Microsoft launches Kinect in China

Updated: 2012-10-09 15:14

(China Daily)

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Microsoft Corp unveiled its gaming gadget Kinect for Windows in China on Tuesday, but mainly target at professional developers at the initial stage.

The product is sold on 360buy.com, a leading online shopping mall for consumer electronics, at 1,930 yuan ($306). But right now the product is currently for commercial developers only for them to test and develop applications and solutions, not as a game equipment for Xbox 360 video game console for consumers.

Kinect is a motion-sensing entertainment device developed for the Xbox 360 by Microsoft, equipped with a webcam-style camera that allows players to control and interact with a game without the use of a console.

The device can capture the motion and facial expression of players with 3D technology and present a natural user interface.

In the beginning of September, Craig Eisler, head of the Kinect team, at Microsoft wrote in the official blog for Kinect for Windows that Kinect Windows version will be launched in China in October.

Besides China, the product will also be seen in Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary and Poland this autumn.

In February, Microsoft officially put the popular peripheral of Xbox 360 into Windows PC.

Craig Eisler said that by the year end, Kinect for Windows will be available in 38 countries and regions. At present, the retail price outside China is $249.

On Tuesday, Microsoft also announced the latest version of Microsoft Kinect SDK (Software Development Kit), with more new features, aiming to provide Chinese developers and commercial researchers with necessary tools and support to develop applications based on Kinect for Windows.

Zhang Yaqin, corporate vice-president with Microsoft Corp and chairman of Microsoft Asia-Pacific R&D Group, said in his microblog: "I believe that more developers and enterprises will be aware of the profound opportunities of commercial applications when implementing Kinect natural user interface in a Window environment."