Microsoft will begin aiding Kinect hackers by releasing a software development kit to help programmers build Kinect compatible programs for Windows PCs. Releasing a toolkit for hackers is a far-cry from what we normally see from game companies who often sue gamers who mod consoles. The toolkit is expected to be released sometime in the coming months.
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Microsoft has shipped more than 8 million Kinect motion sensing cameras. Hackers quickly figured out how to manipulate the camera to be used with custom software and in existing games. Each time one of these Kinect hacks gets posted online it seems to go viral; we've certainly posted our fair share on TheFeed.
Do you think Microsoft will charge for the Kinect toolkit? If they don't, what could their motivation be for encouraging people to create software for their device?
Source: Wall Street Journal
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sabretooth
what microsoft is brilliant. with this dev kit they are releasing they are essentially get free product development and applications made for them with almost no effort on their part. all microsoft has to do is sit back and buy and license the cream of the crop that these dev teams create. it makes tremendous financial sense. instead of invest millions in program development and research microsoft is lettting you do the work for them. we will see some very cool things come out of this and maybe microsoft will incorporate them in future products and projects. it's now become a programmers jackpot.
wh0urdady
This isnt really hacking, basically they are giving away a development toolkit, so other people can come up with new uses for the hardware, a traditional term for the word hacker is someone who just sits down and codes without using a development design. Basically by this term of hacking used by microsoft they just wanted people to use the software on PC
jnite
Microsoft's motivation is that this opens another venue for the Kinect. I've never cared about the Kinect when it comes to games, but the possibilities of using it with my PC interest me. By making the toolkit free, they are encouraging people to buy a Kinect for their 360 and/or their PC.
joshualwilliams1981
stop thinking about the 360 and PS3 hackers, this is totally different. The article is referring to PC applications using the Kinect as a device, which has been happening since it's release.
ricosan
The Kinect's possibilities were laid out in the beginning and "hackers" are exploiting it for the good. I wouldn't go so far to call them hackers tho... It's like a game developer who leaves the door open for level designers and modders who know Maya or 3DS to make an awesome mod or level using the supplied engine then supplying them with a toolkit (Cliffy B.).
The Kinect brings control of electronics to a whole new level; not just games. The Netflix control coming out was sweet at CES. Soon enough, we won't need a remote control for our home entertainment which opens the door to more. Much love, "hackers"!
joshualwilliams1981
I think it's awesome that Microsoft is helping "MODDERS" but I think the title of this post is totally false. These people aren't "Hackers" per say, so dismiss the connotation.
Open source is something that the console community will never understand, and will never be available to you due to folks like Sony and Microsoft and they're stringent anti-piract/DRM "Punish The Customer" tactics.
Check out MODDB.com sometime.
I think it's great that the toolkit will be available for anyone to write their own kinect products and am really excited to see what the community comes up with.
Selatcia
It seems fairly straightforward why Microsoft would want to allow people to find novel uses for Kinect. The more applications their hardware has, the more sales they will get. Allowing people to innovate with their hardware will only drive sales up for them.
carlos0981
@lucidity
Funny, that potential you are talking about, I see nothing but a gimmick. I think its funny how every one thinks that this hacks are so great, but they are all of either really old games, or they need something like a Wii mote in order to function properly, but whatever.
As far as the hackers, we have a problem with them on the 360 as well, is not just the PS3. But that whole players unbanning themselves, and banning innocent players?, I call BS on that, that's just a rumor, a nasty one at that, but nothing more than a rumor created by some angry cheating hackers, because they got pinched, and their hero Geohot is about to loose his little case.
I support Sony in this, just as I would if Microsoft would do something like these, at least pretend like they're trying to get rid of the hackers.
bigheadzach
Hacking a Kinect doesn't immediately imply a desire to cheat at games. Jailbreaking an entire PS3, on the other hand, is usually to do malicious/fraudulent things in the name of "my e-peen is bigger" or "I get my rocks off ruining others' good times."
I wonder if Sony would let people hack the Move.
topgamer101
In the grand scheme of things, I hate hackers.
For everyone 1 person that does something interesting, there are at least 3 or more that use it for grief or other distasteful things. Personally it's up to the companies to decide what to do about their product.
GlobalV
I think this is an unbelievable move by Microsoft. I think they're saying, "Look, basically our system is being hacked for other uses. Instead of trying to curb the hacking, lets differentiate ourselves in the market and openly promote the hacking."
Especially since PS3 is in the news in their modding case, I think this has to be a tremendous business move on their part. I also believe that Microsoft has to be somewhat surprised by what people have been able to do with Kinect, and are showing that appreciation. And who knows, someone out there could create an unbelievable hack with Kinect, and this could become free R&D for Microsoft. Its a win/win, hands down.
Liquid Swords
Someone has to make something good for Kinect with no buttons since M$ can't.
lucidity
Hackers are showing the world the potential of Kinect.
Meanwhile on the PS3, banned modders are using the jailbreak to unban themselves and and put their ban on other innocent gamers.
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