Microsoft Releases Kinect SDK For Windows

It was only a matter of time by milbournosphere · 2011-06-16 06:52 · Score: 4, Insightful

and this is a good decision. I've seen so many cool hacks for this hardware already, and that's just hackers playing around. Imagine what could be done with a legit SDK. Good job Microsoft, make more of these kinds of decisions.

Re:It was only a matter of time by EdZ · 2011-06-16 08:14 · Score: 2

As far as I can tell, the difference between the official SDK and the homebrew SDK is that the official SDK uses Microsoft's own skeletal tracking algorithm using only the depth sensor, whereas the homebrew SDK uses skeletal tracking based around outline recognition using the imaging camera with a dash of using the depth sensor to clean up the input.
Unless you have a specific reason to use MS skeletal tracking algorithm (which appears to be pretty nifty, a SLNN trained against a massive sample set), then you can use whichever SDK you're more comfortable with and get the same result.
Re:It was only a matter of time by MHolmesIV · 2011-06-16 08:51 · Score: 2

You also get the Microphone streams, and the echo cancelled mic streams, two things that until now have not been available in any homebrew.
Re:It was only a matter of time by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 09:22 · Score: 0

This. The creator of the Kinect's microphone array mentioned about the ability to perform sound-source-location and being able to sample audio clearly as the main advantages of the microphone array. I would love to take advantage of this.
Re:It was only a matter of time by gad_zuki! · 2011-06-16 14:21 · Score: 1

The point is that you get official MS support and can start monetizing your kinect software. Its an easier sell when there's an official driver and SDK.
Re:It was only a matter of time by deniable · 2011-06-16 23:58 · Score: 1

So I can use Kinect to see who let one rip.

I just downloaded it and am coding now! by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 06:52 · Score: 0

This is very cool indeed. I would talk more but I need to get back to coding. I've been dying to get this ever since I had a great idea of how Kinect could be used at my work.

Re:I just downloaded it and am coding now! by tepples · 2011-06-16 06:54 · Score: 1, Troll

I've been dying to get this ever since I had a great idea of how Kinect could be used at my work.
But would the benefit of using Kinect at work justify the cost of upgrading all Windows Vista machines to Windows 7 and replacing Windows XP machines with Windows 7-capable machines?
Re:I just downloaded it and am coding now! by Lunix+Nutcase · 2011-06-16 06:56 · Score: 1

Your post makes no sense. Why would he have to upgrade all those machines for himself to use the SDK?
Re:I just downloaded it and am coding now! by imidan · 2011-06-16 07:01 · Score: 1

Probably, not every single computer in the OP's work needs to work with a Kinect. For some applications, it would be enough to have one machine dedicated to that kind of application, and its use would be shared among the office.
Re:I just downloaded it and am coding now! by es330td · 2011-06-16 07:15 · Score: 1

Probably, not every single computer in the OP's work needs to work with a Kinect.
I would hope so. I worry about any accounting system operated by gestures. I would also prefer to not walk in the front door and see the receptionist waving her arms around.
Re:I just downloaded it and am coding now! by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 07:17 · Score: 0

We have some operators that do repetitive motion all day long as they capture images using our software and special cameras. They have to move back and forth between setting up the document, adjusting the lighting, and taking the picture through our software. I was thinking this could help them not have to move over to the computer but be able to initiate the image capture remotely using voice or a hand gesture. (They are already on Windows 7, x64.)
Re:I just downloaded it and am coding now! by Billly+Gates · 2011-06-16 08:08 · Score: 1

Fuck XP. Its very very old. I am sick and tired of technology being viewed as cost centers and commodities from brainless accountants who do not see tco savings and other ROI from modern platforms.
In thr late 1980s same principle happened and it caused a pickle when Windows and file servers came out. Corporations had to throw out there value equipment and dumb terminals all because they wanted to boadt their share price earlier.
These same companies will refuse to buy kinect biz apps anyway. Just use Windows 7 folks. It is almost 2 years old.

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Re:I just downloaded it and am coding now! by Jim_Maryland · 2011-06-16 09:55 · Score: 1

I can see it now, a motion gesture of "touch your elbows behind your back" to start any activity for the hot receptionist
Re:I just downloaded it and am coding now! by tehcyder · 2011-06-16 23:26 · Score: 1

Fuck XP. Its very very old. I am sick and tired of technology being viewed as cost centers and commodities from brainless accountants who do not see tco savings and other ROI from modern platforms.
Go fuck yourself, technology IS about cost centres and it IS just a commodity for most types of work not revolving around computer hardware or software.

--
To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
Re:I just downloaded it and am coding now! by deniable · 2011-06-16 23:59 · Score: 1

The cost of not upgrading Vista is greater than the cost of upgrading. Others have addressed the XP boxes.

Skip the blogspam by Missing.Matter · 2011-06-16 06:55 · Score: 5, Informative

Direct link: http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/projects/kinectsdk/

Re:Skip the blogspam by Lunix+Nutcase · 2011-06-16 06:59 · Score: 2, Insightful

Yes, but soricon gets no ad clicks if you go to the direct link rather than to his own site.
Re:Skip the blogspam by Lunix+Nutcase · 2011-06-16 09:09 · Score: 2

What's with the troll mod? How am I trolling? You can even see the guys twitter feed.

it's june, 2011 by circletimessquare · 2011-06-16 06:58 · Score: 2, Funny

is it safe now, on slashdot, to reserve more hate for the corporate policies of apple and google, than for microsoft?

shhhh... don't wake the old bearded guys in the corner

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intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it

Re:it's june, 2011 by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 07:13 · Score: 0

is it safe now, on slashdot, to reserve more hate for the corporate policies of apple and google, than for microsoft?
shhhh... don't wake the old bearded guys in the corner
Hey whippersnapper, I can remember when IBM was the bad guy. Microsoft's always been the hero who brought them down.
Re:it's june, 2011 by circletimessquare · 2011-06-16 07:21 · Score: 1

wait, you can still remember things?
(i keed, i keed ;-)

--
intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
Re:it's june, 2011 by Reapman · 2011-06-16 07:23 · Score: 3, Funny

What about Bob! Oh sure some company's might steal your data, or root kit your computer, or make you wear turtle necks, but that pales in comparison to the evil unleashed known as BOB.
I'd also chime in about young whippersnappers but judging by your UID that might be.. awkard.
Re:it's june, 2011 by RogueyWon · 2011-06-16 09:04 · Score: 4, Interesting

On the gaming side, Microsoft have actually been less evil than their competitors for years now. Sony's acts of wanton consumer abuse are too many and too well known to be worth documenting. Nintendo is actually no better, maintaining some of the most anti-consumer policies around, such as rigidly enforced region locking and rabid crackdowns on homebrew. On the PC gaming side, Microsoft's last really "evil" act was insisting on Windows Vista to play the PC version of Halo 2 - which was years ago. Their first and second party PC games have never gone in for the kind of DRM shite we've seen from Ubisoft.
These days, when Microsoft do something nasty on the gaming side, it's more likely to be down to incompetence (the RROD fiasco and Games for Windows Live) than malice. And to be honest, they are (slowly) getting better at avoiding that kind of thing.
Re:it's june, 2011 by powerlord · 2011-06-16 15:31 · Score: 1

Considering the people screaming their heads off about Rootkits whenever ANY Sony article gets mentioned, I'm actually surprised there aren't more people complaining about Bob. :D

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Re:it's june, 2011 by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 17:22 · Score: 0

What about Bob!
you mean the thing that was never widely used in any capacity and was killed well over a decade ago...ooh avoid the ipad because of the newton!!!
Re:it's june, 2011 by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 19:11 · Score: 0

Yeah, ok. Sony did not make proprietary hard drives and accessories for the PS3 - you could use a regular 2.5in hard drive to upgrade, whereas Microsoft gouged consumers on proprietary ones.. less evil? Whatever
Re:it's june, 2011 by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 20:56 · Score: 0

Well... it's still kinda evil that Games for Windows Live is still around.
Re:it's june, 2011 by deniable · 2011-06-17 00:02 · Score: 2

The ultimate punishment was reserved for the manager behind Bob. She got life with Bill.

"Article" is terrible by imidan · 2011-06-16 06:58 · Score: 4, Informative

The blog post must have been written in a hurry by someone whose native language is not English.

Here is the link to the actual Microsoft SDK:

http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/projects/kinectsdk/

Re:"Article" is terrible by Lunix+Nutcase · 2011-06-16 07:00 · Score: 5, Insightful

The blog is run by the submitter. He was using the article as a way to drive hits to his site.
Re:"Article" is terrible by imidan · 2011-06-16 07:34 · Score: 1

Okay, that explains it. The submitter was only willing to put in the smallest possible amount of time and effort to make his blog post not so transparently an interstitial page with no beneficial contribution to the topic.
I don't mind if people link to their own blog in the summary, but if they're going to, at least they should make their blog post *useful*.
Thanks.
Re:"Article" is terrible by nschubach · 2011-06-16 07:54 · Score: 1

Well, it's useful to him. He gets money! ;)

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Every time I start to have faith in humanity, I ruin it by driving to work between 7 and 8 am.
Re:"Article" is terrible by davester666 · 2011-06-16 08:02 · Score: 1

You must be new here.

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Re:"Article" is terrible by Tarlus · 2011-06-16 09:00 · Score: 1

I'll be sure to use the direct link and not the submitted article, then.

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Re:"Article" is terrible by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-17 21:24 · Score: 0

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Why so much processing power??? by SplatMan_DK · 2011-06-16 06:59 · Score: 1, Interesting

Why is the minimum req. a beefy dual core processor?

The X-box has nowhere near that amount of power - why keep this technology away from smaller and less power-hungry platforms?

--
My security clearance is so high I have to kill myself if I remember I have it...

Re:Why so much processing power??? by Shados · 2011-06-16 07:01 · Score: 1

Because the only non-dual core machine you can realistically buy today are some extremely low end netbooks that can barely run World of Goo (hell, mine can't).
Re:Why so much processing power??? by gad_zuki! · 2011-06-16 07:03 · Score: 1

The X-box is a triple core machine. I imagine that certain tasks are done per core and single-cores can cause performance issues.
Re:Why so much processing power??? by Microlith · 2011-06-16 07:04 · Score: 4, Informative

The XBOX360 has a triple-core PowerPC processor. And dual core processors aren't exactly new, so I wouldn't call them "beefy." Also, IIRC a lot of processing has to be done host-side of the data coming from the Kinect, so a single core processor probably can't hack it.
Re:Why so much processing power??? by iluvcapra · 2011-06-16 07:04 · Score: 0

Derp? An XBox 360 has a weird custom 3-core 3.2 GHz PowerPC.

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Don't blame me, I voted for Baltar.
Re:Why so much processing power??? by snowraver1 · 2011-06-16 07:05 · Score: 2

You are 100% correct in that the xbox doesn't have the same amount of power as a dual core processor. It has three cores, each of which can run 2 threads at a time.

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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. This comment may not be copied in any way including, but not limited to caching.
Re:Why so much processing power??? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 07:05 · Score: 0

Keep in mind that you've got your OS (and whatever else) going on a comp as well. Xbox 360 doesn't have these things to worry about.
Re:Why so much processing power??? by erroneus · 2011-06-16 07:07 · Score: 1

I think the situation is not wanting to support Windows XP. Those requirements are more in-line with Windows 7 requirements than Kinect's. We have seen already what is needed to work with Kinect.
Re:Why so much processing power??? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 07:08 · Score: 0

Dual core more due to the fact that the camera processing requires an dedicated core to process it while the other core does the program that uses the input.
The computation to process the camera into an input is a bit heavy and a dedicated core is better suited for it. Most cpus are at least dual core nowadays anyways and while older single core cpu may cope with it, it probably will have difficulties processing both the input and the program (it be like running two full programs side by side in a single core).
Re:Why so much processing power??? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 07:16 · Score: 1

Why is the minimum req. a beefy dual core processor? The X-box has nowhere near that amount of power - why keep this technology away from smaller and less power-hungry platforms?
The XBox 360, which the Kinect is designed for, has a custom designed triple-core PowerPC 3.2GHz processor. Each core supports SMT (simultaneous multithreading). The processor emphasizes high floating point processing. Clearly that dual-core processor is anything but "beefy" when compared to the XBox's processor.
Re:Why so much processing power??? by drinkypoo · 2011-06-16 07:19 · Score: 1, Insightful

Indeed; that is not the offensive part at all. Ask someone how GTA4 runs on a PC sometime. You need four cores so that the OS can mangle one, since there's not all those background services running on the 360. The annoying part is that it requires Windows 7 and won't run on Vista. Not surprising, mind you; Microsoft would very much like everyone running Vista to pay for what is essentially a minor upgrade (since Vista has been service packed.)

--
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Re:Why so much processing power??? by VGPowerlord · 2011-06-16 07:19 · Score: 1

Why is the minimum req. a beefy dual core processor?
The X-box has nowhere near that amount of power - why keep this technology away from smaller and less power-hungry platforms?
Yes it does. The Xbox 360 has a triple-core PowerPC-based processor clocked at 3.2Ghz.
The Kinect SDK requires a dual-core processor running at 2.66Ghz.
Heck, even my 4-year old desktop PC is running a Quad core 2.4Ghz processor (Intel Core 2 Q6600)

--
GLaDOS for President 2016! "Well here we are again. It's always such a pleasure." -- GLaDOS, 2011
Re:Why so much processing power??? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 07:25 · Score: 0

You can't do a direct clock-to-clock comparison of PowerPC to x86. But yeah, the Xbox 360 is no slouch when it comes to CPU power.
Re:Why so much processing power??? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 07:43 · Score: 0

"The annoying part is that it requires Windows 7 and won't run on Vista"
In my experience, Vista won't run on Vista.
Re:Why so much processing power??? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 07:55 · Score: 0

The high requirements are due to having to run Cygwin with the Linux Kinect driver behind the scenes.
Re:Why so much processing power??? by Mongoose+Disciple · 2011-06-16 08:40 · Score: 1

they are trying to drive up Windows based PC sales.
Yeah, that's a totally credibly theory. The "tech nerds who want to play around with a Kinect SDK" is, like, 90% of the market for PCs, so this really will boost sales.
Re:Why so much processing power??? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 08:43 · Score: 0

While you're way off base, it would be cool if they accelerated it with whatever the MS equivalent of OpenCL is.
Re:Why so much processing power??? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 08:46 · Score: 0

they are trying to drive up Windows based PC sales. They have been flat and Microsoft needs ways to help pay for purchasing Skype.
Wow, this is coming from somebody with a 4 digit UID. Did you buy it off EBay?
Re:Why so much processing power??? by Kalriath · 2011-06-16 09:20 · Score: 1

It's LoB. He doesn't let facts get in the way of a good anti-Microsoft rant.

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For a site about things like basic rights, Slashdot users sure do like to censor "dissent".
Re:Why so much processing power??? by Locutus · 2011-06-16 10:08 · Score: 1

it was a joke you moran. They've got enough cash to purchase a number of Skye's.

LoB

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"Anyone who stands out in the middle of a road looks like roadkill to me." --Linus
Re:Why so much processing power??? by drinkypoo · 2011-06-16 11:18 · Score: 1

In my experience, Vista won't run on Vista.
There's nothing I've run on Windows 7 that won't run on Vista, but maybe I'm unique in that regard. It's a good thing because I went back to Vista on my Athlon 64 L110/R690M netbook because it doesn't run anything else properly, thanks to AMD's unwillingness to release drivers for anything newer. As a result I won't be buying anything like that again... My next portable will either have an ARM core or be Intel/nVidia like the last three I bought before this AMD-based thing from Compaq (by way of Everex, I believe.)

--
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Re:Why so much processing power??? by wjsteele · 2011-06-16 15:17 · Score: 1

What is a "moran?"

Ah... here it is: moran [ máwrn ]
Masai warrior: a young unmarried male warrior of the Masai people.

Why would you call him that???

Bill

--
It's my Sig and you can't have it. Mine! All Mine!
Re:Why so much processing power??? by Kalriath · 2011-06-16 16:36 · Score: 1

Who the hell are the Masai?
Although I do rather like the idea of being a warrior.
Clearly, I'm in the wrong industry.

--
For a site about things like basic rights, Slashdot users sure do like to censor "dissent".
Re:Why so much processing power??? by SplatMan_DK · 2011-06-16 20:55 · Score: 1

While you're way off base,
Can you clarify?

- Jesper

--
My security clearance is so high I have to kill myself if I remember I have it...
Re:Why so much processing power??? by SplatMan_DK · 2011-06-16 21:35 · Score: 1

You are 100% correct in that the xbox doesn't have the same amount of power as a dual core processor. It has three cores, each of which can run 2 threads at a time.
Since this is Slashdot, could we keep a decent level of seriousness here?

The interesting thing about a microprocessor is not its clock frequency or number of cores. It is the amount of numbers/math it can crunch in a predetermined piece of time.

I bet the odd triple-core PowerPC chip from 2004 used in the X-Box has absolutely no chance against a modern Intel dual-core chip with half the clock speed.

And now that you think about it, you know I am right ;-)

- Jesper

--
My security clearance is so high I have to kill myself if I remember I have it...
Re:Why so much processing power??? by deniable · 2011-06-17 00:08 · Score: 1

Leave the Morans out of this. They're likely to shoot you.
Re:Why so much processing power??? by Locutus · 2011-06-17 00:20 · Score: 1

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=moran

need more be said?

LoB

--
"Anyone who stands out in the middle of a road looks like roadkill to me." --Linus

Re:Turning that ship around! by chemosh6969 · 2011-06-16 07:01 · Score: 2

I too hate Microsoft and express my opinions in a way the don't contribute to the articles I'm posting to.

Also "detecting strange behavior" by erroneus · 2011-06-16 07:02 · Score: 0

As we know, the DHS cannot rely on its enormous zombie workforce to interpret and make decisions. This is why there is so much nonsense involved in the screening process... well, among the reasons why. The moment you enable a government employee to think, trouble follows.

So now, we will have a Kinect at every checkpoint to detect odd, unusual or suspicious behavior.

dual core , sorry by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 07:04 · Score: 0

win7 naaaa , pass. THIS means you have to pay to play anyways....and the answer is no.ITS why they did it cause otherwise no one is doing anything with ms anymore.....and why bother , its not like i have any chairs near me.

Awkward requirments, ahoy! by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 07:20 · Score: 0

My only Win7 machine is a $300 Celeron-powered laptop. The only PC I own with the hardware required to run this runs Vista.

What a shame. I was going to have fun this weekend.

SDK vs. applications using the SDK by tepples · 2011-06-16 07:23 · Score: 1

Why would he have to upgrade all those machines for himself to use the SDK?

I was assuming that if the SDK didn't run on Windows pre-7, then applications built using the SDK would likewise not run on Windows pre-7.

Re:SDK vs. applications using the SDK by Bobfrankly1 · 2011-06-16 07:30 · Score: 1

Why would he have to upgrade all those machines for himself to use the SDK?
I was assuming that if the SDK didn't run on Windows pre-7, then applications built using the SDK would likewise not run on Windows pre-7.
You were also assuming that every computer at the workplace would be using the kinect. That's a lot of assumptions, and you know the saying about assuming...
Re:SDK vs. applications using the SDK by nschubach · 2011-06-16 07:49 · Score: 1

...it's awesome and fun.

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Every time I start to have faith in humanity, I ruin it by driving to work between 7 and 8 am.
Re:SDK vs. applications using the SDK by Lunix+Nutcase · 2011-06-16 08:16 · Score: 1

But why would you assume every computer was going to be hooked up to the Kinect?
Re:SDK vs. applications using the SDK by tehcyder · 2011-06-16 23:22 · Score: 1

Assuming makes an ass out of u and Ming the Merciless, which is probably not a good idea.

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To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it

SDK Licensing by mystik · 2011-06-16 07:23 · Score: 2, Interesting

From the FAQ

I noticed that the license terms for the Microsoft Kinect device allow the use of the device with the Xbox 360 and Xbox 360 S game consoles only. How can I use the Kinect device with the SDK Beta?
Even though the warranty and software license terms for the Kinect device prohibit the use of the device with any platform other than Xbox 360 and Xbox 360 S, the license agreement for the SDK Beta supplements the Kinect device warranty and software license terms to allow your use of the device with the SDK Beta on Windows computers as well.
I know that other drivers and development software for Kinect are available on the Web. Can I use the Kinect sensor device with these other drivers or software instead of the SDK Beta?
No. Use of the Kinect sensor device is subject to its own warranty and software license agreement that allow you to use it solely in connection with an Xbox 360 or Xbox 360 S console. Only Microsoft can grant you the additional rights that you need to use the Kinect sensor device with a personal computer. Microsoft grants these additional rights in the SDK Beta license, but only for uses of the Kinect sensor device in connection with the SDK Beta. If you use the Kinect sensor with a platform other than Xbox 360, Xbox 360 S, or Windows (with the SDK Beta), you void the warranty you received when you purchased the Kinect sensor device.

So, Even though you saw all those cool demos a few months ago using 'unlicensed' software, you're not allowed to run them, and they could be punished for software licence violations.

A hardware device requires a software license?

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Why aren't you encrypting your e-mail?

Re:SDK Licensing by robot256 · 2011-06-16 07:34 · Score: 1

Obviously, by powering on a device that contains embedded processors and firmware that you might not even know about, you implicitly agree to a EULA granting the manufacturer the right to sue you whenever they want. What, you think there should be something in the device to tell you this before you use it? That would complicate the user interface unnecessarily!
Re:SDK Licensing by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 07:38 · Score: 0

If you use the Kinect sensor with a platform other than Xbox 360, Xbox 360 S, or Windows (with the SDK Beta), you void the warranty you received when you purchased the Kinect sensor device.
Apparently, you missed the point that this FAQ is much more about the warranty than the license. IANAL, but I imagine about the worst that Microsoft could do to you is refuse to honor their warranty--a standard "don't come crying to me if you break it doing something its not designed for".
As for the software license question--since the hardware in question comes with software necessary to run it on the Xbox 360, yes, I imagine that software has a license. How is this new to you? Have you never connected a digital camera to a computer?
Re:SDK Licensing by kevinNCSU · 2011-06-16 07:50 · Score: 4, Insightful

If you use the Kinect sensor with a platform other than Xbox 360, Xbox 360 S, or Windows (with the SDK Beta), you void the warranty you received when you purchased the Kinect sensor device.
So, Even though you saw all those cool demos a few months ago using 'unlicensed' software, you're not allowed to run them, and they could be punished for software licence violations.

If you consider them refusing to fix something you broke by running software platforms they haven't tested "punishing" you, I guess.
Re:SDK Licensing by mystik · 2011-06-16 07:57 · Score: 1

I missed that last bit, you highlighted. That is, at least, what I expected: using your own tools/code/whatever clearly will void whatever warranty they offered.
Typical Knee jerk reaction from me when I read "prohibited" in relation to a piece of hardware you buy/"own".

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Why aren't you encrypting your e-mail?
Re:SDK Licensing by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 08:15 · Score: 0

I don't know how that could possibly work in court. By buying a device, opening the box, and using it, I've at no point agreed to a license agreement. This isn't even a EULA thing: there's no way I've agreed to anything.
Re:SDK Licensing by Blakey+Rat · 2011-06-16 10:12 · Score: 1

Paranoid a bit?
All the part you quoted says is that using the Kinect hardware with non-Microsoft drivers voids the warranty. Well, duh!
As far as "evil corporate conspiracies" go, that's... pretty goddamned tame. But, go ahead, twist and turn those facts to make Microsoft look evil. This is Slashdot.

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Comment of the year
Re:SDK Licensing by Xest · 2011-06-16 10:25 · Score: 1

"and they could be punished for software licence violations."
That's not what it says.
It says if you use something unapproved to interface with it that might send commands that could break it then your warranty is void.
You'll probably find the same with your graphics card, if you use some third party drivers/tweaks that overclock it and burn it out, I doubt your warranty would be valid either.
Still, nice try with the anti-Microsoft troll, you know, just because it's Microsoft doesn't mean you HAVE to troll them, it is possible that not every single thing they do is bad/evil. This SDK is a good thing, they deserve commendation- they've not tried to take down the open source efforts, they're just not offering to spend their money supporting and issues that may be caused by them.
Re:SDK Licensing by exomondo · 2011-06-16 17:34 · Score: 1

I don't know how that could possibly work in court. By buying a device, opening the box, and using it, I've at no point agreed to a license agreement. This isn't even a EULA thing: there's no way I've agreed to anything.
So what you're saying is that no matter what you do with a device it should be covered by warranty. I think the idiocy in that is pretty obvious.
Re:SDK Licensing by bWareiWare.co.uk · 2011-06-17 00:42 · Score: 1

The warranty is void if you have ever used third party software. Even if it only actual broke much later for an unrelated reason whilst playing a 360 game.
I hope you got your computer supplier to test and approve slashdot before you posted!

Linux???? by linuxwonder · 2011-06-16 07:25 · Score: 1

Ok as far as it goes. Can the Linux version be far behind?

Re:Linux???? by imidan · 2011-06-16 07:37 · Score: 1

Probably not from Microsoft, but the OpenKinect community has developed an API that works under many platforms:
http://openkinect.org/wiki/Main_Page
Re:Linux???? by jabjoe · 2011-06-16 07:43 · Score: 1

Hehe, I take you know it was Linux having drivers that probably started this.
MS probably hated all those Linux Kinect YouTube videos. :-)

Finally! by f5hacka · 2011-06-16 07:27 · Score: 1

Now I can start working on the DDR MMO I've been waiting for all this time!

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Hi

Re:Finally! by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 07:39 · Score: 0

step mania did it

64bit version won't install by iplayfast · 2011-06-16 07:31 · Score: 1

sigh.

Re:64bit version won't install by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 09:43 · Score: 0

Works on my machine. You're doing it wrong.
Re:64bit version won't install by iplayfast · 2011-06-16 09:55 · Score: 1

Installing using the administrator cmd prompt
It gets to the point where it's copying files, and stops at
"Error writing to file:INuiInstanceHelper.dll. Verify that you have access to that directory."
Seems to me, that it isn't a directory at all, so I don't understand what it's doing.
Re:64bit version won't install by dylan_- · 2011-06-16 23:22 · Score: 1

Install http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/en-us/products/2010-editions/visual-cpp-express first.

--
Igor Presnyakov stole my hat
Re:64bit version won't install by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-17 00:00 · Score: 0

it does, i did it yesterday in a Win7 x64 platform

Can this be used to make windows games? by Luckyo · 2011-06-16 07:31 · Score: 1

Does anyone have any idea if this can be used to make kinect work with games on windows? I'm talking about licensing problems and such, unless SDK also locks away some hardware features needed for gaming.

Re:Can this be used to make windows games? by RogueyWon · 2011-06-16 08:59 · Score: 1

Existing Kinect games are basically Xbox 360 games with some fancy motion control added on. Until somebody develops a working Xbox 360 emulator (which is probably years away), you will not be playing any of the existing Kinect games on Windows.
Unless, of course, developers choose to release PC ports of those games, which is very unlikely but probaly not impossible.
Re:Can this be used to make windows games? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 09:40 · Score: 0

Does anyone have any idea if this can be used to make kinect work with games on windows? I'm talking about licensing problems and such, unless SDK also locks away some hardware features needed for gaming.
Mass Effect 3 is supposed to use Kinect for voice commands as well as interactive conversations in the game. I would think from this that this functionality would be there for both the 360 and PC versions of the game. It doesn't make use of the motion sensor though, only the voice controls.
Re:Can this be used to make windows games? by Luckyo · 2011-06-16 10:14 · Score: 1

So a working microphone would be enough for PC? That doesn't really require kinect.
I was thinking more in line of either devs porting games, making multi platform releases for xbox360 and w7 and finally actually making pc indie games with kinect support.
Last is probably a shot in the dark given installed base, but still... one can hope.
Re:Can this be used to make windows games? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 12:29 · Score: 0

I have seen an adult software company has been working to use kinect if you are interested.
Re:Can this be used to make windows games? by Luckyo · 2011-06-16 12:34 · Score: 1

Link, the sheer hilarity of such a game would probably be worth the money. I can already see it - "copulate this way for extra points".
Hell, it could work. "Beat the best score in the world for copulation in a certain position". I can see people actually getting into that.
Re:Can this be used to make windows games? by Sparx139 · 2011-06-16 16:39 · Score: 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEGxhMPdp0g Or just google kinect porn if you want a news article on it

--
Our culture doesn't get smarter, it just finds new ways of being retarded.

It could be fun to make turrets for paintball by GoodNewsJimDotCom · 2011-06-16 07:32 · Score: 1

1) Use Kinect to ID human target

2) Shoot at it.

It'd make a devastating minefield.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a war monger myself. I just like to know what might be coming down the pipe so I'm prepared. I'm really worried that when AI comes out in the next few decades that the first application will be military. And not just the government based military, but anyone with a large pocketbook could wage war. It is my fear that people with too much money and not enough compassion will wage wars without the need for human cooperation at all.

--
God spoke to me

Re:It could be fun to make turrets for paintball by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 08:37 · Score: 0

They did a nerf gun demo during their presentation that did (1).
Re:It could be fun to make turrets for paintball by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 08:54 · Score: 0

Camouflage, smoke, etc will easily fool these devices (I hope)

Also something to note by Sycraft-fu · 2011-06-16 07:34 · Score: 2

Yes, the 360's processor is old and doesn't keep up with today's powerful CPUs... However all today's powerful CPUs are dual core or more. The last single core desktop CPU Intel made was the Pentium 4. From then on it has been all dual and up. Well guess what? A Pentium 4 doesn't compare very favourably with a 360's CPU. Hence I could see why it might not be enough, particularly keeping in mind it also has to run the OS and all related tasks, and of course your app that is using the Kinect.

These days asking for "a dual core" is equivalent to saying "I want a system with 2005 or newer technology." Not unreasonable I don't think.

Only modern thing this would exclude would be Netbooks (and even those come in dual core varieties). Well that is reasonable, something designed for a game console doesn't work on a low power portable. I can see that.

Re:Also something to note by H0p313ss · 2011-06-16 07:41 · Score: 1

You stole my thunder and I have no mod points today.
I have already retired my first 64 bit dual core laptop since it's almost five years old and has already had both the hard drive and motherboard replaced.
(Well quasi-retired... it sits on my coffee table and whenever I feel self-abusive I play with linux...)

--
XML is a known as a key material required to create SMD: Software of Mass Destruction
Re:Also something to note by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 08:04 · Score: 0

(Well quasi-retired... it sits on my coffee table and whenever I feel self-abusive I play with linux...)
What do trolls eat these days?
Re:Also something to note by H0p313ss · 2011-06-16 08:41 · Score: 0

What do trolls eat these days?
The diet is varied; Apple fanbois for breakfast, Microsoft weenies for lunch and Freetards for dinner. Republicans are sort of a late night snack because it's like shooting a fish in a barrel.

--
XML is a known as a key material required to create SMD: Software of Mass Destruction
Re:Also something to note by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 08:47 · Score: 0

You're forgetting about the Core 2 Solo.
Re:Also something to note by Truekaiser · 2011-06-16 09:14 · Score: 1

Your forgetting the various single core atom cpu's they made too.
Re:Also something to note by SplatMan_DK · 2011-06-16 21:26 · Score: 1

These days asking for "a dual core" is equivalent to saying "I want a system with 2005 or newer technology." Not unreasonable I don't think
But that is not the point here. They are not just asking for "dual core". They are asking for a Core 2 Duo or better, meaning Intel x86/x64 Conroe architecture or better. Not a low power dual core ARM processor, not a dual core Atom, but a full-blown CISC monster with loads of multi-level internal caching, advanced pipelining, and a ton of features common to advanced CPU's like Virtualization, Execute Disable Bits, SSE3, MMX, 3DNOW, and so on and forth.

These are not small chips. So they're expensive. And power-hungry.

Oh, and they where introduced in 2006 by the way ... announced in Q1 and physically released during the summer.

My surprise comes primarily from the fact that the potential for using this technology is huge, but tying it to powerful "real" full-blown PCs will reduce its potential.

It could be used to analyze behavioral patterns in public spaces (say, by identifying threatening behavior), as a safe/sterile method of interacting with medical equipment, as a way of communicating with people who have severe disabilities ... I could fill my house with 10 of these things and let them analyze the physical movements of my children when they run around the house, and create models that determine if they are gaining the motor skills appropriate for their age. I could install one in my car, and have it monitor my behavior during long drives, and notifying me if I am not paying adequate attention to the road ahead of me.

The possibilities are endless. But not if a beefy, full-blown PC has to be connected to each one. A low-power ARM or Atom device is a much more interesting platform to use for these tasks. If I put 10 of them in my house, I don't want a rack full of servers to go along with them. I want small wall-mounted computers that use minimal power and can be hidden away behind stuff. Same goes for using it in my car, in hospitals, in public offices, etc. etc.

Kinect is probably this decades most underrated technological advancement in Human-Computer interaction. Sticking it with heavy hardware will limit its potential.
- Jesper

--
My security clearance is so high I have to kill myself if I remember I have it...
Re:Also something to note by tehcyder · 2011-06-16 23:31 · Score: 1

Also, what sort of developer wouldn't have a reasonably up to date machine anyway?

--
To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it

The universal response to this by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 07:42 · Score: 0

is: how do you get the turret to STOP shooting once a player calls himself "hit"? An auto-turret has already been made, but it's illegal at any field because it will not stop shooting players like a human should.

If I was lit up by some nerd's turret design and it refused to stop shooting me, it would not leave the field in one piece, nor would any component be useful for anything except scrap.

Re:The universal response to this by jgtg32a · 2011-06-16 09:52 · Score: 1

It's Kinect it can easily tell when the person puts their hands in the air to signal that they've been hit.
Re:The universal response to this by artor3 · 2011-06-16 10:28 · Score: 1

Kinect has voice recognition, doesn't it?

CORRECTION by tepples · 2011-06-16 07:47 · Score: 1

After "all Windows Vista machines", and after "Windows XP machines", insert "that use the Kinect sensor".

Re:Turning that ship around! by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 07:48 · Score: 1

I see you're keeping to your word...

MOD PARENT DOWN by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 07:52 · Score: 1

We have ways of dealing with apologist scum like you! Don't you know this is a WAR??? Have you forgiven M$ that easily?

Modders, you know what to do. And may RMS have mercy on your karma.

(Captcha: lynched. No I'm not joking)

Re:MOD PARENT DOWN by elrous0 · 2011-06-16 08:36 · Score: 1

Mr Jeffries, for the last time, if you don't take your meds you don't get TV time tonight.

--
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
Re:MOD PARENT DOWN by QuantumLeaper · 2011-06-16 12:12 · Score: 1

Being ANONYMOUS Coward show what you truly are, you the one who is scared of being modded down.... You should stand up and be counted or shut the h*ll up....
Re:MOD PARENT DOWN by rebelwarlock · 2011-06-16 13:49 · Score: 1

Can't tell if trolling... or just very stupid.
Re:MOD PARENT DOWN by tehcyder · 2011-06-16 23:20 · Score: 1

Wow, you redacted the e in hell. You must find the internet a pretty rough place.

--
To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it

Re:Turning that ship around! by the_hellspawn · 2011-06-16 08:24 · Score: 0

Choo Choo

--
"The laws of science be a harsh mistress." --Bender

Re:Turning that ship around! by chemosh6969 · 2011-06-16 08:42 · Score: 1

As a fellow Bushido, we both know the penalty for not keeping one's word.

Which Language? by La+Camiseta · 2011-06-16 09:47 · Score: 1

Do they offer a Javascript/HTML5 interface?

Re:Which Language? by shutdown+-p+now · 2011-06-16 10:47 · Score: 2

It comes in two varieties - .NET for use with C# and other managed languages, and a native C++ API. Here (PDF) is the detailed programming guide.

Crowd survailence camera by DigiShaman · 2011-06-16 13:38 · Score: 2

Take any venue with large crowds. Stadiums, airports, clubs, concerts, etc. Now, place at least four or more of these Kinect devices all around the place. With specialized motion tracking AI, you can now capture video from multiple angles and tag individual people based on all the feeds being processed. Simply playback the captured video and rotate the entire venue with a track ball.

Can't find who shot who? Keeping rotating, you'll eventually find him and every detail about the clothes he wears. For an added bonus, install multi-point microphones to calculate location of the shot. Merge both media data sets and you'll find your suspect fairly quickly.

--
Life is not for the lazy.

Re:Crowd survailence camera by JohnnyBGod · 2011-06-16 23:00 · Score: 1

Now, I've been doing some Kinect hacking, as part of my MSc thesis, and I've found that the range on the Kinect is less than 10 meters, and it sucks at distinguishing more than two people. Although I've seen it recognize and reasonably track as much as five people (though not their joint positions), you'd also have to write code for saving data about people visible in a single camera, and try to match the data you saved with every person entering every camera's frame. Besides being non-trivial, this gets computationally expensive really fast. So this wouldn't really work well for crowd surveillance, for the simple fact that even with breakthroughs like the Kinect, computer vision is _hard_. Really smart people have been studying it since the late 70s and even today we need to make loads of assumptions just to make things _sort of_ work.
Re:Crowd survailence camera by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-16 23:48 · Score: 0

They already have the microphones. :-)
Big brother is already on top of your tv. Which is great if you are shot in your family room. Not so much otherwise.
Re:Crowd survailence camera by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-17 00:22 · Score: 0

Wouldn't this system suffer from interference issues? I could be wrong (that happened once), but I believe the kinnects all blast out the same IR light, so if you have multiple in the same room, it wouldn't know which IR light was from it, and which from the other units.
Re:Crowd survailence camera by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-17 01:09 · Score: 0

You don't need the Kinect to do this... You can do this with standard cameras and video processing software that has been available for years.

nothing but good will come of this by johncandale · 2011-06-16 14:32 · Score: 0

nothing but good will come of this. I'm also ok with Microsoft ripping of the best ides, like Blizzard did with it's WoW interface API

Good Info by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-17 04:02 · Score: 0

Thank you,

David

TRUTH ABOUT JEWS FROM THEIR TALMUD by Anonymous Coward · 2011-06-18 22:51 · Score: 0

http://www.waylanderskeep.com/2009/12/jewish-talmud-quotes/

Goyims, Gentiles, and Akum are anyone non-jewish.

===

1. Sanhedrin 59a: "Murdering Goyim is like killing a wild animal."

2. Abodah Zara 26b: "Even the best of the Gentiles should be killed."

3. Sanhedrin 59a: "A goy (Gentile) who pries into The Law (Talmud) is guilty of death."

4. Libbre David 37: "To communicate anything to a Goy about our religious relations would be equal to the killing of all Jews, for if the Goyim knew what we teach about them, they would kill us openly."

5. Libbre David 37: "If a Jew be called upon to explain any part of the rabbinic books, he ought to give only a false explanation. Who ever will violate this order shall be put to death."

6. Yebhamoth 11b: "Sexual intercourse with a little girl is permitted if she is three years of age."

7. Schabouth Hag. 6d: "Jews may swear falsely by use of subterfuge wording."

8. Hilkkoth Akum X1: "Do not save Goyim in danger of death."

9. Hilkkoth Akum X1: "Show no mercy to the Goyim."

10. Choschen Hamm 388, 15: "If it can be proven that someone has given the money of Israelites to the Goyim, a way must be found after prudent consideration to wipe him off the face of the earth."

11. Choschen Hamm 266,1: "A Jew may keep anything he finds which belongs to the Akum (Gentile). For he who returns lost property (to Gentiles) sins against the Law by increasing the power of the transgressors of the Law. It is praiseworthy, however, to return lost property if it is done to honor the name of God, namely, if by so doing, Christians will praise the Jews and look upon them as honorable people."

12. Szaaloth-Utszabot, The Book of Jore Dia 17: "A Jew should and must make a false oath when the Goyim asks if our books contain anything against them."

13. Baba Necia 114, 6: "The Jews are human beings, but the nations of the world are not human beings but beasts."

14. Simeon Haddarsen, fol. 56-D: "When the Messiah comes every Jew will have 2800 slaves."

15. Nidrasch Talpioth, p. 225-L: "Jehovah created the non-Jew in human form so that the Jew would not have to be served by beasts. The non-Jew is consequently an animal in human form, and condemned to serve the Jew day and night."

16. Aboda Sarah 37a: "A Gentile girl who is three years old can be violated."

17. Gad. Shas. 2:2: "A Jew may violate but not marry a non-Jewish girl."

18. Tosefta. Aboda Zara B, 5: "If a goy kills a goy or a Jew, he is responsible; but if a Jew kills a goy, he is NOT responsible."

19. Schulchan Aruch, Choszen Hamiszpat 388: "It is permitted to kill a Jewish denunciator everywhere. It is permitted to kill him even before he denounces."

20. Schulchan Aruch, Choszen Hamiszpat 348: "All property of other nations belongs to the Jewish nation, which, consequently, is entitled to seize upon it without any scruples."

21. Tosefta, Abda Zara VIII, 5: "How to interpret the word 'robbery.' A goy is forbidden to steal, rob, or take women slaves, etc., from a goy or from a Jew. But a Jew is NOT forbidden to do all this to a goy."

22. Seph. Jp., 92, 1: "God has given the Jews power over the possessions and blood of all nations."

23. Schulchan Aruch, Choszen Hamiszpat 156: "When a Jew has a Gentile in his clutches, another Jew may go to the same Gentile, lend him money and in turn deceive him, so that the Gentile shall be ruined. For the property of a Gentile, according to our law, belongs to no one, and the first Jew that passes has full right to seize it."

24. Schulchan Aruch, Johre Deah, 122: "A Jew is forbidden to drink from a glass of wine which a Gentile has touched, because the touch has made the wine unclean."

25. Nedarim 23b: "He who desires that none of his vows made during the year be valid, let him stand at the beginning of the year and declare, 'Every vow which I may make in the future shall be null'. His vows are then invalid."

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Microsoft Releases Kinect SDK For Windows

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