Jul 17
Reading sign language has always been in the cards for Kinect, ever since that showed up as a feature in some of the early patents. A while ago, it managed to read
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Jul 17
Jul 16
Apple is reportedly in negotiations with PrimeSense, the motion-tracking specialist responsible for the original Xbox Kinect, supposedly aiming to acquire the company in a deal tipped to be worth around $280m. Apple is said to have dispatched a team of senior engineers to Israel-based PrimeSense early this month, Calcalist reports, though talks are said to be in early stages. The Cupertino company could use the 3D movement tracking technology to allow more flexible methods of interacting with future iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
PrimeSense is best known for its involvement in Microsoft’s Xbox 360, specifically the Kinect sensor that was released roughly halfway through the console’s life cycle. Adding the ability to track individual limb movements of two players simultaneously, Kinect opened the door to new gaming styles as well as gamepad-free navigation of Xbox Live menus, among other things.
However, Microsoft opted to develop its own motion-tracking system for Kinect 2.0, as will be supplied as standard with the Xbox One when the next-gen console goes on sale later this year.
Now, PrimeSense is working on new motion-tracking architecture, and specifically a new sensor called Capri. Where the original system, found in the first Kinect, was reasonably large, Capri slims things down considerably: in fact, PrimeSense intends it to find its way into smartphones and tablets, as well as laptops and more.
That could well be where Apple’s interest comes in, with Capri being an obvious match for the iPhone and iPad. The Cupertino firm is known to have an interest in alternative interface options to the now-traditional keyboard, mouse, and touchscreen, while it has also stubbornly refused to fit touchscreens to MacBook displays, arguing that the ergonomics of reaching out and touching your notebook’s screen aren’t optimal.
The chatter of potential acquisition may well come to nothing, though $280m – as the deal is tipped to be worth – would be pocket change for Apple.
Update: PrimeSense has denied the acquisition chatter, with an unnamed source at the company telling TechCrunch that it’s “journalist delusion based on unverified and twisted hints.” The source also takes issue with the $280m price suggested, arguing tongue-in-cheek that “we’re worth 10 times that.”
VIA Engadget
Apple eyeing Kinect-creator PrimeSense in rumored $280m grab [Updated] is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2013, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Jul 16
Jul 16
Apple ‘in talks’ to buy motion control specialist (and Kinect maker) PrimeSense (update)
Posted in: Today's Chili
Israeli news source Calcalist has a decent track record when it comes to acquisition gossip, even if the gossip itself sometimes comes to nothing. Bearing that in mind, the latest rumor is that Apple is “in talks” to buy PrimeSense, the company that worked with Microsoft to create the first-generation Kinect (but not Kinect 2.0) and which could potentially help Cupertino with new projects that require natural interfaces. The value of the acquisition is said to “probably” be around $280 million, although the source makes it clear these talks are at a very early stage. Whichever way things go, the immediate effect of a report like this is to add to the impression that PrimeSense has a future beyond the Xbox 360 — but, frankly, we already believed it did.
[Thanks, Ron]
Update: We just received a statement from PrimeSense, indicating that they don’t comment on rumors:
“PrimeSense is growing the company and currently has by far the leading 3D technology in the market, tier one prospects, strong revenues and a healthy cash position.
We are focused on building a prosperous company while bringing 3D sensing and Natural Interaction to the mass market in a variety of industries. We can’t comment on what any of our partners, customers or potential customers are doing and we are not commenting on rumors.”
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, Science, Apple
Source: Calcalist
Jul 07
Shape-It-Up Lets You Tweak 3D Shapes Using Simple Hand Gestures: Pottery Simulator
Posted in: Today's ChiliThe researchers behind Shape-It-Up call it a “Hand Gesture Based Creative Expression of 3D Shapes Using Intelligent Generalized Cylinders”, but it’s totally a pottery simulator. Decades from now, if – when? – Paramount Pictures decides to remake Ghost, the characters will be using Shape-It-Up while a dubstep remix of Unchained Melody plays in the background. Oh, my WUB WUB WUB WUUUUUB…
Shape-It-Up is a project by Purdue University Engineering students Vinayak, Sundar Murugappan, HaiRong Liu and Karthik Ramanilets. It lets users manipulate a virtual cylinder by using simple hand gestures, which are tracked using a Kinect. Skip to around 1:28 in the video below to see it in action.
I guess you could say that was… righteous. YEEEEA- I’m old. The researchers think of Shape-It-Up as a way for designers to start their sketches in an easier and more intuitive manner, not as a way to create a polished model. But if you pair it with a 3D printer, I think it can also be used as a way to teach kids about the basics of CAD and 3D printing. Now get off my lawn and head to Purdue University’s website for the project’s abstract.
[via Gajitz]
Jul 01
Many console gamers know the drudgery of entering a download code with a gamepad or keyboard. Now that Kinect is part and parcel of the Xbox One experience, however, they’ll always get to skip that step: Microsoft’s Marc Whitten has revealed that system owners can scan the codes with the Kinect camera. While this is really an extension of what the original Kinect can do — Kinectimals takes advantage of QR codes, for example — it should be a big help for gamers who’d rather be playing than typing.
Filed under: Gaming, HD, Microsoft
Source: Marc Whitten (Twitter)
Jun 28
In each issue of Distro, editor-in-chief Tim Stevens publishes a wrap-up of the week in news.
This week is Microsoft’s time to shine. Its Build conference, typically held later in the year, kicked off on Wednesday and along with it came a lot more about Windows 8.1 — which we thought we already knew plenty about, honestly. But there was more to learn, including a new milestone for the Windows Store: 100,000 apps. Well, almost 100,000 apps. Steve Ballmer said the store was “approaching” that number and has racked up “hundreds of millions” of downloads. A bit of a far cry from Apple’s 50 billion, but hey, it’s early days yet.
More interesting to me is the inclusion of native 3D-printing support in Windows 8.1. Good ‘ol 2D printers were certainly common before the traditional driver came into standard practice, but that market didn’t really take off until they effectively became plug and play. One could say it’s perhaps a bit early for that kind of native support to be needed in Windows for a 3D printer, but better too soon than too late.
Filed under: Misc
Jun 28
Jun 27
Unity game engine to support Xbox One, gets a boost on Windows 8 and Windows Phone
Posted in: Today's Chili
When the Unity game engine runs virtually everywhere — well, almost — it’s no surprise that Unity Technologies has just announced that the engine will support the Xbox One. However, the firm is also revealing a partnership with Microsoft that promises a deeper level of integration on the One than we’ve seen on some other systems. Microsoft Studios partners will get to build Unity-based Xbox 360 and Xbox One games for free. They’ll also receive tools that take full advantage of the One’s tricks, including cloud computing, matchmaking, improved Kinect gestures and SmartGlass.
Developers who aren’t console-inclined are covered as well: the partnership will give all Unity Pro 4 customers free access to Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 development add-ons once they’re available this summer. While there’s no guarantee that game producers are more likely to target Microsoft’s ecosystem than they have in the past, the Unity deal could lower some of the costs and technology barriers. And there may be more: Microsoft has dropped hints that it will provide further details on its support of indie console app development sometime in the near future.
Filed under: Gaming, Software, Microsoft
Source: Xbox.com
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