This week as the Xbox One is introduced to the world, the company opposing Sony and their PlayStation 4 have taken an entirely different approach to its first reveal: console, Kinect, and controller included. If you decided that you weren’t about to connect a motion-tracking device to your gaming console no matter what the trends
Leap Motion has rolled out a preview of its gesture-control functionality on Windows 8 (it will work for Windows 7 as well, though). In case you’re not familiar with the device, it allows users to go hands-off when using their computer, controlling via gestures made in front of the display. We’ve got the preview video available for your perusal after the break.
As you can see in the video below, the Leap Motion device works via some smooth flicks of the wrist, finger plucks, and other such hands-off movements to control Windows without using a mouse and keyboard. This allows one to enjoy the touch-based design of Windows 8, for example, without a touchscreen panel, and brings the functionality to whatever computer you would like.
The device connects to a PC with a standard USB cable, and once connected works out of the box, no tweaking or such necessary. A 4-cubic foot span across your desk becomes your gesture-control area, with the device tracking finger movements to within 1/100th of a millimeter. The device itself measures in at about 3-inches long, so it won’t take up much room at all.
As you might suspect, the device’s usefulness extends beyond just tapping Windows tiles and scrolling through web results. As with a touchscreen device, it can be used to sketch, to sign digital documents, and to play games, among other things. Says Leap Motion, this video is a preview for those interested to check out before the device enters beta testing next month, during which period developers will get to use the unit.
Leap Motion CTO and co-founder David Holz said: “Out of the box, users will have the ability to browse the web, navigate their desktops, and interact with existing software. Everything you can do with a touch-based system, like Windows 8, can now be accomplished with Leap Motion technology. We want our users to have a magical experience, with easy and natural movements in the air leading to amazing interactions.”
Leap Motion demos Windows 8 gesture-control functionality ahead of beta launch is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Remember that break-apart DualShock 3 idea for motion control Sony had five years ago? A new company named Mad Genius Controllers has surfaced with a working prototype that shows such a contraption working in spades. The setup uses a splittable controller and a processing unit to enable seamless motion control and spacial tracking on any title and system. Because Mad Genius doesn’t use any accelerometers or cameras like the current consoles, its creator notes that accuracy of up to 1/100th of an inch is possible.
In a video demo with an Xbox 360 version of Skyrim and a modified Xbox gamepad, certain gestures and movements even automate menu selections like a macro. One instance shows the controller being split and held like bow and arrow, highlighting that both sides are tracked in relation to each other — not to mention that the in-game character’s weapon automatically changes without any menu-digging by the user. The current version is merely a wired proof-of-concept, but Mad Genius plans to eventually make it wireless and hit Kickstarter for funding. In the meantime, you can build up anticipation for yourself by checking out the nearly 10-minute long video demo after the break. All that’s left is the inevitable Oculus Rift tie-in (like we’ve just done with this post).
Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals
Source: Mad Genius Controllers (YouTube)
Red Dead Revolver‘s dueling mode was one of the game’s unique features. It attempted to emulate the feeling of tension by making the player go through a timing-based mini game. But what if you could actually go through the motions of a duel itself? Wouldn’t that be more exciting and fun to play? That’s the idea behind Quick Draw, a multiplayer game that uses the much maligned PlayStation Move controller.
Quick Draw is currently being developed by Greenfly Studios. Greenfly’s Stephen Morris described the mechanics and history of Quick Draw at The Penny-Arcade Report. Unlike most videogames, Quick Draw doesn’t have you look at a monitor and control an avatar. Instead, you just use your body and the Move controller to target other players, which ideally makes it a fun party game. Quick Draw has three modes, but the goal in all of them is simple: be the one with the fastest trigger finger. As you’ll see in the video below, the winner is the one whose PS Move doesn’t glow red after the shootout.
Gotta love the sound effects! Greenfly Studios is working on releasing Quick Draw not just for the PlayStation but for PC and Mac as well. I wonder if Quick Draw can also include a two-player game mode where you gather a bunch of PS Move controllers in the middle of the floor, then at the count of three both opponents scramble to get a controller and shoot at each other. But the catch is that only one of the controllers has a “bullet” in it, so the players have to keep scrambling for the loaded controller, like a scene from a comedy action movie.
[via Greenfly Studios via The Penny-Arcade Report]
This week the pre-order ship date for the Leap Motion 3D controller device has been moved due in part to a mistake made with Best Buy orders. This date change will not affect the way the device functions, but will change when the device is sent to those that have already pre-ordered the device. The date at which Leap Motion will be leaving the factory is now is in mid-to-late July.
Beta testing in will continue through June, as the heads at Leap Motion have let it be known today, while the ship date for the device appears now to be hard set for July 22nd. Arrival dates will be soon after, depending completely on customer locations relative to the ship points. Leap Motion has made it clear that their requirements for release are extremely strict and that the beta test period was alwasy in play.
“We are behind schedule, it’s not as if we woke up for the first time today and decided we needed a beta test,” noted Leap Motion CEO Michael Buckwald. According to the Buckwald, they do have the ability to meet the original ship date, but have delayed it due to their desire for more comprehensive testing on the device. At this moment, it would appear that the hardware is ready, software tweaks may be in play, and the product “could be shipped tomorrow.”
As for the HP deal spokem about quite recently, it would appear that nothing has been affected between them and the computing company.
“It definitely won’t affect the HP deal. All the milestones that were in play with the HP deal are still in effect.” – Buckwald
The only different between the Beta test units that are created today and those that will be out later this year will be an updated SDK. This software update will bring the device up to the final release version of the machine which will, indeed, be shipped at first on July 22nd.
Leap Motion delayed as Best Buy takes the blame is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
In a bid to take on the top contenders in the smartphone market this season in the USA, Pantech will be bringing a device by the name of Perception, complete with 3D gesture sensing technology onboard. The Samsung GALAXY S 4 will be in the hands of users by the end of the month on several carriers (and Verizon before Summer begins), it being issued with a technology that allows users to “hover” over their display to activate several features. Pantech’s bid for the 3D sensor trend is being delivered this month with what they call “Motion Sense.”
This Motion Sense technology will be appearing on the Verizon-exclusive smartphone Pantech Perception, this device also including several specifications that push it to the top tier smartphone category. The Pantech Perception includes a 4.8-inch touchscreen with HD Super AMOLED technology, its back features an 8 megapixel camera, and its front uses a 2 megapixel camera. Pantech will be delivering this device with a 16GB bit of internal storage as well.
The 3D sensor technology Motion Sense will allow users to wave their hand over the phone without touching it to activate several features. When the Pantech Perception rings for a phone call, the user will be able to wave their hand over the face (without touching it) to answer said call. Users will also be able to scroll through songs in the smartphone’s basic music app, look through photos, or move through contacts with this new technology.
The Pantech Perception will not be delivered with the most recent version of Google’s mobile operating system Android Jelly Bean. Instead the Perception will be delivered with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with a guarantee from Verizon that it will be upgraded to Jelly Bean “soon”. So says Verizon Wireless representative Albert Aydin along with a note on how this device will be sold for 99 dollars and 99 cents just so long as users agree to 2-year mobile contract and send in a 50 dollar mail-in rebate.
This effort will be appearing in the USA this month, starting no earlier than the 25th day of the month. Have a peek at SlashGear’s Pantech tag portal for more information on what this manufacturer is doing to come in full force to the North American mobile device market with smartphones galore.
Pantech brings 3D gesture control to Verizon in newest smartphone effort is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
This week Google Earth has been demonstrated with 3D navigation in collaboration with the device known as Leap Motion. This device’s makers have discussed several high-level collaborations in the recent past, most notably with computer manufacturer HP. This new collaboration with Google Earth allows the device to have access to the environment with a sort of “fly-through” action that’s demonstrated in a video today.
This integration of Google Earth exploration abilities has spawned a YouTube collective of videos being submitted this week as well. If you have a peek at the demonstration video below, you’ll see Leap Motion’s take on Google Earth with their basic device. This demonstration takes a look at San Francisco, Paris, New York City, and the Grand Canyon in short clips.
This update to Google Earth also adds several new features to the environment, including Map-Making, Viewshed, and a set of Google Earth Pro boosts as well. The downloadable version of Google Earth is the one being used here today – this demonstration shows the app on a desktop computer, while mobile apps are also up for your smartphone or tablet.
Google Earth Pro is a system where you’ll need to pay a license fee and gain added features not available to normal users. Leap Motion integration has been added this week to the free and Pro versions of the software. Have a peek at the Leap Motion timeline below to see what else the 3D motion control device has been up to lately!
Google Earth gets 3D navigation with Leap Motion is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
When you have two names – Leap Motion as well as computer manufacturer HP team up, you know for sure that you are in for quite an adventure, and this assumption has proven right yet again. This particular deal between both companies is said to have been in development for over a year already, and it marks a significant step in delivering touch-free, intuitive computing to the masses. In a nutshell, this particular agreement will see the Leap Motion Controller come bundled with select HP personal computers later this summer, and will also eventually come to encompass a range of unique HP devices that are embedded with Leap Motion’s technology, although the folks over at HP are keeping mum about such HP devices at the moment.
Not only that, HP’s software, including Airspace which is their app store, will be pre-loaded on Leap Motion-integrated HP devices. The reason behind this move is to offer a tremendous opportunity for the developer community in order to make a mark by garnering an even larger global audience of users. Do bear in mind that this embedding deal is different from the one that Leap Motion announced with Asus, as that was a bundling deal in the past, and it signifies another significant endorsement of Leap Motion’s technology.
What Leap Motion wants to do is this – to deliver 3D motion-control technology to the world without burning a hole in your wallet, and to do so as long as there is a computer in the vicinity, which is why they decided to form a collaboration with the folks over at HP to maximize their chances of fulfilling such a vision.
Leap Motion co-founder and CEO Michael Buckwald, said, “Our focus at Leap Motion is to fundamentally improve how people interact with their devices, and offer as many ways as possible to achieve that vision. The possibilities for innovation are incredible, when you think about what will come from this collaboration between two respected global leaders in their fields – HP, the world’s largest technology company and Leap Motion, creator of the world’s most powerful 3-D motion-control technology.”
Company Page
[ Leap Motion and HP come together for embedded 3D motion-control technology copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
Leap Motion isn’t just going to be a stand-alone product. The motion-control brand just announced a partnership with HP, meaning that, sometime this summer, you’ll be seeing several HP devices with Leap Motion technology bundled right in. More »
If you were thinking that Leap Motion’s motion control experience was only going to be created as a stand-alone experience, you might need to think again. Today HP has announced a relationship with Leap Motion, this deal showing up thus far as a bundled Leap Motion Controller existing with several HP products through the future. Can you imagine motion control coming with your desktop products as a matter of fact from here on in?
You’ll find that with Leap Motion aboard, HP will become one of the most unique options for PCs in the near future. The models HP and Leap Motion are speaking about thus far will come with Airspace right out of the box. Airspace is Leap Motion’s application store where a wide range of bits and pieces can be found – gaming, education, art, music, productivity, and a whole lot more!
At the moment, HP and Leap Motion have shown their intent to include the Leap Motion Controller itself in a range of products, but have not named any specific desktops or notebooks (or anything in-between) that will be working with this deal. We’re expecting specific models to be named in the near future. Stay tuned to the HP tag portal and click out a search for Leap Motion to see which hardware comes up first!
Outside of this HP deal, you’ll be seeing the Leap Motion Controller available for $79.99 USD very, very soon. This piece of hardware is available for pre-order now for that same price and we’ll be taking additional peeks at it soon! Take a peek at the timeline below for more information on Leap Motion!
Leap Motion teams with HP for 3D Motion Control integration is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
