Finally, after a bit of waiting since June when we first heard about the name of Kinect, now the device has launched!

It’s been sold widely in many online retailers including Newegg, Amazon and Buy.com which all pricing set on stone at $149.99. This price is the value that you have to pay to get the new revolutionary wireless controller (where YOU are the Controller!) plus one free game “Kinect Adventures”.

We have done a quite complete of Kinect coverage so I invite you to dig into the archive of Kinect if you want to look at the history. For all the details and the review, Engadget who’s lucky enough to get their first real test out with the real Kinect (sent to them 1 week ago) has written a lengthy (but useful) review of this new Kinect. If you haven’t pre-order from the first place, you can read them as your guidance before jumping in.

The Kinect is available in several bundles, including the bundling with their beloved Xbox 360 Slim 4GB or Xbox 360 Slim 250GB, or you can get the Kinect alone with the free game.

You’d probably have no need to get the Xbox 360 slim if you have already got your own phat Xbox 360 console. So just get which one fit you the best and enjoy the next generation of motion controller without controller!

Microsoft Kinect Launched! Have You Got Yours?
Visit HardwareSphere for more Hot Hardware and Cool Gadgets!
Copyright © 2008-2009 HardwareSphere.com.
(Digital Fingerprint: 898923c3c23813b1a2cd8206318d2f89)

Even the Kinect is not yet released, we can now see what’s in the ‘box’ and go deeper to understand how Kinect works. This chance was provided by Microsoft themselves to the crews over at T3 so they can figure out how’s this new toy works.

According to the explanation, Microsoft Kinect has three important parts: the movement tracking sensor, Voice recognition sensor and lastly the Motor that would self-calibrate to a specific gaming requirements.

The Movement tracking itself is using a IR VGA camera and a laser that detect the field of play using depth field technology, where it can distinguish our body from a non-moving furniture. Once Kinect detected our body, it will transform the data into a skeleton with moving joints and preloaded with up to 200 common poses as a substitution when a gasp (e.g. out of focus) between the camera and your body appear.

Looks like quite a nice hardware with high technology. However, For $150, this could a costly accessory. There is still a problem with the delays between our body what the character inside the screen that could be possibly an annoy factor that Microsoft has to solved before gamers can actually enjoy the ‘live’ performance of controller-less gaming experience.

[Via Geek, T3]

The Inside View Of Microsoft Kinect
Visit HardwareSphere for more Hot Hardware and Cool Gadgets!
Copyright © 2008-2009 HardwareSphere.com.
(Digital Fingerprint: 898923c3c23813b1a2cd8206318d2f89)

Everybody can do their guessing, some said Kinect is going to cost $100 or less, while those thick wallet people said it might cost a little bit offer $200 with bundle. But Microsoft stay quite to those fluctuation and going ahead announcing the official pricing for their Kinect the new controller-less toy.

It appears $149.99 is the final pricing, where it’s going to hit the States soon with that price tag. When you are getting the bundle (Xbox 360 Slim + Kinect), it will cost you $300 in total. No idea if you will get free game in the bundle, but if you get Kinect alone, you will get one free game for testing out the Kinect.

[via PC World]

Microsoft Kinect: Official Price is $149.99, A Final Price
Visit HardwareSphere for more Hot Hardware and Cool Gadgets!
Copyright © 2008-2009 HardwareSphere.com.
(Digital Fingerprint: 898923c3c23813b1a2cd8206318d2f89)

This information was whispered by Edge, the global gaming network. They said that Microsoft latest toy, or the Project Natal is going to hit the store on October 26th, 2010. If purchasing the Project Natal alone is your choice, it has a one time cost of $149, or if you are going to buy another Xbox 360 for your household, the bundle deal would set you down at $299 (US pricing only).

“Microsoft expects to sell millions and millions of Natal units in its first year on the market so you can expect the software launch line-up to target non-traditional gamers,” our source said. “A major marketing campaign will also play a key role in attracting and educating the expanded audience about Xbox 360’s controller-free revolution.”

Beside the price, there is a rumor floating in the blogosphere about the real retail name of the Project Natal. Natal is not the final retail name, and you should be able to get the details on the upcoming E3 exhibition.

[via Edge]

Microsoft’s Project Natal Hit Store on October, Cost $149 a Pop
Visit HardwareSphere for more Hot Hardware and Cool Gadgets!
Copyright © 2008-2009 HardwareSphere.com.
(Digital Fingerprint: 898923c3c23813b1a2cd8206318d2f89)

We have covered that Microsoft Project Natal is coming soon on this year’s holidays, but people are still guessing whether it’s a summer holidays or Christmas holiday. Well, if you are also guessing around, you can rest you mind in peace now because Microsoft Executive in Saudi Arabia has stood up and confirmed that their Project Natal will launch in October 2010 (though there is no exact date revealed yet).

This is a great news, for the 5-year old console to get a new interesting accessory may just revive the market and boost sales. I’ve also heard that LG will bundle up with Xbox 360 offering a 3G gaming with their 3D screen on Xbox 360. It might interesting to see if Project Natal can work on 3D environment or not.

[via Product Review]

Probability: Microsoft Project Natal Coming on October 2010
Visit HardwareSphere for more Hot Hardware and Cool Gadgets!
Copyright © 2008-2009 HardwareSphere.com.
(Digital Fingerprint: 898923c3c23813b1a2cd8206318d2f89)

So it turned out the rumor about Xbox 360 Slim edition is getting another buzz. Fancy analysts at Wedbush Morgan, predicted that on this holidays time (perhaps fall or Christmas) you will see a new Xbox 360 bundle that is coming with the new Slim Xbox 360, 250GB HDD, and Project Natal built-in.

No idea if it also bundled with some Natal compatible games or not, but the prediction is Microsoft will keep the price value at $299. It sounds like a great deal because new buyer will be interested to buy Xbox 360 instead of PS3 slim because of the Project Natal.

Unless Sony is kind enough to drop their PS3 price and add-up a set of free Playstation Move, buyers will pass-by Playstation 3 and buy Microsoft’s new gimmick.

[via Crunchgear]

Prediction: Xbox 360 Slim Down with Project Natal Bundle
Visit HardwareSphere for more Hot Hardware and Cool Gadgets!
Copyright © 2008-2009 HardwareSphere.com.
(Digital Fingerprint: 898923c3c23813b1a2cd8206318d2f89)

Finally, we have got some real update on Microsoft Project Natal. The image above is considered as a non-official image of the latest prototype for Microsoft Project Natal. Mounted on Gorillapod, this prototype is the Natal hardware gave by Microsoft to game developers, so they can create games based upon the motion sensing technology on Project Natal.

Microsoft Project Natal is using one RGB camera, one depth sensor, a multi-array microphone and a custom processor. Similar to what we have heard, Project Natal will be able to track gamer movement in the 3D manner, while it also can respond to spoken commands.

There is no detail about the release date yet. However, if you go to Microsoft Project Natal Page, the big ‘Coming – HOLIDAY 2010′ statement.

[via Siliconera]

Microsoft Project Natal Hardware Prototype [Non-Official Image]
Visit HardwareSphere for more Hot Hardware and Cool Gadgets!
Copyright © 2008-2009 HardwareSphere.com.
(Digital Fingerprint: 898923c3c23813b1a2cd8206318d2f89)

After the big show-off at E3 exhibition, Project Natal by Microsoft seems to remain calm and no further updates regarding the device. However, someone has managed to capture what’s actually happened in the backstage where Microsoft is getting gamers to test some games with their Project Natal system. These include Half Life 2 game play and Geometry Wars which you can watch them below:

I thought nothing will happen before 2010, but this leaked at this year end last minutes, it proved Microsoft is working hard on this project Natal underground. Although Sony PS3 says that they will launch their Wii-like Motion controller earlier in Spring 2010, Microsoft’s still got the chance to change the way we interact with our games in the future.

Play Games with Project Natal Controls [Video]
Visit HardwareSphere for more Hot Hardware and Cool Gadgets!
Copyright © 2008-2009 HardwareSphere.com.
(Digital Fingerprint: 898923c3c23813b1a2cd8206318d2f89)

Finally, after a long wait for the detail information about Microsoft Xbox 360 Project Natal, we have more news regarding this revolutionary gaming peripheral. Reported by Roland at Geeky Gadgets, Project Natal for Xbox 360 is going to go on sale worldwide in November 2010 under a very reasonable price tag.

This information was first received by British trade site MCV from some gaming industry source. The leak said that [probably a rumor] Microsoft will be manufacturing 5 millions of Project Natal as the kick start in the global market, with each package will cost user a mere $80 with up to 14 supportive games for the device.

If this rumor turns out to be true, I’m sure Microsoft is going to make a killing in the next Christmas season as $80 is affordable for most of the household who owns a Xbox 360.

[Source Kotaku, Gizmodo]

Microsoft Xbox 360 Project Natal Detail Leaked
Visit HardwareSphere for more Hot Hardware and Cool Gadgets!
Copyright © 2008-2009 HardwareSphere.com.
(Digital Fingerprint: 898923c3c23813b1a2cd8206318d2f89)

Nintendo Wii Wireless motion control has inspired lots of the competitor to create their own version of motion controller. One of them is Microsoft who recently unveiled their own “Project Natal”, which is a revolutionary new way to play games without controller.

With this Project Natal, gamer can use many new way to interact with the game. It’s all thanks to the 3D motion sensing, which is far better than Nintendo Wii’s technology. The motion sensing is including facial, voice, hands, body, or even by shaking your hips. This is interesting because playing game will become another type of exercise for gamer. It will invite more healthy gamer in the future instead of overweight gamers.

Watch the following Demo Videos from Microsoft for more detail:

More:

(via 2DayBlog, GadgetLite, Coated, Coolest Gadgets, CrunchGear)

Microsoft Project Natal for XBox 360
Visit HardwareSphere for more Hot Hardware and Cool Gadgets!
Copyright © 2008-2009 HardwareSphere.com.
(Digital Fingerprint: 898923c3c23813b1a2cd8206318d2f89)