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Apple Confirms Acquisition of 3D Body Sensing Firm PrimeSense
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I don't care how good the technology is. For games, all you could use this for is Wii Sports and Zelda sword fighting. For TV control, if you want to look like a fool using an invisible remote control or swatting madly to change channels. For Disneyland and tech shows, it looks cool and gets kids excited.
Ummmm, if Apple bought them, it is valuable to Apple. PrimeSense has much more going on than xbox.
No, the biggest problem with Kinect is Microsoft kept pushing this technology as a huge revolution when it was just a REALLY under-cooked add-on feature to a game console that didn't need it.
I'm glad Apple bought these people. Hopefully Apple can find a good use for this tech, unlike Microsoft who wasted it and crammed it down the throats of us gamers for WAY too long.
$360M is hardly anything to Apple nowadays, but boy did Apple get a steal with the $400M acquisition of NeXT (which included a little bonus of a guy named Steve Jobs).
Ummm, I don't know about that. The X Box One has only been out for a few days.
This new iteration is capable of using hand gestures to control volume, change channels, pause, play, snap windows etc....
Microsoft really gets a lot of negative comments here on this site for no reason.
I like Microsoft and Apple. They are both amazing companies.
Seems like some of you just jet a huge boner when you bash Microsoft and that's just stupid
TV is a large display without keyboard and mouse or even bluetooth in most cases. Managing TV requires additional hardware, that is remote control which can be clunky and get lost easily. Searching for content is also hassle because of these hundreds of mostly useless channels.
AppleTV is not yet there because it still requires iOS device or Apple remote to control it.
So the big Apple TV would probably have something small Apple Tv cannot house and which commands it can't understand - sensors, visual (iSight or PrimeSense) and audio (Siri, mike).
In addition you have to have easily searchable by voice or visually pool of content - and I don't mean those hundreds of useless channels. It is shows themselves, movies, anime, documentaries, news, sports. Its getting close as Apple TV is improving.
For TV in general, something that better go is channels. Channels are just what CD was for music - for few good songs you have to buy 10 crap songs.Channels combine good shows with crap and get paid for all and in addition they get commercials revenue. They also have very costly broadcasting models which just manage the content.
Recording companies are used to be like that. iTunes changed this model forever for music and Apple is wanting to change that for TV too. Find what exactly you want, don't use remote. Of course, current channels are not happy, but this is where its going. Instead of watching a channel managed by TV station, make your own TV program with what you want, when you want and where you want - on any iOS device, not just apple TV. Make it seamlessly integrate with home sensors in general - let the computer chip in Apple Tv manage temperature of your home and monitor air quality (already possible), save energy when you are out, keep safety and maintenance records for home equipment, store security video feeds, keep in touch with you all the time wirelessly (already possible), change the lighting the way you want (already possible), listen to music by AirPlay, manage the speakers and volume by voice, select a playlist for you for all occasions.. you need a specialized computer for your home for that and thats future Apple TV.
Voice controls are by far the most useless.
What's the point of having to shout "volume up” "volume down" while watching a movie? What happens when they're more than one person in the room?
Not to mention that to this day, none of the major voice control products (Siri, Google Now, Kinect) take into account/don't work in multilingual environments such as multicultural families.
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It's for interactive porn. The next big thing indeed. Many people will detest this of course, but around four billion will be sold. You will know what "innovative" really is when you turn the thing on.
"Seems like some of you just jet a huge boner when you bash Microsoft and that's just stupid"
Sad part is, is that's about the only time or way these guys ever get a bonder.
What do you mean the end for Xbox? Have you seen the new XBOX ONE in action? What are you talking about?
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Heh Samsung TV's already do the " I've finally cracked it" Crap. lol
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sure when the base OS is FreeBSD. lol
"sure when the base OS is FreeBSD"
FreeBSD is the kernel, not the OS. NeXT OS is the kernel + all the layers and intellectual property that went to designing and creating the OS. So for $400 million Apple got NeXT OS + Steve Jobs + the team that Jobs put together to create NeXT, who are wicked smart.
So in that respect, it was a steal, not due to the fact that the underlying kernel is open source & free.
And it's still half-baked. Look, Microsoft is a solid company. But let's not overstate the value of the Xbox One hand gesture/voice control utility. 90% of people would still much rather use a conventional remote than the voice controls.
"Xbox, tune to ESPN"
or
*press 206 (or whatever it is for you) on your remote*
One is both quicker and doesn't interrupt any social interaction going on in the room. The other requires you to shout at a box. You do the math.
Wicked Smaaahht.
INTRODUCING: Apple's iHUB... with FACE ID
Fancy a wee bit of idle educated media tech speculation? Huddle up.
First, two observations:
Microsoft initially introduced their new Xbox One game console more as a multipurpose media center and entertainment hub which also happens to play great games than the other way around. Think about why they did that, and then consider that Apple has now acquired the key inventors behind the original Xbox's Kinect 1.0 tech... even though Apple has never shown any interest in launching a game console of its own.
Ever since Steve's intro of the original iPhone, Apple has consistently displayed a pattern of entering a recently emerged product category a bit on the late side, to then soon taking and utterly leading the field. Thanks to a superior design of both the product as well as, especially, the user experience, Apple usually maintains a comfortable lead on its closest competitors for multiple years. It is successful with remarkable consistency at (re-)defining whatever new as well as existing product category it trains its sights on.
Now consider, against this background, Apple's brand new acquisition of PrimeSense. What if the overarching Apple strategy this acquisition fits in is one where Apple tries an end-run on not 1 but 5 product categories in one fell swoop: TV-sets, game consoles, TV content distribution (i.e. cable contracts etc.), all-in-one desktop PCs and internet-enabled home-automation systems?
Imagine a sleek new Apple device. It could be called iHub or such, which like the iPod and iPad before would be Applespeak shorthand for 'entertainment hub', 'media center', 'media console', or so.
Being an Apple device it of course looks like it has been carved in one cut out of a big slab of pure unobtainium. It resembles their 27-inch iMac a lot, but it is thinner, weighs a bit less and comes in a 35 inch version "for bedrooms" (and home offices) and a 55 inch version "for living rooms" (and boardrooms).
Integrated behind the smooth glass of the top bezel, instead of an integrated webcam, is PrimeSense's sensor array... which you will want to use to operate your iHub by voice Siri, of course and gestures... much like people now do through the Kinect 2 on the Xbox One, but without an ugly accessory sticking out of and defacing the top of your sleek TV set and without adding any unsightly dangly wires behind your set too.
Similar to the iPhone 5s' Touch ID, your iHub will come with 'Face ID', which will use facial recognition for security (to unlock access) as well as personalization (personal pre-sets, log-in passwords, etc.) of your and your family's usage of your iHub. Yes, the Kinect 2 enables this kind of stuff in living rooms right now with the Xbox One.
Inside the set, aside from the PrimeSense hardware and fairly decent stereo speakers, you will get both an Apple TV and a nearly fully fledged iMac PC... or more likely an iMac which runs an Apple TV in software. Optional Apple accessories will include a sleek set of wireless add-on speakers + subwoofer for those craving greater audio immersion in their movies and games.
To further differentiate itself from few-trick-ponies like game consoles and TV sets, it will also come with a host of additional built-in sensors including for temperature, air pressure, smoke & gasses, humidity, light levels etc. ... so as to also function as your home automation center for temperature (think NEST thermostat functions), lighting, safety (fire & gasses detection), front-door security camera, baby-monitoring, granny-monitoring, weather station, energy-consumption tracking, internet usage management, posessions tracking etc. etc. And of course you will be able to access all of that functionality (including the DVR functions, if needed) remotely via your connected iPhone and/or iPad when you are away from home. In other words, your iHub will also become the hub for your family's 'Internet-of-things'.
Given that it is a 1.0 device, Apple will, as is its wont in any case, gimp us all a bit yet again and hold back on using truly top-spec components for all features. So the resolution will probably just be regular HD, and the PrimeSense sensor will be roughly equivalent to today's Kinect 2.0. This way, Apple can later introduce a 'Retina Display' iHub which will in fact be a by then regular 4K or UltraHD display and a next-gen PrimeSense sensor array as the 'big new special things' on a future version of the iHub. Per this same rationale, iHub 1.0 will not have a touch-screen and will not be capable of showing content in 3D. Gotta keep some goodies back to make them buy that next version next year!
Net result: we will all be drooling for Apple's new must-have iHub thing: a single, elegant multifunction entertainment hub / media center device that you will use as a TV set, a DVR, a game console, a large-screen PC, and more. And you can use one or more of your iOS devices as second screens, remote controls and (even Wii-like) game controllers.
Why? Why not!? This makes far more sense than speculating that Apple bought PrimeSense to only break into the game console business with a narrowly focused game console pure-play.
Fancy a wee bit of idle educated media tech speculation? Huddle up.
First, two observations:
Microsoft initially introduced their new Xbox One game console more as a multipurpose media center and entertainment hub which also happens to play great games than the other way around. Think about why they did that, and then consider that Apple has now acquired the key inventors behind the original Xbox's Kinect 1.0 tech... even though Apple has never shown any interest in launching a game console of its own.
Ever since Steve's intro of the original iPhone, Apple has consistently displayed a pattern of entering a recently emerged product category a bit on the late side, to then soon taking and utterly leading the field. Thanks to a superior design of both the product as well as, especially, the user experience, Apple usually maintains a comfortable lead on its closest competitors for multiple years. It is successful with remarkable consistency at (re-)defining whatever new as well as existing product category it trains its sights on.
Now consider, against this background, Apple's brand new acquisition of PrimeSense. What if the overarching Apple strategy this acquisition fits in is one where Apple tries an end-run on not 1 but 5 product categories in one fell swoop: TV-sets, game consoles, TV content distribution (i.e. cable contracts etc.), all-in-one desktop PCs and internet-enabled home-automation systems?
Imagine a sleek new Apple device. It could be called iHub or such, which like the iPod and iPad before would be Applespeak shorthand for 'entertainment hub', 'media center', 'media console', or so.
Being an Apple device it of course looks like it has been carved in one cut out of a big slab of pure unobtainium. It resembles their 27-inch iMac a lot, but it is thinner, weighs a bit less and comes in a 35 inch version "for bedrooms" (and home offices) and a 55 inch version "for living rooms" (and boardrooms).
Integrated behind the smooth glass of the top bezel, instead of an integrated webcam, is PrimeSense's sensor array... which you will want to use to operate your iHub by voice Siri, of course and gestures... much like people now do through the Kinect 2 on the Xbox One, but without an ugly accessory sticking out of and defacing the top of your sleek TV set and without adding any unsightly dangly wires behind your set too.
Similar to the iPhone 5s' Touch ID, your iHub will come with 'Face ID', which will use facial recognition for security (to unlock access) as well as personalization (personal pre-sets, log-in passwords, etc.) of your and your family's usage of your iHub. Yes, the Kinect 2 enables this kind of stuff in living rooms right now with the Xbox One.
Inside the set, aside from the PrimeSense hardware and fairly decent stereo speakers, you will get both an Apple TV and a nearly fully fledged iMac PC... or more likely an iMac which runs an Apple TV in software. Optional Apple accessories will include a sleek set of wireless add-on speakers + subwoofer for those craving greater audio immersion in their movies and games.
To further differentiate itself from few-trick-ponies like game consoles and TV sets, it will also come with a host of additional built-in sensors including for temperature, air pressure, smoke & gasses, humidity, light levels etc. ... so as to also function as your home automation center for temperature (think NEST thermostat functions), lighting, safety (fire & gasses detection), front-door security camera, baby-monitoring, granny-monitoring, weather station, energy-consumption tracking, internet usage management, posessions tracking etc. etc. And of course you will be able to access all of that functionality (including the DVR functions, if needed) remotely via your connected iPhone and/or iPad when you are away from home. In other words, your iHub will also become the hub for your family's 'Internet-of-things'.
Given that it is a 1.0 device, Apple will, as is its wont in any case, gimp us all a bit yet again and hold back on using truly top-spec components for all features. So the resolution will probably just be regular HD, and the PrimeSense sensor will be roughly equivalent to today's Kinect 2.0. This way, Apple can later introduce a 'Retina Display' iHub which will in fact be a by then regular 4K or UltraHD display and a next-gen PrimeSense sensor array as the 'big new special things' on a future version of the iHub. Per this same rationale, iHub 1.0 will not have a touch-screen and will not be capable of showing content in 3D. Gotta keep some goodies back to make them buy that next version next year!
Net result: we will all be drooling for Apple's new must-have iHub thing: a single, elegant multifunction entertainment hub / media center device that you will use as a TV set, a DVR, a game console, a large-screen PC, and more. And you can use one or more of your iOS devices as second screens, remote controls and (even Wii-like) game controllers.
Why? Why not!? This makes far more sense than speculating that Apple bought PrimeSense to only break into the game console business with a narrowly focused game console pure-play.
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Well I for one think Kinect is a good feature. Yes the V1 might be a tad basic but in general its good fun for games that involve kids and on the new one it looks like it is going to be far more useful in racing games and the like (looking at some of the Demos online and on TV). At the end of the day the first iPhone was IMO lacking too so you can't realy bash MS for trying. MS took the risk and I think it is now starting to pay off, I would buy an Xbox rather than a Playstation because of this alone so they have at least 2 sales (360 and one) because of the tech.
As for Voice control, Siri is a joke and so is the Xbox tech especially with those who have accents, so for those bashing the Xbox version just remember they are not the only one to jump on the bandwagon.
EDIT: just adding I don't usually stick up for MS but felt some people were being a bit harsh!
As for Voice control, Siri is a joke and so is the Xbox tech especially with those who have accents, so for those bashing the Xbox version just remember they are not the only one to jump on the bandwagon.
EDIT: just adding I don't usually stick up for MS but felt some people were being a bit harsh!
Your drawn out arguments flawed. You are assuming Apple will go into the gaming sector due to the acquisition of a company whose product Microsoft have used. The flaw is assuming the acquired companies only assets were what Microsoft used and for the same purpose.
They designed the Kinect tech years ago who knows what they now have that Apple has access to for various products.
True, the Xbox One has been out for only a few days. However, the two games that heavily use its new Kinect peripheral (Zoo Tycoon and The Fighter Within) have gotten pretty bad reviews. And yes, hand gestures for controlling the UI when doing things like watching TV usually work pretty well, as does the facial-recognition software.
But to me, that's just another reason why I think Kinect is wasted on a game console; it's not good for gaming. You have no tactile feedback, no zero point to work from or come back to, and no means of digital input. I think id Software co-founder John Carmack said it best, the Kinect is like a mouse with no buttons and a lot of latency, and that's a very poor form of input when playing games. It could certainly have much more practical applications in navigating a computer interface or a television interface.
And I don't get a stiffie when I rip on Microsoft. I want Microsoft to keep providing competition in the marketplace, and I genuinely wanted Kinect to succeed as a product ever since I first saw it in 2009, even though I was extremely skeptical of how ambitious it was back then. My beef is with the fact that Microsoft has been pushing this supposedly magical experience on the wrong audience for far too long. Core and hardcore gamers far and wide don't like the Kinect. Casual gamers may enjoy it, but for the rest of us, it's something we'd rather not deal with and rather not pay for.
FreeBSD actually is a complete operating system: Kernel AND user land. Nextstep actually only took the user land and replaced the original FreeBSD kernel with a Mach kernel. The original Windows NT also used a Mach architecture.
Mach was all the hype back then; but it didn't take long for reality to kick in and show all the negative side effects of the Mach architecture like huge performance and synchronization issues. Beach ball of Death, anyone?
Not really. The software that they got from Next was something that wasn't even called MacOS X. And even if it had been shippable, it would have sunk the company because there was no way everyone was going to re-write their apps for Cocoa immediately in 2000. What you see now is the result of 12 or more years work by Apple. $400 million was quite reasonable.
You should know better than that. It has nothing to do with the operating system at all, it is applications doing time consuming things on the main thread.
can you imagine if they implemented motion tracking into their ipad/mac products? control stuff with your hands? flip pages with your fingers?
this is what will happen. they will adquire primesense, develop something and say at the keynote: "we were developing this for years!!!"