Kinect for Windows uses a new Kinect camera

[jkipp82]

Microsoft's Kinect for Windows program doesn't just involve new firmware for PCs.

There will be a new version of the Kinect hardware designed for Windows, with "improvements" like a shorter USB cable ("to ensure reliability across a broad range of computers") and a smaller USB dongle to better share space.

The firmware includes support for a new "Near Mode," designed to see objects as close as 50 centimeters away from the camera ("with graceful degradation down to 40 centimeters," Windows Kinect GM Craig Eisler notes). It makes sense for a device you would use while sitting at the computer.

In advance of the Kinect for Windows launch (early 2012), Microsoft has launched the "Kinect Accelerator" program, which will give $20,000 each to ten startups using Kinect, along with Microsoft development tools, "marketing visibility" and mentoring.

[CloudStrife7x]

well i dont like the kinect that much anyways lol so this but this does sound interesting, nice share jkipp :)

[RyuKakashi]

I wonder if any of the physical hardware is any different and if plugging it into a 360 would give the same benefit of the near mode.

Otherwise I think it's a bit pointless to split their production and packaging but I suppose they already do that with the pc/360 controllers.