Where is the new Kinect for Windows software and hardware available?Kinect for Windows is currently available in the following 38 markets.
| Australia | Japan |
| Austria | Korea |
| Belgium | Mexico |
| Brazil | Netherlands |
| Canada | New Zealand |
| Chile | Norway |
| China | Poland |
| Colombia | Portugal |
| Czech Republic | Russia |
| Denmark | Saudi Arabia |
| Finland | Singapore |
| France | South Africa |
| Germany | Spain |
| Greece | Sweden |
| Hong Kong SAR | Switzerland |
| Hungary | Taiwan |
| India | United Arab Emirates |
| Ireland | United Kingdom |
| Italy | United States |
We are working to bring the Kinect for Windows program to as many markets as possible and will update as we scale this program out even more broadly. Keep up to date on regional availability.
How much does the software and hardware cost?The license to the Kinect for Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) is free, and there are no fees for runtime licenses for commercial applications developed with this SDK. The runtime license requires the use of the Kinect for Windows sensor. This sensor is available at a suggested list price of US$249 in most countries where Kinect for Windows resellers are available. Learn where to purchase Kinect for Windows hardware.
What's the difference between the Kinect for Windows sensor and the Kinect for Xbox 360 sensor?The Kinect for Windows sensor is a fully-tested and supported Kinect experience on Windows with features such as “near mode,” skeletal tracking control, API improvements, and improved USB support across a range of Windows computers and Windows-specific 10’ acoustic models.
The sensor was specifically designed to be used with computers, and includes a shortened USB cable to ensure reliability across a broad range of computers. Kinect for Xbox 360 was built for and tested with the Xbox 360 only, not with any other platform, which is why it is not licensed for general commercial use, supported, or under warranty when used on any other platform.
What is Near Mode? Near Mode enables the depth sensor to see objects as close as 40 centimeters and also communicates more information about depth values outside the range than was previously available. There is also improved synchronization between color and depth, mapping depth to color, and a full frame API.
Does Near Mode change the field of view?Near Mode is a function in Kinect for Windows that enables the depth camera to see objects as close as 40 centimeters in front of the sensor while maintaining accuracy and precision.
What are the API improvements in Kinect for Windows? Many improvements were made to the API, providing consistency and ease of development. We've added several new APIs with which developers can build better experiences for devices running Windows. For example, we now have a faster way to map between the depth image and color image. This enables new scenarios to come to life, such as green screening and 3-D point clouds. Developers using the beta versions of the SDK who want access to these improvements will need to update their code to the current version of the SDK.
What features and functionality are new in Kinect for Windows SDK 1.7?The latest release streamlines the development process and provides improvements to developer tools. It includes several new features for developers and end users alike, with potential benefits for industries such as retail, healthcare, and education.
Kinect Fusion
One of the most affordable tools available today for creating accurate 3-D renderings, Kinect Fusion fuses together multiple snapshots from the Kinect for Windows sensor to create full 3-D models in real time.
Kinect Interactions
Enable even more intuitive and engaging gesture experiences, with additions such as:
Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) Controls, which enable interactions like “push” to select virtual objects, “grip” to pan and scroll selection, and open and close hand recognition.
Interaction Stream, which enables the development of more complex applications that can recognize four hand pointers, allowing two people to interact with both hands simultaneously.
Updated Human Interaction Guide, which provides best practices to help develop more consistent end user experiences, and solutions to issues that developers have encountered.
OpenCV and MATLAB Samples
Samples help developers build advanced Kinect for Windows applications by using industry standard libraries.
Kinect for Windows Code Samples
Now available on the CodePlex open-source website, along with additional resources and scenarios to facilitate application development.
Read the full summary of what’s new in v1.7
Can I use the Kinect for Windows SDK with my Kinect for Xbox 360? The Kinect for Windows SDK has been designed for the Kinect for Windows hardware and application development is only licensed with use of the Kinect for Windows sensor. We do not recommend the use of Kinect for Xbox 360 in the development of Kinect for Windows applications. Developers should plan to transition to Kinect for Windows hardware for development purposes and should expect that their users will also be using Kinect for Windows hardware.
Which device categories are compatible with Kinect for Windows? Kinect for Windows is designed to operate on computers equipped with Windows 7, specialized devices running Windows Embedded Standard 7 or Windows Embedded Enterprise, and Windows 8 desktop applications. Due to the processing requirements, some older computers may not support the Kinect for Windows sensor or some of the software capabilities; newer machines should be fine. Minimum specification is a dual-core 2.4 GHz computer with a dedicated USB 2.0 controller and 2 GB RAM.
What's the relationship between Kinect for Windows and Windows Embedded? Windows Embedded Standard 7 and Windows Embedded POSReady 7 are operating systems designed for developers to create advanced commercial and consumer devices running thousands of existing Windows applications and drivers. Windows Embedded compatibility gives developers the ability to use Kinect for Windows in this environment and paves the way for an exciting future for applications to come.
What are some of the foreseeable uses for Kinect for Windows on Windows Embedded-based devices?We envision a myriad of ways to use Kinect for Windows on Windows Embedded-based devices connected across intelligent systems. From the healthcare industry to industrial automation and manufacturing to interactive digital signage for retail and more, Kinect technology helps increase ease of use, reduce training time, and make employee and customer experiences more enjoyable—creating new, user-centric data that yields greater insight into customer and employee needs.
What is the Kinect for Windows Testing and Adoption Program (TAP)? The Kinect for Windows Testing and Adoption Program (TAP) was intended to serve as an enabler to deliver new technology to partners and ensure that this software meets their needs, based on their feedback. We received an overwhelming response from companies, governments, and institutions worldwide. More than 300 companies, across more than 25 industries and more than 25 countries got involved in an early adopters program before our February 1, 2012, launch.
What are some of the companies involved in the TAP program? Major global companies, which are part of the TAP program, like Boeing, Coca-Cola, Citibank, General Electric Healthcare Group, Konami, Mattel, Telefonica, and Nissan are exploring the Kinect for Windows platform for use in their businesses.