Microsoft's Kinect motion-tracking system for the Xbox 360 looks perfectly okay for gaming. Maybe it's a Wii-fighter; maybe it isn't. But beyond gaming, Kinect might be Microsoft's chance to own the living room—and everywhere else we live.
The new Xbox. Oh dear. It's like if Sony designed the Wii. And it even feels a little 2006! Jet black, shiny, glossy, fingerprint-y, except for the Aliens-ish vent on one side. I think I miss the old white Xbox.
Cameras? IR emitters? Natal? Kinect? Xbox 360? WTF? Give us three minutes. We can explain everything.
Backstage at the Fern Gully acid trip spectacle that was Microsoft Kinect's (nee Project Natal) coming out party, we got to see Kinect up close. It's elongated black and shiny plastic, like a PS3 accessory. Take a look.
Well, the leaks were right. At tonight's E3 kick-off party, Microsoft officially pulled the curtain off Kinect, formerly known as Project Natal. Kinect! Like "connect" and "kinetic" and "Kin." Among the first games to be shown off: Kinect Star Wars.
Microsoft President of Entertainment and Devices—that's Xbox, Zune, Kin, Courier, et al—Robbie Bach announced his retirement today. And in his exit interview with TechFlash, he holds forth on the once and future Microsoft. So Robbie: what happens now?
A pre-Christmas launch date was always known for Project Natal, but October sounds quite early. Perhaps Microsoft has seen what happens with the Wii every Christmas and is taking measures to ensure they don't sell out, making kiddies worldwide disappointed?
Oh hello, pretty. This appears to be Microsoft's upcoming Project Natal, complete with instructions, as seen by someone hired to test its speech recognition.
We know the secret technology behind Microsoft's Project Natal motion controls. But this is what it sees, what you look like to it. Which is not unlike a Predator's prey. [NextGN]
Obviously you're going to need some space to flail your arms and legs about, but 4m? Seems like quite a bit just to play video games—even if Project Natal is the most anticipated gaming add-on this year.
Microsoft Resarch Asia director Hsiao-Wuen Hon states the obvious: the company is already researching the "second version down the road." Natal, like the first Xbox, is a big investment, so it's unlikely that Microsoft would give up at one generation without giving it at least two, or maybe even three tries. So if the…
We're used to feeling oddly insulted by Sony ads, but for once it's everyone else who might need a hug. Because in this PlayStation Move ad, the competition gets named, shamed, and leaves crying for mommy. [Ars Technica via Kotaku]
Sony barely mentioned pricing with their PlayStation Move motion controller, only noting that the combo pricing with PlayStation Eye and a game will cost less than $100. But by our back-of-the-envelope calculations, the experience is going to be really expensive.
It's possible that you've been reading reports of Microsoft's body-capturing Project Natal with some skepticism, wondering, "how well can this cockamamie setup possibly work?" Well, going by this video of it perfectly tracking a guy breakdancing, pretty damn well.
In today's Remainders: solutions! Solutions for distilling water vapor into drinkable water; keeping your lunch warm with only a USB port; beaming an entire Springsteen album to your phone in under 10 seconds, and more.
Ever since our hands-on, we've been shamelessly excited about Project Natal...except for one key piece: The slight but undeniable lag. And now, MTV has actually put the difference between your movement and onscreen response to a stopwatch.
In today's Remainders: ideas! Ideas of all sorts, ranging from the very good—a ketchup package that allows for dipping—to the very bad—cutting a power cord with scissors—and including no less than two ideas somewhere in between!
There's still some question about whether Windows Mobile 6.6 or Windows Mobile 7 will be shown in February, but a solid tipster just told us that it will be WM7. And then he describes it.
My love for Blu-ray players grows whenever companies add another feature that has nothing to do with Blu-ray. Now any worthwhile player is a home-entertainment hub, replacing cable box and Apple TV alike. How soon till they handle everything?
PopSci got an exclusive look into how Microsoft is creating a learning brain inside Project Natal to figure out just where your body is in front of your TV. It's impressive, to say the least.
