While a lot of the hardware related to Microsoft’s next Xbox has already been allegedly leaked, not much information has been reported when it comes to the next generation of the Kinect motion-sensing camera, until now.
It looks like Kinect 2.0 has now been leaked courtesy of Vgleaks. Keep in mind that this is all just a rumor at this point, and should be taken with a grain of salt.
The image directly above this paragraph breaks down the old features of Kinect versus what is different, including improved color-streaming and the use of USB 3.0 technology.
It also looks like they removed something in Kinect 2.0 as well: the motor that helps the camera automatically tilt up and down. This was likely taken away because it has limited use and costs additionally money.
While I have no doubt that the next Xbox will have strong integration features with Windows 8/RT and Windows Phone 8 devices, I have to wonder about Kinect’s relationship with Windows.
Not that terribly long ago we heard great things about the future of Kinect, not just on the entertainment console but on the PC, laptop and even tablet given time.
Time has no passed and we’ve heard very little about Kinect for the PC.
Where in the World is Kinect for PC?
Don’t get me wrong, you can certainly go buy Kinect for PC right now. It is listed on Amazon and other places. That’s not the issue, the problem is lack of support.
Considering the near-gimmick level of hype for Kinect in the first place, you think Microsoft would have really ran with this. Windows 8 Media PCs that utilize Kinect out of the box and have new Windows 8 Store apps that are made specifically for the Kinect? Sounds like a good plan.
Yet it isn’t happening. So far, most of the Kinect for Windows projects have been in the commercial and enterprise level.
Some of these ideas have been awesome, but I truly think that Kinect has tons of potential for living room Windows 8 machines and even for the main computer in your household.
It seems that Microsoft is sitting on something with potential here, but it could be that they just see the bigger picture.
Perhaps they feel that positioning the Kinect as a living room accessory alongside a Windows 8 PC, they would be cannibalizing the next-gen Xbox’s sales?
This is especially true if the next Xbox comes even closer to providing a true computing and entertainment experience than the current gen, which I believe it will.
Why do you think that Xbox for PC has yet to take off in a big way? Just not enough demand or merely Microsoft holding in back in order to focus on Kinect for Xbox? Let us know what you think in the comment section below.
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Please put “rumor” in the Title so I don’t have to waist my time clicking and reading something that is most likely fiction.