Microsoft's ill-fated Kinect failed to overcome the challenges of the gaming space, despite its impressive motion tracking capabilities. And while Kinect production halted in late 2017, Microsoft is bringing its technology forward for a second run in the business world.
At Microsoft's 2019 Mobile World Congress (MWC) keynote in Barcelona, the firm unveiled a new "Azure Kinect" sensor alongside HoloLens 2, pushing its computer vision technology outside the living room.
The Azure Kinect developer kit packs a 12MP RGB camera alongside a spatial 7-microphone array and orientation sensor. It pairs with a 1MP depth camera with both wide and narrow views individually, with multiple devices capable of providing an improved "panoramic understanding" of environments. And with USB-C connectivity, the new developer kit extends compatibility across Windows 10 and Ubuntu systems.
Early adopters at DataMesh, AVA retail, and Ocuvera all presented initial impressions of the device, praising its depth and audio technologies, and flexibility across industries.
The Azure Kinect development kit has now hit the Microsoft Store and is available for preorder. Priced at $399, preorders are slated to ship on June 27, 2019.
Reborn for Azure
Azure Kinect DK
Microsoft's new Azure sensor gets its developer kit.
Azure Kinect DK is a developer kit and PC peripheral that contains a best-in-class 1MP depth camera, 360˚ microphone array, 12MP RGB camera, and orientation sensor for building advanced computer vision and speech models.
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
Call of Duty: Vanguard feels tired, handing Halo Infinite an opportunity
Call of Duty: Vanguard is shaping up to be a weak entry in the annualized shooter franchise; can Halo Infinite and Battlefield 2042 capitalize?
The semiconductor crisis is worsening and industries are clashing
Countries and companies are scrambling to boost chip output and combat the ever-worsening global semiconductor shortage. However, solutions aren't materializing fast enough to avoid having entire industries at each other's throats.
Halo Infinite: These are the weapons you can use during the beta
There are plenty of tools of destruction that players have at their disposal during the Halo Infinite beta testing. Here's a complete list of every weapon you can pick up and use.
The best Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers you can buy
Mesh routers can cover fast Wi-Fi connections over a wide area. Here are the best ones to suit all of your needs.