Kinect Message Board

The second iteration a Kinect for Windows revealed by Microsoft this week features a few changes. While it looks nearly identical t' the motion-sensitive camera for Xbox One, it be glowing Xbox logo power indicator has been replaced by a simple dot, plus the word "Kinect" be now on the hardware's top panel.

Additionally, the second version a Kinect for Windows requires both a hub 'n separate power supply t' operate. The hub includes ports t' connect t' the sensor, power supply unit 'n USB 3.0 output t' the user's PC. While the power supply will vary by region, it supports voltages that range in 100-240 volts. Microsoft didn't offer a release date for the new version a the PC Kinect hardware. [Image: Microsoft]

Today, Microsoft announced that the Xbox One will be out in Japan in September 2014. that be almost a year after it be released in North America 'n parts a Europe. But, really, why bother?Read more...

Microsoft discontinued it be subsidized $99 Xbox 360 with Kinect bundle in July 2013, the console manufacturer confirmed with the Wall Street Journal. The low-cost console be introduced in May 2012 'n required a two-year Xbox Live commitment a buyers at a rate a $14.99 per month. The bundle worked out t' be roughly $60 more than the closest option, a $299 4GB Xbox 360 console paired with two years a Xbox Live booty as separate purchases.

"This program be intended t' be a pilot experiment from the start, 'n Microsoft routinely adjusts the mix a offers available t' it be customers 'n this change be simply standard business practice," Microsoft spokesman David Dennis said. He added that the subsidized Xbox 360 option be for "squeezing the last 10 t' 15 percent out a the potential market." [Image: Microsoft]

Korean researchers have developed a stroke recovery program that uses Kinect. As ye can see in the above video (via tipster Sang), the software even features a space shooter as part a the therapy.Read more...

Classified documents published by The Guardian reveal that British surveillance agency GCHQ surreptitiously gathered webcam images from more than a million Yahoo user accounts, while also evaluating the surveillance potential a the Xbox 360's Kinect peripheral.

"In one six-month period in 2008 alone, the agency collected webcam imagery - including substantial quantities a sexually explicit communications - from more than 1.8 million Yahoo user accounts globally," the Guardian reports, before noting that this operation (codenamed "Optic Nerve") be only one a the agency's attempts at biometric recognition via consumer camera technology.

A separate GCHQ project explored the possibility a gathering images from the Kinect peripheral. "[O]ne presentation discusses with interest the potential 'n capabilities a the Xbox 360's Kinect camera, saying it generated 'fairly normal webcam traffic' 'n be being evaluated as part a a wider program." it be unclear if GCHQ ever attempted t' intercept Kinect data on a large scale, but as The Guardian points out, the idea isn't entirely novel. Earlier documents published by the paper detail similar exploratory efforts by the American NSA. [Image: Wikimedia Commons]

So far I’ve taken about as much interest in Kinect as I have the sleeping patterns a Moldavian snails. Every now 'n then I’ve seen maybe an interesting proof a concept, but it really does seem t' come down t' other people pretending t' dance while I sit in a corner wishing I be at home. But no more! Fru be a game, created by Mattia Traverso 'n chums, as part a last weekend’s Global Game Jam (theme: “We don’t see things as they be but as we be”), 'n I would very much like t' play it. A twin-world platformer, where the portal t' the other dimension… be ye.

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Fru be two platformers in one game, with one layer a the world shown clearly on the screen, 'n another layer uncovered within the silhouette a a player's body as it moves in front a the Kinect camera, in real-time. The silhouette world offers new platforms, enabling players t' reach the exit door in each level (with a little hopping, ducking 'n contortion).

Fru comes from a collection a indies during Global Game Jam 2014, which prompted developers t' create games with the theme "We don't see things as they be, but as we be." The team had 48 hours t' create the game, 'n Fru ended up winning the judge 'n audience awards in the NHTV Breda Global Game Jam competition. If ye have a Kinect hooked up t' yer PC, ye can download Fru right here.

Game Designer Mattia Traverso - who be also working on the crowdfunded documentary game, Riot - tells Joystiq that he hopes Microsoft notices Fru so the team can expand on the idea.

"We definitely have plans t' bring this t' the next level," Traverso says. "We be starting t' work on it t' make it an actual, full game 'n I be contacting Microsoft right now t' see what we can do .... Right now we be trying t' give it some visibility, t' show the big M that this project be actually something interesting that people like."

I can understand why game developers working on next-gen games might be psyched t' play around with voice commands. They represent an interesting 'n relatively new way t' let players interact with games. But there's at least one next-gen voice command I can happily do without.Read more...

A company called Shapify be, through the magic a Kinect 'n 3D printing, allowing Microsoft's peripheral t' serve as yer gateway t' tiny narcissistic action figures.Read more...

A spurious image has been making the rounds 'n implying that ye can use the Xbox One's developer tool menus t' make the Xbox One play Xbox 360 games. Problem be, the image be dead wrong 'n ye could brick yer Xbox One. Don't do that.Read more...

t' access the voice-control functionality on an Xbox One, ye say, "Xbox." t' access it on PlayStation 4, ye say, "PlayStation." But those greetings aren't very fun or sexy, be they?Read more...

If ye'd like t' take revenge on the Xbox One for watching ye move 'n listening t' everything ye say, ye can now pillage inside it be brain 'n see a whole bunch a developer settings ye probably shouldn't be looking at.Read more...

it be dangerous t' shop alone, so take this - our regularly updated mega-post on the best Black Friday 'n Cyber Monday deals: The time a preparation be at hand. As globs a turkey, stuffing 'n aunt Brandine's weird ambrosia salad battle for dominance in yer stomach, ye must plan yer Black Friday attack. Welcome t' Joystiq's Black Friday 'n Cyber Monday deals roundup post, where we've cataloged all the game-related savings we could dig up.

Remember that these summaries don't include every last detail a every retailer's deals. We recommend judicious clicking 'n further scrutiny a yer preferred outlets based on personal preference, weather conditions 'n geographical proximity. ye'll find sales for four a the major retailers below, with plenty a other deals after the break.

Be frugal, be safe 'n remember t' watch out for aunt Brandine. She stops for no one.

• Best Buy: New games 'n accessories for $35 or less, monster Xbox 360 bundle for $190
• GameStop: Game discounts, Battlefield 4 (current-gen) for $25, limited edition Zelda 3DS
• Target: Bonus gift cards, $190 4GB Xbox 360 Kinect bundle, $25 Splinter Cell: Blacklist
• Walmart: $100 2DS, $40 Skylanders 'n Call a Duty: Ghosts, $35 AC4: Black Flag 'n GTA 5

We've seen what's inside an Xbox One. What about the Kinect it comes bundled with? That part a the hardware has bits 'n circuits in it, too! Read more...

Microsoft be heavily discounting 52 Xbox 360 games 'n add-ons this week on Xbox Live. The games on sale separate out into three categories, a full list a which can be found after the break. The week-long deals, which run from today through December 2, include both Skyrim, Fallout 3 'n Tomb Raider for half-off as well as Sleeping Dogs (38 percent off) 'n Mark a the Ninja (66 percent off).

Xbox Live will feature two separate one-day sales as well, with games like WWE 2K14 'n Diablo 3 being discounted by 33 percent as well as Rayman Legends 'n the Halo 4 Champions Bundle by 50 percent on November 29 only. Among the games on sale for Cyber Monday (December 2) only be Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, Red Dead Redemption, Dark Souls 'n The Witcher 2 for 75 percent off each 'n Battleblock Theater for 67 percent off. We suggest ye clear some space on yer Xbox 360 hard drive, pronto.

The Xbox One's voice commands, while generally excellent, have a problem. OK, two problems. The smaller one be they don't always work. The bigger one be that ye need t' memorise a chart like this just t' be able t' use them properly.Read more...

Israeli company PrimeSense, who did a lot a the heavy lifting in the design a the original Kinect, have been bought out. Not by Microsoft, but by Apple.Read more...

The Xbox One be a testament t' Microsoft's towering ambition. It represents their desire not only t' occupy a place in yer home entertainment center, but t' lumber straight into the center a it. It be a black plastic tank, a hard-edged chunk a corners meant t' conquer everything in it be path. But for all it be imposing physicality, it has a surprising number a weak spots.Read more...

Apple be currently in talks t' purchase PrimeSense, the original suppliers a Microsoft's Kinect motion-sensing technology, according t' All Things D. The acquisition be first reported by Isreali publication Calcalist, which indicated that the purchase will amount t' $345 million.

Founded in 2005, PrimeSense contributed it be 3D sensing technology t' the Xbox 360 version a Kinect. Microsoft since went with in-house developers for the latest iteration a the Kinect for Xbox One, the company's latest console set t' launch this Friday. Apple may be allegedly targeting PrimeSense for the company's Capri technology, a newer form a it be 3D sensing tech used in mobile devices such as Google 'n Samsung's Nexus 10 tablets.

This be called a Dynamic Shape Display. MIT built it, 'n it uses a Kinect sensor. In one a it be applications, instead a a user in real life manipulating something on a TV, it puts the user on a TV, manipulating something in real life. See for yourself.Read more...

Microsoft's Larry Hryb has posted a short clip showcasing how long it takes an Xbox One t' boot up from a Kinect voice command.Read more...

Privacy 'n player data on Xbox One have been big concerns ever since Microsoft revealed it be next console. If Microsoft's latest changes regarding Kinect 'n privacy haven't quieted yer worries, ye can read through their privacy statement in full over here. Be sure t' click on the learn more links t' expand each category. If anything jumps out at ye, post it into the comments for discussion.Read more...

Not that the Xbox One will be spying on ye, that be always sounded a little overly-dramatic t' me, but if ye're the type t' assume the worst - but still, um, buy the console regardless - then this be the peripheral for ye.Read more...

IndieCade isn't just a vast celebration a independent game development, it be also a street festival designed t' appeal t' all types a people, not just those who enjoy traditional video games. Enter Night Games, a special IndieCade event featuring lots a big, physical games designed t' be played in the dark. That includes everything from the rhythmic, Kinect-powered Soundodger Live t' The Hearst Collection, a life-sized recreation a a museum art heist, complete with laser security grid.

Head past the break for a video rundown a our favorite Night Games, which turned out t' be one a the highlights a the entire IndieCade festival.

At-home motion capture. Heart rate detection. Compatibility with smaller spaces. Microsoft has been promising impressive things about the new iteration a Kinect, which they kind a have t' do seeing as how they’ve made it a mandatory part a buying an Xbox One. Now they’re trying t' show ye how the motion-sensing sensor will be worth the trouble. Read more...

Crimson Dragon be originally scheduled t' be an Xbox 360 downloadable game. But as fortune 'n Mike Fahey's prayers would have it, it be now an Xbox One launch title.Read more...

Microsoft has been awarded $15 million in damages by a jury following a patent infringement lawsuit first filed by Motorola in 2010. Motorola spokesman William Moss said in a statement (via the Seattle Times) that the company be "disappointed" but be looking forward "t' an appeal a the novel legal issues raised in this case."

Motorola Mobility claimed Microsoft had infringed upon five different patents in the original lawsuit, though four be eventually dismissed over the years. The fifth patent, which deals with peer-t'-peer communication between two wireless devices, then became the focus a the case over the last few years.

The last year saw the most developments in the case, with ITC Judge David Shaw ruling in favor a Motorola in April a last year. Shaw then pushed for an Xbox import ban in the US the following month, only t' have the ITC remand his decision 'n push it back t' an administrative law judge for a second look. The suit then went through the process again, though Shaw ruled in Microsoft's favor the second time around.

Illumiroom isn't on it be way t' stores, bundled with Xbox One or otherwise, for fear the price tag would topple the shelves, Microsoft planning lead for Xbox One Albert Penello said at Gamescom, reported by Aus Gamers.

Illumiroom, an initiative from Microsoft Research, looks like a nifty piece a technology - it connects t' a console, ideally an Xbox One, 'n projects over a player's room, surrounding the TV 'n expanding game effects on top a real-world objects. "I wouldn't expect ye'll see that," Penello said. "it be very, very cool tech but it be, like, for a consumer, it requires projectors 'n things. it be really super-neat if ye're in the lab 'n ye've got Microsoft money 'n ye could totally set up this awesome lab, but... we looked at it, but for an average customer it be, like, thousands a dollars."

When it be first revealed in January, Illumiroom be labeled "proof-a-concept." In April, Microsoft Research said Illumiroom be still in the prototype stage.

The newest realm in Xbox One's Fantasia: Music Evolved be a wintry wonderland called The Haven, 'n it features songs from Kimbra, Fun 'n Vivaldi, along with two remixes a each track. Players will awake a singing yeti 'n explore dark caves, all in the name a conducting music.

The Xbox 360 Kinect camera may have been intended for use with video games, but many a it be most interesting uses be unlocked once the device be hacked. Suddenly, people had access t' a cheap, relatively easy t' use motion capture device. Nice!Read more...