Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Kinect For Windows Is Dead; Long Live Kinect For Windows Via USB

Posted by timothy on from the sir-this-teapot-may-not-be-able-to-weather-the-tempest dept.

puddingebola writes Microsoft has announced it will no longer manufacture Kinect for Windows. Only the Xbox One version will be available for purchase. Microsoft said it could not meet demand for the device, a strange claim for a company to make. The console version, though, will still work with Windows by way of a USB adapter, and as pointed out by this similar story at Gamespot, for about the same total price.

45 comments

  1. Bill Gates doing a funny vidz ! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    After the failure of Kinect, Bill Gates performs some funny vidz around the world : Bill Gates funny

    1. Re:Bill Gates doing a funny vidz ! by Njorthbiatr · · Score: 5, Informative

      Failure? What failure?

      Maybe for gaming and some smart TV shenanigans I don't even know, but for the research/development world it's been the greatest thing ever. All that's changed is that MS went, "Why are we producing two versions of the same thing?" And then said, "Oh, in that case we'll just produce one version, then make an adapter."

      In other words, MS made an excellent business move that saves the money and doesn't cost anyone anything.

    2. Re:Bill Gates doing a funny vidz ! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Except for a few dozen people who lose their jobs, YOU INSENSITIVE CLOD!

    3. Re:Bill Gates doing a funny vidz ! by Njorthbiatr · · Score: 1

      You mean the factory workers over in some country that doesn't have adequate minimum wage laws and worker protection?

      I weep for the poor factory owners who can no longer make gobs of money off of MS's patronage on the backs of their fellow humans.

    4. Re:Bill Gates doing a funny vidz ! by Chess_the_cat · · Score: 1

      So then this is a complete non-story that shouldn't be on the front page.

      --
      Support the First Amendment. Read at -1
    5. Re:Bill Gates doing a funny vidz ! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Since Ballmer left, I have seen many good decisions being made by Microsoft. If only they thought this way years ago...

    6. Re:Bill Gates doing a funny vidz ! by jellomizer · · Score: 1

      I don't see this as people loosing their jobs. It is the same device but with a different part for the hookup.
      They will probably do the same thing but with Xbox.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    7. Re:Bill Gates doing a funny vidz ! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Exactly!

    8. Re: Bill Gates doing a funny vidz ! by KevReedUK · · Score: 1

      This is Slashdot. Non-stories belong on the front page around here!

      --
      Just my $0.03 (At current exchange rates, my £0.02 is worth more than your $0.02)
  2. Weird statement. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Soooo will they then be unable to meet demand for the xbox kinect, or are their production lines for the xbox version somehow much faster?

    1. Re: Weird statement. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe they are not making as many because they know it's not a hot item on Windows.

    2. Re: Weird statement. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      if the demand is outpacing their projections to supply then its a hotter item than they were expecting to get.

      just a weird point to say "fuck it lets just cut this completely". it basically means the projections they made and decided to operate based on werent going to be profitable to begin with, and scaling that up would be more expensive than the gains.

      so the statement is either incorrect or there was some significant bungling on a bunch of levels going on and this is how they avoid saying so, but to anyone who would care what they have to say it would be apparent so why say that?

      not like, evil or anything just seems really weird

  3. You don't need the (expensive) adapter by ckatko · · Score: 2, Interesting

    You can easily splice the cable. All it needs is a 12-volt power supply (@ ~1-2 amp) and a proper USB connector (instead of their proprietary one). I've got one on my desk right next to me. It was a simple solder job.

    I imagine the Kinect One has a similar setup.

    The point is, it doesn't matter if Microsoft cares about supporting robotics students anymore, or anyone really. The hardware is easily adaptable, and plenty of smart coders have already made Linux drivers.

    As long as those idiots keep manufacturing the hardware, we can keep using it. Regardless of their open-promise bullcrap.

    1. Re: You don't need the (expensive) adapter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow, angry much? Just think, every time you use the Kinect with Linux, Bill gates can see your pain and is laughing at you.

    2. Re: You don't need the (expensive) adapter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Bill Gates is so rich that I doubt he spends his time trolling the internet laughing at poor people.

    3. Re: You don't need the (expensive) adapter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I can picture that!

    4. Re: You don't need the (expensive) adapter by Njorthbiatr · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Given his philanthropic generosity for helping out genuinely poor countries, I doubt he views anyone making a developer's salary as poor.

    5. Re: You don't need the (expensive) adapter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Seriously Chris, wtf is wrong with you. A simple solder job ? I'm sure what you've done is ghetto, most people wouldn't want what you have, and most people wouldn't want to waste the time doing it.

      Then you go on to call them idiots, yet use their hardware.

      What is wrong with your brain ?

  4. Obvious bullshit statement by ilsaloving · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The statement is obviously bullshit, but the question then is, "What is the real reason?"

    Possibilities include:
    1. Everyone is buying Windows Kinect because it's fun to hack around with, but very little of that is translating into stuff they can make money from. Kinda like the way Sony removed Linux support from the PS3 because people were buying PS3s, putting Linux on them, and then not buying games.
    2. Some Microsoft exec saw how Apple is outshining everyone else, and people are continuing to buy Apple stuff despite them restricting all their products, and thought that Microsoft needs to get in on that action.
    3. The different products are actually virtually equivalent except for the adapter, so it doesn't make sense to have two different lines. But if that was true, why wouldn't they just come out and say that? (Note, this isn't mutually exclusive from #2)
    4. Some other reason I can't think of?

    1. Re:Obvious bullshit statement by ericloewe · · Score: 3, Interesting

      It is number 3. They've had the adapter for a long time. They're just not packaging the same thing (with a different logo on the front) in two slightly different ways now.

    2. Re:Obvious bullshit statement by FatdogHaiku · · Score: 1

      I kinda miss the old days when we just attributed any Microsoft action to monopolistic douchebaggery and moved on to bashing them for it...
      Then again, it is Sunday and for many people a Holiday, so things may normalize a bit later.

      --
      You have the right to remain sentient. If you give up the right to remain sentient, you will be elected to public office
    3. Re:Obvious bullshit statement by SuricouRaven · · Score: 1

      Worse than 1: Some of the companies that hold patents for Kinect also make professional motion capture camera rigs for special effects and research use. They have always been concerned that the Kinect consumer tech might be 'good enough' for some professionals - if you can buy a kinect and spend a few extra hours messing around, why buy a $12,000 motion capture studio system? There's probably a clause somewhere in the license that says Microsoft may not make a Kinect that can be easily adapted for low-end professional use as a studio motion capture system.

    4. Re:Obvious bullshit statement by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yep, during the beta testing of it they were saying that it was the same as the xbox one version, and that the stickers on it were to cover up the branding.

    5. Re:Obvious bullshit statement by SeaFox · · Score: 1

      3. The different products are actually virtually equivalent except for the adapter, so it doesn't make sense to have two different lines. But if that was true, why wouldn't they just come out and say that?

      They already do worse. Quick -- what's the difference between this XBox360 controller, compared to this XBox360 controller here?

      Give up? NOTHING. They don't even need an adapter. I bought the 360 one for my PC and it's plug-n-play. They are literally the same product (actually I've heard some murmurings the components in the "Windows" one are inferior to the console one). The 360 one is normally cheaper, too (though not at this exact time I notice) because as a "console controller" it gets put on sale more.

    6. Re:Obvious bullshit statement by SeaFox · · Score: 1

      Amazon linking error there. I meant to link to the wired 360 controller for the first one.

    7. Re:Obvious bullshit statement by SeaFox · · Score: 1

      Argh. Which wont link right. -____-'

    8. Re:Obvious bullshit statement by omtinez · · Score: 1

      Not true. Kinect for Windows had different hardware to make the optimal distance to the subject significantly shorter compared to the XBOX version, and it was not just the calibration.

    9. Re:Obvious bullshit statement by ericloewe · · Score: 1

      Kinect 2 has wider-angle lenses than Kinect 1, so there's not as much of a need for different optics.

      Since there never was any announcement that Kinect 2 for Windows was somehow optimized, the logical default is that they are the same.

  5. Dame, dame yo! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Kinect availability on the Windows PC is just crucial for MMD. Last thing Microsoft wants it to lock horns with herds of outraged otaku.

    1. Re:Dame, dame yo! by narcc · · Score: 1

      No doubt. The poor personal hygiene alone could cripple them.

      --
      Required reading for internet skeptics
  6. Asus Xtion is selling better perhaps? by mutherhacker · · Score: 1

    Just a thought but maybe they are losing to the Asus Xtion. That is a possible explanation.

  7. Can't meet demand for the item? by Opportunist · · Score: 2

    Why? Can't slow the production enough to keep from having to rent more storage room for unsold units?

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    1. Re:Can't meet demand for the item? by Blaskowicz · · Score: 1

      Why have two SKU for the same item?
      Perhaps the PC version came with whatever cable and an 8cm CD with drivers/stuff etc. but now most everyone that wanted a Kinect for a PC or embedded system already got it and those who didn't can have an adapter and download the software.
      Mice ended the practice of coming with a 3.5" diskette and then you could only get one without a driver diskette, no option to get a separate SKU with the floppy in the cardboard. Yawn. That's all this story is about.

    2. Re:Can't meet demand for the item? by jd2112 · · Score: 1

      Why? Can't slow the production enough to keep from having to rent more storage room for unsold units?

      No, All the storage is taken up by unsold Surface tablets and Nokia phones.

      --
      Any insufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology.
  8. This by Etherwalk · · Score: 2

    In other words, MS made an excellent business move that saves the money and doesn't cost anyone anything.

    Exactly. MS went "We're ALREADY producing an adapter AND we spent time and development dollars to make it so that anyone who already has a Kinect for their Xbox won't have to buy a new one to play or work on the dev side. Let's save the time and money of producing a second physical product that could be better spent on new products (like Hololens) or given back to shareholders."

    What's the difference from a development engineering POV? A label on the front?

    Spinning it as somehow a loss for MS is just ignorance. It's about economy of scale, pure and simple.

  9. From the start by Sandman1971 · · Score: 1

    Why did they just not make it a USB device from the getgo instead of a proprietary adapter for the Xbox One? Oh yeah... money.
     

    --
    It's better to burn out than to fade away
    1. Re:From the start by Kaenneth · · Score: 1

      Power requirements.

  10. Blame Apple by flarb936 · · Score: 1

    Apple bought Primesense, which makes the sensor in the original Kinect. I bet they can't meet demand because they cant get the chips anymore. The Kinect 2 is a totally different tech. Maybe they'll sell a Windows version of that?

    --
    ralphbarbagallo.com
    1. Re:Blame Apple by Trax3001BBS · · Score: 1

      Apple bought Primesense, which makes the sensor in the original Kinect. I bet they can't meet demand because they cant get the chips anymore. The Kinect 2 is a totally different tech. Maybe they'll sell a Windows version of that?

      That makes so much sense, not having enough of a of a product to continue distribution is better PR, than they won't let up have them anymore :)

    2. Re:Blame Apple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's what the article is about. The Kinect for Windows was the Kinect 2 (For xbox one) but with a different connector. They are now discontinuing the standalone version and selling an adapter for the XboxOne version.

  11. Near Mode by Etherwalk · · Score: 1

    That was true with first generation hardware; I'm not sure of the extent to which it's true for the current generation.

  12. Dixlesia playing up again by RuffMasterD · · Score: 1

    I seriously read "Kinect for women is dead; Long live Kinect for women via USB". First thought: Microsoft, you insensitive jerks! Second thought: What is Kinect for women anyway? Pink with softer curves?

    --
    Human Rights, Article 12: Freedom from Interference with Privacy, Family, Home and Correspondence
  13. At Microsoft, great tech != great money by gestalt_n_pepper · · Score: 1

    Microsoft has a unique talent for taking obvious, useful or innovative technology and then either making it unusable (Winoows 8), or unsalable (Any Windows phone incarnation). In this case, the latter turned out to be cheaper.

    --
    Please do not read this sig. Thank you.
  14. profit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Now that Kinect is well established, no need to explicitly support anything but Xbox. And Xbox is where the profit for MS comes from.