Hasta La Gadget!

There has been a lot of confusion surrounding the various new features of the Xbox One, but one of those features seems to have been settled. The Kinect sensor that many people feared would always be listening to your conversations can actually be turned off when not needed. Otherwise, you can use the Kinect to tell it to turn on your fancy new console.

According to Kotaku, a Microsoft rep confirmed that the Kinect sensor “is not always watching or always listening,” and users will be able to “turn the system completely off.” During the unveiling of the new console, Microsoft said that you can turn on the console using a voice command, which proves that the console isn’t actually completely off, but more in a stand-by mode listening for such voice commands.

Of course, this stirred up some big controversy about privacy issues, and that the console would always be listening to your conversation to hear for an “Xbox on” command that would turn on the console. It wouldn’t be listening in on your living room conversations just for the fun of it, but enough people have been worried that there could be a secondary use for the listening-in.

Microsoft says that they’ll have more information in the future as far as different methods for turning off the Xbox One, but we’re guessing that — as most people would suspect — that the power button on the console will actually shut down the Xbox One completely, while shutting down the console using the controller or sensor through the software will only shut it down partially, where at that point the Kinect would be on and listening for voice commands.

However, it seems Microsoft says that users have no reason to be concerned. The company notes that they are “designing the new Kinect with simple, easy methods to customize privacy settings, provide clear notifications and meaningful privacy choices for how data will be used, stored and shared.” Of course, though, if you’re really concerned about Microsoft spying on you while you’re not playing games, there’s always the power cord that you can rip from the wall.

SOURCE: Kotaku

Xbox One can shut down entirely to prevent always-listening Kinect is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

The Xbox One will be able to spot new people even if they’re not actively playing, speak to gamers in a manner similar to Siri on the iPhone, and allow stuck players to seek help over Skype, it’s rumored. Microsoft was coy with showing all of the new Kinect’s features, according to Polygon‘s sources, at the Xbox One launch last week, saving some of the more advanced two-way interaction for closer to launch.

Among the rumored abilities is the use of Kinect to scan not only the active gamer, but those also in the room with them during play. For instance, one Microsoft closed-doors demo apparently showed the next-gen console using facial-recognition to spot people it hadn’t seen before, and then ask them to identify themselves.

Once the person did so, the Xbox One could save their information and thus recognize them in future encounters, all using spoken voice commands rather than having to punch in names and other details on an onscreen keyboard.

Microsoft is supposedly billing the advanced voice control – which takes advantage of the new Kinect’s updated microphone array, which also allows the console to be switched between gaming and TV modes with a simple command – as akin to Siri, the virtual personal assistant on iOS. There, Apple uses Siri to recognize natural language instructions to send messages, create calendar entries, locate restaurants or other points of interest, and other tasks, all without demanding that the user memorize a series of preset commands.

However, the Xbox One two-way speech tech may not arrive in time for the console’s launch. Instead, Microsoft might push it out as a post-release firmware update, some months after the One first arrives on shelves.

It’s not the only ease-of-use feature Microsoft is said to have held back from the Xbox One reveal. The console’s tight Skype integration was confirmed last week, but according to the leaks Microsoft has been secretly demonstrating collaborative gameplay using the free service.

Gamers struggling to get past a certain point in a title will be able to call in help from their Xbox One-owning Skype contacts, it’s said, inviting them to remotely take over the controls. Both players will be able to watch the game’s progression, returning control at the touch of a button.

Microsoft is apparently unconcerned about internet latency issues, though its private demo used hard-wired consoles, and there’s no word on how long remote play will be supported, or whether the remote gamer will also need a copy of the title before they can be co-opted across Skype.

We’re likely to find out more at E3 2013 next month, where Microsoft has promised more details on specific titles that will be offered for the Xbox One.

Xbox One Siri-style speech system and Skype remote play rumored is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Unnamed sources speaking with Polygon say the Xbox One has a remote play feature between consoles, both hardwired and online, allowing friends to take over gameplay remotely. The demonstration the sources claim to have witnessed featured one Xbox One connecting to another using “a local hardwired connection between consoles,” with a Skype call bridging the two users. A similar feature is available on Sony’s next-generation console, the PlayStation 4, both between consoles and via PlayStation Vita.

The other piece of the report adds to a bit we already knew concerning the new Kinect. “At some point, we’ll be able to have conversational understanding,” Microsoft hardware lead Todd Holmdahl told us last week. That “some point” may be sooner than later, as Microsoft reps were apparently already demonstrating the functionality, and said it’ll be available either at launch or “post-launch within the first few months.”

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals, Software, HD, Microsoft

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Source: Polygon

Microsoft has confirmed today that it will release the new Kinect sensor for Windows next year.

Like It , +1 , Tweet It , Pin It Original content from Ubergizmo.

The Xbox One introduced a new generation of Kinect motion-sensing earlier this week – now it’s time for Microsoft to show how the Kinect for Windows sensor will be evolving as well. This update brings on the Xbox One’s Kinect sensor in a package that’ll have Windows machines making full use of a sharper HD color camera, noise-isolating microphone array, and a wider field of view than in past Kinect units.

This newest Kinect for Windows works with “Active Infrared”, meaning the user will be able to work in nearly any lighting condition. This allows the user to work with four senses where before, Kinect worked with three: audio, depth, color, and active IR. The ability to sense the human body without needing high lighting conditions will allow the sensor to work in more “real-world” settings – hand position, facial features, and body movement all included.

Kinect for Windows newest hardware will bring improved skeletal tracking. More points than on any previous model are being tracked – tip of the hand and thumb now included. This system also allows tracking of up to six skeletons at once. More users means more opportunity for multi-player games and, as Microsoft suggests, physical fitness solutions.

The expanded field of view on the new Kinect for Windows will allow for both a wider place for people to be able to stand and be tracked and more fluid gesture recognition. This new unit works with a high definition color camera with advanced Time-of-Flight technology from Microsoft. This technology measures the time it takes for each little photon to leave and bounce back to bring on “unprecedented accuracy and precision.”

This Kinect for Windows platform will be delivered “next year” according to Microsoft, with a new Kinect for Windows sensor and software development kit (SDK) to go along with it. It’s not yet known if the SDK will be delivered before the actual unit, but BUILD 2013 has been noted by the company as a place where “developers and designers can begin to prepare to adopt these new technologies so that their apps and experiences are ready for general availability next year.” That’s in June – stay tuned!

SOURCE: MSDN

New Kinect for Windows borrows Xbox One’s updated sensor is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.