Kinect for Windows and version 1.0 of the Software Development Kit that accompanies it has been taken out of beta by Microsoft.

The Windows specific Kinect supports up to 4 Kinect sensors on 1 PC and a ‘near mode’ functionality which allows it to see objects as close as 40cm to the sensor.

Kinect for Windows costs $249.99 (about £158) and can be purchased from the Microsoft Store or Amazon. Although the Microsoft Store is currently listing the sensors as ‘out of stock’ and Amazon could take up to 4 weeks for shipping.

Microsoft plans on releasing “updates to our SDK and runtime 2-3 times per year.”

[Microsoft | Kinect for Windows Blog | via Microsoft News]

There have been some interesting updates for those interested in news on Microsoft‘s next gaming console.

A report on IGN tells us the next Xbox’s graphics processing power to be 6 times more than the Xbox 360′s. This new power will be as a result of the graphics card provided by AMD similar to the the Radeon HD 6670.

Kotaku quotes “sources” as stating that Microsoft will be replacing the DVD drives that it ships with Xbox 360s with Blu-Ray drives for the next release of the Xbox.

The disc drive update will mean Xbox games will hold 25GB data as opposed to the 9GB data that DVDs can hold.

Kotaku further goes on to claim from a “reliable industry source”  that “Microsoft intends to incorporate some sort of anti-used game system as part of their so-called Xbox 720.”
It isn’t clear at the moment how Microsoft plans on achieving this. It could be a case of a game being tied to an Xbox Live account, but an easy workaround for this will be to avoid Xbox Live altogether.

Another source talks about a new version of Kinect that will be released with the new console. Perhaps there is some truth to the Kinect rumours after all. Another source also claims Microsoft is interested in making a smaller controller for the new console.

True to form, Microsoft refused to comment on the rumours:

“As an innovator we’re always thinking about what is next and how we can push the boundaries of technology like we did with Kinect. We believe the key to extending the lifespan of a console is not just about the console hardware, but about the games and entertainment experiences being delivered to consumers. Beyond that we don’t comment on rumors or speculation.”

[Kotaku | IGN]

According to Eurogamer citing a “development source”, the next version of Kinect will be so accurate, it will be able to lip read. The current version of Kinect was limited by the the “old” USB 2.0 technology used by the Xbox 360.

The next version of Xbox will come bundled with Kinect 2 and without the current limitations, will also be able  to “track the pitch and volume of player voices and facial characteristics to measure different emotional states.”

All of that sounds pretty impressive. But when can we expect to have this technology in our homes? A new Xbox or perhaps an updated version of the current Xbox 360 is rumoured to be released next year. We will just have to wait and see if these rumours are indeed true.

[Eurogamer]

Contrary to the image above, the Kinect will no longer be restricted to just Xbox 360 consoles.

Almost immediately following the launch of Kinect, hobbyists and academics from around the world embraced Kinect possibilities in ways that surprised and delighted. And with the launch of a non-commercial software development kit, we saw even more exciting and creative applications in the areas of healthcare, rehab, education and so much more. As we watched these stories unfold, the term “The Kinect Effect” emerged in hallway conversations at Microsoft as a way to describe the amazing and creative ways Kinect was being used.

Microsoft has been working with some of these developers and companies to create a set a of tools and APIs for Kinect. For the less tech savy, this means we can soon see commercially developed programs/applications controlled by Kinect, as demonstrated in the video below.

[Microsoft | via Engadget]

Another post where the title says it all. Kinect Star Wars was originally set for release with it’s limited edition console this holiday season but Microsoft has had a change of heart due to problems with the game.

“Microsoft and LucasArts have elected to move the launch of Kinect Star Wars beyond holiday 2011 to ensure the full potential of this title is realized,” a spokesperson told us. “This move applies to both the Kinect Star Wars stand-alone game and the Kinect Star Wars Limited Edition Console. We will communicate additional timing information at a later date.”

An official release date hasn’t been given yet. But you can trust I will be keeping you guys updated.

Do you like themed X-Boxes? So do we. And evidently, so do Microsoft. Following the Halo: Reach themed X-Box and the announcement of a Gears of War one, Microsoft will be blessing us  yet with another one. This time for one of the most popular movies of all time, Star Wars.

Inside the box you’ll find a gleaming white Xbox 360 with blue lighting and custom sounds for both on/off and the disc tray. With a 320GB Hard Drive and built-in wireless it may not be entirely on the same level as it’s inspiration but it still packs a punch. As well as that you’ll then be treated with a new generation gold wireless controller.

Both are bundled with a white-skinned Kinect sensor and the Star Wars Kinect game with prices around $499 or £275. There’s no word on official UK pricing as yet, but in fairness, it’s unlikely you’ll care considering how good it looks.

This bundle should also include Kinect Adventures. Keep your wallets full and your eyes open this “holiday season” as that’s when the bundle will become available for purchase.

[via: t3.com]

Microsoft is rolling out a mandatory dashboard update for Xbox Live suscribers today for the release of Kinect (November 4 in the U.S and November 10 for Europe). Many of you may have already received notifications for this update.

Read on for more photos of the dashboard update and a list of some of the new features:

ESPN on Xbox LIVE*

3,500 Sporting Events A Year – Access more than 3,500 live and on-demand global sporting events from ESPN3.com a year, including college basketball, college football and college bowl games, MLB, NBA, international soccer and more.

Out of Market Games – Catch your favorite college team games. Check out the huge catalog of out of market games and enjoy them on the big screen.

The Best Ways to Watch – Enjoy HD programming, DVR controls, plus access to hundreds of clips from ESPN3.com, refreshed daily.

Games at a Glance – Keep up on real-time score information using ESPN.com’s score feed without leaving the game you’re watching. View scores for leagues and games currently in the ESPN.com feed and select “Watch Live” or “Watch Replay” to jump straight into that game.

Predict the Winner – Pick what team you think will win. While watching selected games in college football, college basketball, MLB, and NBA, you will be prompted to vote for your team of choice. You’ll also see the percentage of votes among the Xbox LIVE viewing community.

Voice Chat – Voice chat with up to seven other friends while watching the big game.

My Sports – To customize your ESPN on Xbox LIVE experience, click on the “Events, Highlights and More” slot on the homepage and browse by sport to pick a specific league that you want to follow for the season. The league that you select will now automatically display in your My Sports Channel.

Zune Music*

Zune Pass – Zune Pass is a monthly subscription service that gives you unlimited, on demand streaming of millions of songs at launch from all the major music labels and thousands of independent labels.

Enhanced search – Search the broad library to find your favorite artists, albums, songs and playlists.

Social – Connect with like-minded fans on the Zune online community and get new music recommendations. Zune Social also lets you see friend’s Avatars and listen to their recently played songs or check out their favorite artists.

Smart DJ – Instantly create customized playlists by selecting an artist and have Smart DJ find songs that complement your selection.

Netflix* Search

Experience a streamlined search function making it much easier to find the movies and TV shows you want to watch.

Improved voice chat quality

The audio codec is updated to improve Xbox LIVE Party audio quality. So grab your friends and jump into a multiplayer game or catch a big game with friends via ESPN3.

Improved Gamertag creation

Choosing a new Gamertag? If the Gamertag you’re looking for is already taken, your Avatar will spin a wheel and we will provide five other Gamertag suggestions at a time for you to choose from.

Streamlined in-dashboard virtual keyboard

We’ve taken the existing QWERTY keyboard in-dash and made it easier to use for scenarios that involve repeated text entry, when signing up for LIVE within the dashboard for example.

Improved Xbox LIVE Marketplace UI and browse experience

The Game Marketplace has been re-organized to provide streamlined access to the gaming and video content you want, reducing the number of steps to get to a download.

Easier to get on a wireless network

Trying to connect to a wireless network? Now you can see a list of all the wireless networks within range when you go into network settings.  From there, you can select a new network or further configure the network you’re connected to.

Ability to sign-out other controllers in the sign-in UI

We’re adding the ability to sign-out profiles on other controllers in the sign-in UI within the Guide. This is especially useful when playing games like Rock Band.

New browse experience for 100% completed games

You spent a lot of time and effort earning those Achievements, so we’re giving you a new and better way to browse all of them.

Updated Family Settings

Xbox 360 continues to lead the industry in efforts to create tools that help parents and caregivers choose the right play and viewing settings for their families. We are enhancing the core Family Settings tools for all Xbox LIVE members:

Family Programming

When turned on, Family Programming disables display of all mature content on the dashboard and can be turned on or off with a protected password for individual members (per account). It also highlights all family-friendly entertainment.

Intelligent Default Settings – Your Xbox automatically customizes privacy and activity settings for each member, based on age (child, teen and adult). These settings can later be individually customized.

Title Exceptions – Allow your family members to play specific games above the console’s designated ESRB/PEGI (etc.) rating as you deem appropriate

Source: Major Nelson

Microsoft has announced a new Kinect bundle which will be available for sale. This new Xbox 360 250GB Kinect bundle is set for release on November 4th in the US and November 10th for us here in the UK.

Source: Engadget

There will also a bundle of the Kinect Motion Controller and the New Xbox 360 console with 4GB storage and ‘Kinect Adventures’ (kind of like the Xbox 360′s version of Wii Sports) for £250 ($300).

The most reliable UK source in terms of pricing to pre-order the Kinect and the Kinect bundle from (for now) is play.com.