After unbundling the Kinect from the Xbox One, Microsoft hopes Windows users will buy the Kinect.
The second version of the Kinect sensor will launch for Windows on July 15, according to a Microsoft store listing. It will retail for $199.00.
Kinect v2 launched with the Xbox One, bundled with each console. Microsoft removed the Kinect as a mandatory part of the Xbox One in May. The console packaged without the Kinect costs $399. Interestingly, while the difference between an Xbox One with Kinect and without Kinect is $100, the cost of Kinect v2 for Windows is twice as much.
The peripheral will work with voice- and gesture-based applications for Windows, but users can’t speak to Windows with Kinect. Microsoft finalized the hardware in March.
Kinect for Windows director Bob Heddle said the Kinect will allow people to develop innovative touch-free applications. “Both the Kinect sensor and the new Kinect for Windows sensor are being built on a shared set of technologies,” he said. “Just as the new Kinect sensor will bring opportunities for revolutionizing gaming and entertainment, the new Kinect for Windows sensor will revolutionize computing experiences. The precision and intuitive responsiveness that the new platform provides will accelerate the development of voice and gesture experiences on computers.”
Kinect v2 for Windows sensor doesn’t ship with software; it’s intended to be used with Kinect for Windows SDK 2.0 for building applications.
Microsoft is holding a virtual training event on July 15, the same day as the Windows peripheral releases, designed as a “jump start” for any developers looking to use Kinect v2 to enable speech, gesture, and human understanding in applications and experiences.
Source: Microsoft Store via CVG
