Microsoft’s second generation Kinect for Windows is now available for pre-order. The first units will ship on July 15.
The first limited batch of Kinect for Windows v2 devices has been put up on the Microsoft Store website, along with pricing details. It will cost £159 here in the UK, and $199 in the US.
It’s been more than two years since the first Kinect for Windows sensor bar launched, offering Windows users the chance to control their games and select apps without a controller.
Kinect for Windows v2 is based on the second generation unit that was, until recently, packaged with every Xbox One console.
It offers a host of improvements such as a much sharper 1080p camera capable of picking up even more detail, infrared technology for low-light operation, and vastly improved response times. The new Kinect also features four microphones for picking up voice commands more accurately.
Kinect for Windows v2 will plug into your PC via USB 3.0, and requires a hub box and a separate power supply to run.
"The Kinect for Windows v2 sensor gives developers more of the precision, responsiveness, and intuitive capabilities they need to develop interactive voice and gesture-based applications," said Microsoft on a recent blog post.
Developers will be able to use Kinect for Windows v2 in conjunction with the Kinect for Windows SDK 2.0 to create Windows Store apps with Kinect functionality for the first time. This new SDK will be launched as a public beta in July.
While this initial batch appears to be a limited run aimed at developers, Microsoft claims that the device will be "available for general purchase later this year."
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