official site on Monday, March 18, Microsoft's Bob Heddle announced today during Engadget's ongoing Expand event in San Francisco.

Perhaps most importantly, SDK version 1.7 will include "Kinect Fusion," Microsoft's at-home 3D modeling solution that allows the Kinect to capture and fabricate real-time 3D models of people and objects. We first saw this technology in action way back in August of 2011, when the concept surfaced as a Microsoft Research project.

Additionally, the new SDK also includes "Kinect Interactions," which adds support for new gestures such as "push-to-press" and "grip-to-pan," as well as "support for smart ways to accommodate multiple users and two-person interactions," according to Engadget.

JoystiqKinect for Windows SDK version 1.7 includes 'Kinect Fusion' 3D modeling, available March 18 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 16 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Engadget-ExpandExpand-2013kinectkinect-for-windowsKinect-FusionKinect-InteractionsKinectFusionMicrosoftpcSDKSDK-1.7windowsSat, 16 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft releases 22 Kinect for Windows open source samplers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/microsoft-releases-22-kinect-for-windows-open-source-samplers/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/microsoft-releases-22-kinect-for-windows-open-source-samplers/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/microsoft-releases-22-kinect-for-windows-open-source-samplers/#comments PC developers looking to fiddle around with Microsoft's Kinect peripheral just got a big gimme. Microsoft has released 22 different samples of Kinect for Windows code under an open source licensing agreement, meaning you're free to tinker away to your heart's content - just don't try to pass it off as your own.

What makes this different than the previously widely available software development kit? Microsoft says it has issued these samples for the sake of convenience, allowing fledgling flailers access to bite-sized segments designed for specific functionality and lessons that don't require a lengthy download of the full SDK. Convenient.

Kinect for Windows officially launched on February 1, available now for a suggested retail price of $250 - though some retailers like Amazon and Newegg have it listed on the lower side of $200.

JoystiqMicrosoft releases 22 Kinect for Windows open source samplers originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Mar 2013 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>development-kitkinectkinect-for-windowsmicrosoftpcsdkwindowsxboxWed, 13 Mar 2013 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect for Windows out today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/kinect-for-windows-out-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/kinect-for-windows-out-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/kinect-for-windows-out-today/#comments As promised, Microsoft's Kinect for Windows has launched today, bundling together a Kinect unit and a commercial license for the hardware. Microsoft is heavily pitching the bundle squarely toward industries outside video games, suggesting that Kinect should move "beyond the living room into other industries such as education, manufacturing, healthcare, and retail."

As part of this new push, Microsoft is encouraging businesses to take part in the Kinect Accelerator program, which offers the chance for startups to receive funding for innovative Kinect projects.

The Kinect for Windows package retails for $249. The hardware features "advanced speech and audio capabilities" as well as "improved skeletal tracking that enables control over which user is being tracked by the sensor." The unit also features "near mode" which recognizes objects "as close as 40 centimeters in front of the sensor."

Will these improvements be implemented in the console hardware? Is it even possible? We're looking into it.

Continue reading Kinect for Windows out today

JoystiqKinect for Windows out today originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kinectkinect-for-windowsmicrosoftxboxWed, 01 Feb 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect for Windows leers at February 1 launch date]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/kinect-for-windows-leers-at-february-1-launch-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/kinect-for-windows-leers-at-february-1-launch-date/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/kinect-for-windows-leers-at-february-1-launch-date/#comments Microsoft chief Steve Ballmer narrowed down the "early 2012" launch window for Kinect on the Windows PC during Microsoft's CES 2012 keynote today: February 1, 2012. The software development kit has been available to programmers and designers since back in June, but of course people have been doing interesting things with Kinect and PCs since the peripheral's launch back in November 2010.

Ballmer didn't divulge pricing, but Amazon is currently pegging Kinect for Windows at $249.99, a full $100 more than the current price of Kinect on Xbox 360 -- hey, there's a different camera in the Windows version, remember?

Microsoft's Major Nelson says Kinect for Windows will only work with computers running the SDK. Neither have commented on compatibility with Windows 8, but we've got troops on the ground in Las Vegas and will try to find out more.

JoystiqKinect for Windows leers at February 1 launch date originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ces-2012kinectkinect-for-windowspcwindowsxboxMon, 09 Jan 2012 22:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect for Windows uses a new Kinect camera]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/kinect-for-windows-uses-a-new-kinect-camera/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/kinect-for-windows-uses-a-new-kinect-camera/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/kinect-for-windows-uses-a-new-kinect-camera/#comments 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.

JoystiqKinect for Windows uses a new Kinect camera originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kinectkinect-acceleratorkinect-for-windowsmicrosoftpcxboxWed, 23 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Evoluce sends a gesture of its own to Microsoft's Kinect SDK]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/12/evoluce-sends-a-gesture-of-its-own-to-microsofts-kinect-sdk/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/12/evoluce-sends-a-gesture-of-its-own-to-microsofts-kinect-sdk/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/12/evoluce-sends-a-gesture-of-its-own-to-microsofts-kinect-sdk/#comments

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.

JoystiqEvoluce sends a gesture of its own to Microsoft's Kinect SDK originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 12 Nov 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>evolucekinectKinect-for-Windowskinect-sdkmicrosoftpcxboxSat, 12 Nov 2011 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect for Windows is coming early 2012, beta 2 of SDK now available]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/05/kinect-for-windows-is-coming-early-2012-beta-2-of-sdk-now-avail/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/05/kinect-for-windows-is-coming-early-2012-beta-2-of-sdk-now-avail/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/05/kinect-for-windows-is-coming-early-2012-beta-2-of-sdk-now-avail/#comments 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.

JoystiqKinect for Windows is coming early 2012, beta 2 of SDK now available originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 05 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kinectkinect-for-windowsmicrosoftpcxboxSat, 05 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect for Windows software development kit beta released]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/kinect-for-windows-software-development-kit-beta-released/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/kinect-for-windows-software-development-kit-beta-released/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/kinect-for-windows-software-development-kit-beta-released/#comments 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.

JoystiqKinect for Windows software development kit beta released originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kinectkinect-for-windowsmicrosoftpcsdkxboxThu, 16 Jun 2011 19:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Kinect for Windows SDK beta launching tomorrow]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/report-kinect-for-windows-sdk-beta-launching-tomorrow/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/report-kinect-for-windows-sdk-beta-launching-tomorrow/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/report-kinect-for-windows-sdk-beta-launching-tomorrow/#comments 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.

JoystiqReport: Kinect for Windows SDK beta launching tomorrow originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 20:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betakinectKinect-for-WindowsmicrosoftpcsdkxboxWed, 15 Jun 2011 20:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect for Windows SDK promo video is full of inspirational music, excited devs]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/25/kinect-for-windows-sdk-promo-video-is-full-of-inspirational-musi/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/25/kinect-for-windows-sdk-promo-video-is-full-of-inspirational-musi/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/25/kinect-for-windows-sdk-promo-video-is-full-of-inspirational-musi/#comments 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.

Continue reading Kinect for Windows SDK promo video is full of inspirational music, excited devs

JoystiqKinect for Windows SDK promo video is full of inspirational music, excited devs originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kinectkinect-for-windowskinect-sdkkinect-windows-sdkmicrosoftpcsdkwindowsxboxMon, 25 Apr 2011 17:10:00 EST<![CDATA['Kinect for Windows' SDK coming this spring from Microsoft]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/21/kinect-for-windows-sdk/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/21/kinect-for-windows-sdk/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/21/kinect-for-windows-sdk/#commentsKinect for Windows 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!

Joystiq'Kinect for Windows' SDK coming this spring from Microsoft originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Craig-MundieKinectKinect-for-WindowsKinect-SDKmicrosoftpcSDKxboxMon, 21 Feb 2011 16:35:00 EST