Analysis: Microsoft releases Kinect for Windows SDK beta

Kinect for Windows SDK beta

This is just in: Microsoft has just made available their beta Software Development Kit (SDK) for their Kinect for Windows. With the recent trend of more games that used to be “console only” having sequels that are being developed to include PC (such as Metal Gear Solid Rising in 2012) and game companies we thought would go the “console only” route but didn’t, instead opting to continue to develop titles for PC as well (such as the Assassin’s Creed and Call of Duty series), it’s pretty apparent that the PC platform still stands strong for people who want the ultimate productivity and gaming machine. I think Microsoft is starting to take note and hence released this SDK for Kinect for Windows.

It could also be that Microsoft wants to make Windows ‘more appealing’ versus the various variety of mobile operating systems as well as ‘more fun’ and appealing to the average consumer, to prevent Apple OS X from eroding their marketshare. And there are other practical applications for Kinect such as simulation and action-mirroring remote control of limbed-machines; but I’d say it’s mostly going to appeal to games and gamers.

What’s interesting is this could be the beginning of the end of game consoles, and such a move could be triggered by Microsoft. Microsoft’s XBox 360 has mostly been a game machine and never looked at as a multimedia/all in one entertainment system as much as the Playstation 3. Instead home theater PC’s are Microsoft’s separate answer to Apple TV and Playstation 3′s being used as Blu-ray players. With Microsoft spreading the ‘XBox Live’ branding across to their Windows Phone, could it be that one day we will see the ‘XBox’ brand as nothing more than a feature for conventional Windows and Windows Phone, instead of a make of ‘game consoles’?

It is plausible, since PC’s have always been THE platform for the definitive high-resolution, immersed gaming experience, with increasing PC users hooking up their machines to large TV’s to double as movie watching/couch surfing solutions AND the Xbox 360 being in the market for ages now (and time for a predecessor), now could be a good time for Microsoft to ‘kill off’ Xbox as a piece of hardware, and move the brand to be a ‘gaming ecosystem’ on their phones and desktops/laptops. Also, many mainstream laptops nowadays have more than enough power to beat consoles at detail and frame rate levels, at similar resolutions.

But well, we won’t jump up and down with utter excitement just yet until Microsoft officially reveals their true purpose/intentions/plans for rolling out an SDK for Kinect on Windows, which also begs the question whether we will one day see a similar SDK for Kinect on Mac OS/iOS. Meanwhile, if you’re interested, you can head over to the portal Microsoft has set up for Kinect for Windows SDK, take a look and maybe grab a copy of that SDK if you feel like developing something.

HP Pre 3 “Pre”-orders start, due for July 8 launch

HP Pre 3 pre-order and release in UK

And finally, we have some word on a price tag and release date of the WebOS running HP Pre 3 smartphone, at least for the Brits. UK retailer “Play” has put up the HP Pre 3 on their website for pre-order at £349.99 (about $560), unlocked and contract-free, which gives us a good idea of the HP Pre 3′s price once it lands in other places such as the US (most likely $350 or $400 contract-free). They’re also saying that the phone is due for release in less than a month’s time: July 8. I wish I was in London right now, but for those who are in the UK, mark those calendars.

HP USB Graphics Adapter Review

HP USB Graphics Adapter

Ah the HP USB Graphics Adapter… Let me first mention how delighted I am to have found something like this exists. Here’s the thing: I have an HP EliteBook 8740w that I will have to return in the long term and unfortunately for me, and since beggars can’t be choosers, the one I have here has the older generation Nvidia Quadro FX3800M graphics. And as I recently discovered… well, actually I knew it was gonna happen but I was just wishfully hoping it wouldn’t be the case… that the Quadro FX3800M does not support more than two displays at any one time.

So I found out about adapters that use the Display Link interface. The DisplayLink certified display comes under all sorts of different names, from the HP USB Graphics Adapter to Kensington Multi-Display Adapter, but regardless of name, they basically do the same thing: USB connector at one end, DVI port on the other, and it allows you to hook up an additional monitor to your computer. This really helps if you have just one external monitor port on your computer and/or have a graphics card that cannot support more than two displays at one time (typically, you need an AMD/ATI 5000-series graphics card or higher, or Nvidia mid 2010 model graphics card or newer)… you can finally add a third monitor to your laptop or basic desktop setup, or even six, if you have enough USB ports and CPU horsepower.

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HP updates Pavilion and ProBook models with AMD Llano APUs

The news is out, HP has just announced the addition of AMD’s brand new APUs (a combination of a traditional CPU and graphics processing unit) in some of their existing notebook models.

First a little about AMD Llano chips: they’re made as an answer to Intel’s Sandy Bridge processors. Made using the 32 nm process, they are available in dual and quad core variants that the system can dynamically and automatically scale and overclock when needed, what AMD calls Turbo Core (Think Intel’s Turbo Boost). The processors support USB 3.0, stereoscopic 3D and AMD Wireless Display; certain models also can take 1600 MHz DDR3 RAM (which is fairly fast on a laptop), while the others will go up to 1333 MHz.

They also have built-in AMD HD 6000G series graphics that are quite a bit more powerful even versus Intel’s HD 3000 Integrated graphics, support DirectX 11 and Open CL/Open GL.

TDP ranges from 35W to 45W, with AMD naming their dual core A4 chips (not to be confused with Apple or Audi’s naming conventions!) as direct competitors to Intel’s Core i3 series, A6 chips as competitors to Intel’s Core i3 and lower tier Core i5 while their A8 chips will take on upper tier Core i5 and Core i7. The AMD A6 and A8 chips also feature quad core as standard, with clock speeds ranging from 1.4 to 1.9 GHz (boostable to a range of 2.3 to 2.6 GHz). AMD is claiming very ambitious battery life numbers, ‘up to 10 hours’, for their new chips thanks to improved efficiency and power management.

And now, on to the notebooks… HP has named several notebooks ranging from 14 to 17 inches in screen size to begin sporting these new AMD processors. From the consumer side, we have the updated Pavilion dv4, dv6 and dv7 (starts at $550) as well as more affordable Pavilion g4, g6 and g7 laptops (starts at $450), which will be available with AMD’s new goods beginning July.

If you’re looking for a business-class notebook, HP has updated their ProBook 6465b and 6565b series as well as ProBook 4535s, 4435s and 4436s series ‘entry-level’ business notebooks. Availability of AMD’s new Llano A-series chips in these notebooks should begin June 27.

As for their Intel variants, no worries, they aren’t going anywhere. This is just in-line with HP’s trend of giving folks a choice between AMD and Intel processors. For years, AMD has been more of the ‘affordable’ choice while Intel has been known for better and more stable performance. But looks like AMD is planning to change that this time… I wonder how these new processors will fare because they sure look good, on paper at least!

HP releases eight HP TouchPad demonstration videos

HP has released a bunch of new and official videos over the weekend, ahead of their TouchPad tablet’s launch for preorder in a week’s time. If you’ve got about 12 minutes to spare, hit the link and check all 8 videos out.

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