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