Microsoft SDK for Kinect hardware

Microsoft today announced a new Software Development Kit for its Kinect hardware allowing developers to bring Kinect-controlled applications to Windows.


The new SDK will be available in Spring, with interested developers able to sign up now via the MS Research page.

Kinect’s Windows SDK features:

The latest advances in audio processing, which include a four-element microphone array with sophisticated acoustic noise and echo cancellation for crystal clear audio.
Sound source localization for beam forming, which enables the determination of a sound’s spatial location, enhancing reliability when integrated with the Microsoft speech recognition API.
Depth data, which provides the distance of an object from the Kinect camera, as well as the raw audio and image data, which together open up opportunities for creating richer natural user interface experiences.
Highly performant and robust skeletal tracking capabilities for determining the body positions of one or two persons moving within the Kinect field of view.
Documentation for the APIs and a description of the SDK architecture.
Sample code that demonstrates how to use the functionality in the SDK.
Microsoft’s Kinect accessory for the Xbox 360 has already been a huge success for the company, with the hardware breaking sales records. Now Microsoft is looking to bring the power of controller-less gaming to Windows, with motion-controlled apps a possibility.

While there’s no guarantee this new SDK will bring forth a new era in computing, it’s certainly more likely now Kinect’s hardware prowess can be harnessed.
credit to Redmond pie

Computer Repair in Thousand Oaks

Microsoft are finding out tonight that no matter how nicely you ask, you just can’t guarantee people won’t leak your new software. Today Win7China (via Windows8Beta) have managed to get hold of a few screenshots of Microsoft’s next operating system, as well as have some info to share with everyone.

The headline feature to come out of the leak is a new ‘restore’ feature. According to reports, the new feature will mean users will always have the option to return their system to a vanilla install of Windows 8 at any time and in just two minutes. At the moment the only way to reliably do this is to make your own clone of a drive before installing your applications – not something an average user will do.

If you do have to do a complete reinstall of Windows 8 though, it doesn’t look like you’ll have the usual long wait while the OS works its magic. According to Win7China, Windows 8 installs in just 8 minutes. They claim the same machine needed over 23 minutes to install Windows 7. Just how this huge improvement is achieved is unclear, though we’re not sure we care!
PC Repair Thousand Oaks

Other interesting changes include the addition of the ability to login using a Windows Live ID, with the ID’s display picture being shown in the redesigned system tray.

More leaked screenshots of Windows 8 are embedded below:
credit to Redmond Pie

Great Computer Repair

One of the things that I love about Android and Windows Phone 7 is ability to share photos and videos to my favorite social networking sites, natively from the Gallery/Pictures/Photos app natively, without having to open any other third party app.

By default, the native Camera Roll / Photos app on the iPhone and iPod touch only allows sharing of pictures via Email and MMS.

But now thanks to this new jailbreak tweak found by BlogsDNA, you can now integrate Facebook and Twitter sharing options right into the native Photos / Camera Roll app on the iPhone and iPod touch.

Dubbed as iSocialShare, this tweak adds a “Cloud” button when you are viewing a photo from the native Photos / Camera Roll app. Tapping on this button brings one-click sharing options for Facebook and Twitter.

You will, of course, need to have a jailbroken iPhone or iPod touch to install it. Follow our step by step guide posted here to jailbreak your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with Redsn0w on iOS 4.2.1 (or untethered with GreenPois0n RC5), or with Limera1n on iOS 4.1, or with PwnageTool on iOS 4.3 if you haven’t already.

iSocialShare can be downloaded from Cydia under BigBoss repository for $1.99 .

Check out our iPhone Apps Gallery and iPad Apps Gallery to explore more apps for your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
Post from RedmondPie

Cheap Computer Repair Thousand Oaks

The biggest problem with laptops or personal computers is the fact that sooner or later you are going to need to repair them. The truth is that only few people know what has to be done and in most situations you will be faced with a bill that will be really high. This is exactly why we recommend PC Express Computer Repair for any maintenance or repairs needed in Thousand Oaks.

There are two main things that you must know about PC Express Computer Repair. The first one is that this company can deal with basically any type of problem that you might have. You can rest assure that the best possible solution will be offered at all times. Quality is always more important than anything else with the company. The second one is the fact that the rates that are charged are really low when talking about computer repair in Thousand Oaks. We are sure that you are going to see that first hand when you visit the offices.

PC Express Computer Repair in Thousand Oaks offers you the help of a staff that is highly experienced in most major personal computer models including HP, Acer, Sony, Dell, Toshiba, Gateway and a lot more. Standard repairs are also offered at flat rates, no matter the situation encountered.

Best Computer Repair Thousand Oaks

Computer Repair

Your Computer is in need of repairs. Do you take it in or do you buy a new one? Deciding this issue depends on the range of repairs. A Computer renovation is big decision if the charge is relatively small and the repairs are easy to do. There are many laptop restore centers available like Computer Repair Thousand Oaks to work on all Computers and more presentation up all the time.

Manufacturers are not the single place to get restoration parts for Computer. Authorized renovation centers are available like Computer Repair Thousand Oaks. Computer  Repair Thousand Oaks uses a interchangeable part a parts company can use a different manufacturer device in most Computers without having to have all the brands on hand. A Computer  with a warranty can be repaired  locally.

Repairs that cannot be accomplished at the restore center can still be sent in to the manufacturer by the service center or yourself, the Computer owner. The repairs that are common on a computer are things like viruses, hard drive failure, video failure and sound breakdown. There can be a range of problems but with the install of generic parts or interchangeable parts the renovation center can have on hand a replacement from another manufacturer that will go into your computer  and work well.

PC Repair Thousand Oaks

PC Repair