Microsoft is going to officially launch Kinect for Windows this February. While the Microsoft CES 2012 conference was rather disappointing, there were some nice announcements. You can view the announcement from Steve Ballmer regarding Kinect for Windows below:
You can check out the box in the picture above. In addition, Microsoft has an official website for the launch. It is also interesting to note that on the box it says “PC optimized – not for use with Xbox360”. So, this means that this specific version of the Kinect is meant only for your Windows PC instead and it cannot be used with an Xbox360. In fact Kinect for Windows will have a new camera which can be used at closer distances while sitting at your desk.
Update:
The Windows Kinect variant will cost around $250, which is 100 dollars more than the Xbox 360 Kinect. The price point increase is supposedly due to the new camera and software packaged with the device. Also, Larry Hryb a member for the Xbox development team confirms via twitter that the Windows version of the Kinect will only work with the SDK installed, which means it will not work with the Xbox 360:
That sensor will only work on computers running the SDK software
You can also preorder Kinect for Windows on Amazon.com.
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Something’s fishy. The normal Xbox Kinect worked on the pc. What so special about this one that makes it so different?
hmm, but will the 360 version work with PC?
I believe so. The SDK for it is out now and coders have been using the 360 version so far. However, the Windows variant has a different camera so it is more suited to PC users. I just hope they consider dropping the price a bit considering the Windows version is more expensive in comparison.
Windows version also has less revenue generation potential since it doesn’t lead to game or console sales. so they’re milking it for all its worth. (like every other company…)
i’m assuming that they’re adapting a different lens/camera combination so that the effective distance is much shorter (within a yard or two from the camera) instead of having to be like 3-4 yards away on the xbox 360 version. (who stands more than 2 yards away from their computer…)
i really hope they come out with a kinect 2 based on usb 3.0 or something else so that they can get enough bandwidth to put a 720p if not 1080p camera sensor into it… the 640×480 resolution they’re reading isn’t nearly detailed enough for what it can potentially do…
It’s great to see that they are officially bringing the Kinect to the PC with full support, but until the price drops and it gets integrated into PC games and impressive applications, I’m not going to even bother investing in one.