After giving enticing sneak peeks and making attempts to woo end-users and developers for quite some time now, the Kinect for Windows has finally set a date for its debut. In addition to this, the device is also up for pre-order at Amazon.
A recent post on the Kinect for Windows blog reveals that the gadget is expected to hit markets on February 1 this year. Another post seen late last year on the same blog had hinted at a 2012 release for the system. The announcement made by the company in November through the same medium, saw the manufacturers giving out a glimpse of the new Windows-suitable functions that the system is ready to exhibit, considering its PC compatibility.
“We have chosen a hardware-only business model for Kinect for Windows, which means that we will not be charging for the SDK or the runtime; these will be available free to developers and end-users respectively. As an independent developer, IT manager, systems integrator, or ISV, you can innovate with confidence knowing that you will not pay license fees for the Kinect for Windows software or the ongoing software updates, and the Kinect for Windows hardware you and your customers use is supported by Microsoft,†wrote Craig Eisler, General Manager, Kinect for Windows on the aforementioned blog.
Apart from being capable of synchronizing with Windows 7 and 8 developer preview, the product will also support voice and gesture on Windows Embedded-based devices. The company says that it will develop this venture in a manner that will easily allow other manufacturers and developers to contribute to this innovation.
Kinect for Windows price tag reads $249 (approx. Rs. 13,000) and it will roll out in countries like the U.S., Spain, France, Italy, Ireland, Canada, and some more when it launches next month. Later this year, Microsoft also plans to offer this product to qualified educational users at a discounted academic price of $149 (approx. Rs. 7,780).
