Jan 092011
 

After getting an overwhelming response on the release on Xbox Kinect, Microsoft is here with another exciting feature for Xbox users. Steve Ballmer announced ‘Avatar Kinect’ at CES 2011 during Microsoft’s press briefing.

Microsoft's Ballmer delivers keynote at CES 2011

Steve Ballmer delivers keynote at CES 2011

Avatar Kinect is basically an Xbox 360 feature that allows users to act as their digital avatars on the screen using the Kinect for Xbox. It makes use of Xbox Kinect sensors to read the gestures and even the finer moments of smile and eyebrow. These gestures and motions are then replicated on the screen.

Avatar Kinect In Action (via Engadget)

Avatar Kinect In Action (via Engadget)

The idea is a superb, innovative one, you can hang up with friends on Avatar; join the virtual chatroom with other Kinect users over internet and much more. Microsoft describes the phenomena like this:

With Avatar Kinect, a player can invite up to seven friends to join them in one of 15 imaginative virtual environments to reflect their mood and inspire their conversations or performances. Arrive or leave sessions in style with unique animations like flying in with a jet pack, or snapping fingers to vanish. Players can also add cool animated and visual effects to creatively express their thought.

The Avatar Kinect is expected to be released this Spring, and the good thing is it would be available for free to all Xbox LIVE Gold members. Now that’s great, here is Avatar Kinect’s trailer to let you watch it in action!

Jan 052011
 

Steve Ballmer at CES just announced  that Microsoft sold 8 Million Kinect Sensors in first two months. Not only that but Microsoft also sold over 50 million XBox units world wide and outsold  PS3 and Wii for past 6 months in the United States. Way to go Microsoft?

avatar kinect

Microsoft also announced at CES today that Kinect will get “Avatar Kinect” which basically lets you use your avatar in motion.  Kinect at this point is a bit buggy when it comes to facial detection but over the time they are planning on fixing all the bugs.

Picture Credit: Engadget