Nerd Rating

Tag: Kinect

  • Complete List Of Kinect Voice Commands For Xbox One

    xbox-one-sensor

    So you now have your Xbox One plugged up and have been enjoying it all weekend. Have you been like me and just shouting random things at it to see what exactly it will do? I have the basics down but I need a list of what I can say to get the most out of my next-gen experience.

    We are here to help. Below you will find the list of all voice commands for the Kinect to get you up and gaming to the maximum efficiency.

    Now I can stop yelling “Xbox, dust yourself.” or “Xbox, what is the meaning of life?”.

    Xbox on Wakes up system, turns on TV and set-top box
    Xbox turn off Powers off Xbox, optionally powers off TV or set top box
    Xbox Shows master voice command options
    Xbox select Shows contextual voice command options
    Stop listening Cancels voice command mode
    Xbox help Help menu
    Xbox use a code Kinect scan for Qr codes
    Xbox show notification Show notifications
    Xbox sign in Sign in to XBL
    Xbox sign out Sign out of XBL
    Xbox sign in as Sign in a user by name
    Xbox sign out as Sign out a user by name
    Xbox record that Records previous 30 seconds of game footage
    Xbox start a party Starts party application
    Xbox volume up Increases volume
    Xbox volume down Decreases volume
    Xbox mute Activates mute
    Xbox unmute Deactivates mute
    Xbox go home Opens Home
    Xbox show my stuff Opens home
    Xbox go to _______ Launches games or applications by name
    Xbox show menu Opens contextual menu
    Xbox go back Go back to previous screen or cycle back a menu option
    Xbox snap _________ Opens named application in snap mode
    Xbox unsnap Unsnaps an activity
    Xbox switch Switches control
    Xbox Skype ________ Skypes favorites list friend by name
    Xbox call ________ Skypes favorites list friend by name
    Xbox answer Answers Skype call with video
    Xbox answer without video Answers Skype call without video
    Xbox hang up Hang up Skype
    Xbox send a message Send a message to Friends
    Xbox watch TV Opens TV through set-top box
    Xbox watch _______ Watch TV by channel name
    Xbox show guide Show OneGuide
    Xbox OneGuide Show OneGuide
    Xbox play Play movie, song, or game
    Xbox stop Stop movie or song
    Xbox pause Pause movie, song, or game
    Xbox fast-forward Fast-Forward movie or song
    Xbox rewind Rewind movie or song
    Xbox faster Increase speed of movie or song
    Xbox slower Slow down movie or song
    Xbox skip forward Skip forward movie or song track
    Xbox skip backward Skip backward movie or song track
    Xbox next song Go to next song
    Xbox previous song Go to previous song
    Xbox play music Open music playback
    Xbox play video Open video playback
    browse to ________ Within IE, go to a particular website by name
    Xbox Bing ________ Bing search for term by name

  • Best Buy’s Deal Of The Day Features Xbox Holiday Bundle For 40% Off

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    If you are looking to pick up an Xbox 360 for yourself or a Christmas present I would suggest doing it early. As in today. Best Buy is offering the Xbox 360 250GB Kinect Bundle that comes with Kinect Adventures, Kinect Sports Season Two and Forza Horizon for only $244.99. That is a whopping 40% off the retail of $399.99.

    Also, they have Playstation Vita’s for only $179.99 today only.

    Check out the deal here.

  • Xbox 360 Holiday Bundles Feature Halo 4, Tomb Raider And More

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    The Xbox One may be releasing this November but Microsoft is not resting on its 8 year old workhorse, the Xbox 360. Three new bundles will be available this year for you holiday shoppers. Two will include the Kinect and all three come with the Xbox 350 E console.

    Bundle 1- Xbox 360 250GB console, Kinect, Kinect Sports: Season 2, Kinect Adventures, Forza Horizon and one month of Xbox Live Gold- $399.99

    Bundle 2- Xbox 360 4GB console, Kinect, Kinect Sports: Season 2, Kinect Adventures and one month of Xbox Live Gold- $299.99

    Bundle 3- Xbox 250GB console, Tomb Raider, Halo 4 and one month of Xbox Live Gold- $299.99

    If you purchase one of these bundles between October 13th and January 4, 2014, the bundles will come with a $50 discount.

    Unless you really want a disappointing experience, I would skip the first two bundles with the Kinect. The Tomb Raider/Halo 4 bundle looks like a great buy for someone who is needing a replacement console or if you have waited 8 years to jump on the 360 train.

  • Xbox One Will Never Be Sold Without Kinect

    Photo courtesy venturebeat.com
    Photo courtesy venturebeat.com

    Are you hoping for an Xbox One bundled without the Kinect to save yourself a bit of money? Well, keep hoping because according to Microsoft that is not going to happen.

    Xbox Executive Phil Spencer, in a recent interview with CVG, said that the Kinect sensor and the Xbox One, while being two separate pieces, are part of a whole that will not be broken up.

    “Correct. Xbox One is Kinect. They are not separate systems. An Xbox One has chips, it has memory, it has Blu-ray, it has Kinect, it has a controller. These are all part of the platform ecosystem.

    What we have shown really well at Gamescom is the magic of games that use Kinect. We have shown the power of voice control. I’m probably going to piss off your readers unintentionally when I say this; I have an Xbox One at home, and being able to walk in and say “Xbox on”, and for the system to recognise me, launch and load my profile, and put my choices of content on the font page is a very magical experience. It makes you think about your relationship with technology in a slightly different way. It’s personal. It makes you think, I wish more devices would do this.”

    It is easy to see why Microsoft wants to keep the Kinect such an integral part of the [amazon_link id=”B00CMQTVMI” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Xbox One[/amazon_link], although I have to think if the Xbox One does not start off as well as Microsoft wants if the story won’t change sometime next year.

     

     

     

  • Possible Specs For Next Kinect Leaked

    Photo courtesy dvice.com
    Photo courtesy dvice.com

    With the rumors persisting that the new Xbox will come packaged with a new version of the Kinect in every console, you have to wonder exactly how Microsoft will improve upon the motion sensor. A possible spec list has been uncovered that shows just how much the new Kinect will vary from its older sibling.

    -Field view improved from 57.5 degrees horizontal by 43.5 degrees vertical to 70×60

    -Resolution improved from 640×480 to 1920×1080

    -Lower latency from 90ms to 60ms

    The new Kinect should have not require as much room to work properly, which would be a wonderful things for gamers that don’t have the luxury of big, open living rooms where you don’t have to worry about knocking over cat scratching posts or babies.

  • Will The New Xbox Require An Internet Connection? Let’s Discuss.

    Photo courtesy techradar.com
    Photo courtesy techradar.com

    The good folks over at Edge have put their ears to the ground and heard some rumors about the next Xbox. First we will go through the list, then discuss.

    1. The new Xbox will require an internet connection in order to function and come with an overhauled version of Xbox Live.

    2. Games will be put on 50GB Blu-Ray discs.

    3. The rumored specs of the system (AMD eight-core X 64, 1.6 Ghz CPU, 8GB DDR3 RAM) are what will ship inside the system.

    4. The system will launch with a new version of Kinect packed in.

    5. Final size of the hard drive has yet to be decided.

    OK, here we go.

    First off, I don’t believe that the first rumor will be true. Now Microsoft could easily say that to get the full Xbox experience it is suggested to have an internet connection at all times, but Microsoft also has to realize that there is still a large batch of the population that either don’t have internet or just refuse to get it. I know, I know it is hard to imagine, but take it from me and where I live (insert southern joke here) there are people like this and they play plenty of games, just not online. So to require a connection may burn a bridge to some customers who would have otherwise bought a system especially if Sony is looking at them with arms wide open saying they don’t require internet to play.

    The games being put on Blu-Ray discs is almost a no brainer. Microsoft put all there eggs in the HD-DVD basket and came out on the losing end of the HD battle last go round. Now if they are going to keep up with data capacity disc wise, they have to break down and use Blu-Ray. No one will want to play an eight disc DVD version of Fallout 4 when they could have one disc on PS4.

    The guts of the system is most likely what is coming inside the new Xbox. There have been too many rumors and reports about the internal make-up of the system that are exactly like the specs above or extremely close.

    The Kinect being packed in is making me think that Microsoft will go with a two sku launch. If it is true then I can see a $399 launch without a Kinect and maybe like $449 with a Kinect 2.0 packed in. If Microsoft didn’t want to break that $400 point then they either go one sku at $399 and Kinects all around or drop the Kinect free bundle to $349.

    I am already on record thinking that Sony launches with a 1TB hard drive. I may be wrong in that but it just seems right especially if there will only be one Playstation bundle (which i also think). I don’t believe Microsoft will be as generous. I am of the mind that the new Xbox’s will launch with a 500GB hard drive, 750GB if they are feeling frisky. I think 500GB is the one we get.

    With Sony’s Playstation event set for February 20th, the wraps of the next generation are slowly being removed. Microsoft should not be far behind with their announcement so Sony won’t have the spotlight all to themselves.

  • Microsoft’s IllumiRoom Is Here To Change The Perception Of Video Games

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    Months ago images were leaked of Microsoft’s plans for the ability to transform your entire living room into a massive screen where the gaming experience would be stretched beyond the television and plastered onto the walls that surround you. Many speculated that this could be the next generation of Kinect and no one really knew how far off this technology was.

    It seems like the wait will not be too long.

    At the Samsung keynote during CES yesterday, Microsoft showed off a proof-of-concept video that showed some ways that this new experience would change how you game. It is called IllumiRoom and Microsoft said that the video was done in real-time with no after effects added. While some may surely cry the easy word of “gimmick”, I say it is far less of a gimmick than the Kinect was. This is not a needed technology, but I will admit that I am excited about trying it out and more than that, excited about what developers can do with it.

    The video shows an Xbox 360 on the shelf but I am going to go out on a very thick, sturdy limb here and say that IllumiRoom will be one of the selling points for the next Xbox. Maybe it will be a feature than will come with a new Kinect when the system releases. Right now we are all throwing our hats in the rumor mill ring but I will say that if IllumiRoom can meet the expectations set by the concept video then Microsoft may have something special and game changing on their hands.

    gaming-microsoft-illumi-room-concept-video-still

  • New Game Releases. October 9, 2012

    Stealth Steampunk And The Return Of Real Time UFO Defense.

    [amazon_link id=”B005C2D2MO” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Dishonored[/amazon_link] (360, PS3, PC) $59.99

    One of the most unique looking games of the past year that has been on our radars finally releases today. Bethesda’s first person game mixes a little Bioshock, Half-Life and Thief and places the game in a Victorian, steampunk environment and leaves the options up to players on how to seek out your revenge. The game can be played (according to the creators) with killing no one or you can go through and have a bloodbath.

    [amazon_link id=”B006WQR3GA” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]XCOM: Enemy Unknown[/amazon_link] (360, PS3, PC) $59.99

    Firaxis brings back the classic strategy game to a new generation. Control the XCOM force and keep the world safe from an alien invasion. Take your squads out to meet the threat head on using a cover based real time strategy play style that requires more patience than running in blind to a firefight so some Call of Duty fans may not be able to grasp it.

    The Walking Dead Episode 4: Around Every Corner (XBLA, PSN) $4.99, 800 MS Points

    Telltale’s wonderful game based on the comic book reaches its penultimate episode. Lee and the group of survivors have finally made it to Macon but will there be the relief that they all have been searching for? My magic 8-ball says no. If you have not been playing this game and don’t want to download all the episodes separately don’t worry, they will all be released on disc in December.

    [amazon_link id=”B0050SY8UK” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Fable: The Journey[/amazon_link] (360) $49.99

    Fable continues on after the departure of Peter Molyneux. This game has been pointed at as the reason Molyneux left Lionhead Studios to create yet another studio. The game will be used strictly with the Kinect to attack, cast spells and travel with your horse throughout Albion. I wish there were a lot of kind words to say about this but it seems the the Fable franchise is still in decline since Fable 2.

    [amazon_link id=”B0086V5UF0″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Just Dance 4[/amazon_link] (360, PS3, Wii, Wii U) $39.99- $49.99

    Another fall is here so that means another iteration of the best selling dance game. I am sure that Sony and Microsoft enjoy these games since they give players a reason to use the Kinect and Move. The roster this year includes “music” from “artists” like Justin Beiber, Flo Rida, Maroon 5 and human punching bag Rihanna.

     

    Next week get ready to return to hell with Doom 3: BFG Edition and Daniel Craig returns to take on six classic Bond missions in 007 Legends.

    Happy gaming!!!

  • Next Xbox Could Pave Way For Your Own Personal Holodeck.

    New Kinect may allow for full 3D, 360 degree gaming.

    So here is a bit of next gen gaming news that may truly be “the future of gaming”.

    Microsoft has a patent filed that, if they can get the tech working of course, would tranform your living room into a fully immersive interactive gaming experience. It appears that the new Xbox and the new model of Kinect would combine to project game images onto the walls allowing players to basically turn their living room into whatever world they happen to be in at the moment.

    Now as a game geek this is too exciting to really put into words but when I look at the example shots the more and more I begin to see how truly expensive this might be for me. I still don’t have enough room to jump and look like a fool with a Kinect right now and if you pay attention to the shot above you may recognize that the living room must not be decorated with any type of pictures or wall hangings and I am assuming painted white. It would also appear to need three times the room of the Kinect now. Now I begin to sadden where once excitement existed.

    So I need to start saving now since I will need the following:

    • A house or apartment with at least 12-15 feet of free space.
    • 11 cans of eggshell white paint for the walls.
    • An Xbox 720
    • A new Kinect (assuming it’s not packed in with the system, gotta save somewhere)
    • A game
    • A great job to pay for all of this.

    No one ever said turning your room into the Enterpise holodeck was cheap. Now if I could just play as Sherlock Homes with Data and the guy that played the butler on The Nanny, Microsoft has me sold.

     

     

     

  • Microsoft Lowers Kinect Price.

    After almost two years and around 19 million sold, Microsoft has announced that their Kinect will be getting a price reduction from $149.99 to $109.99. Now you can flail around like a mental patient for less. The price drop took effect today.

    While the Kinect saw a huge first year, one can only call their sophmore offering sub-par. Big name games like Kinect Star Wars and Steel Battalion were met with almost universal disdain and the peripheral really only has one big release this fall with Fable: The Journey. Maybe this will stimulate a quick sales boost but I’m pretty sure that if someone hasn’t bought a Kinect by now a drop to 109 dollars isn’t going to do much convincing. With the new Xbox on the horizon in the next year and a half or so the Kinect should be seeing a drastic price drop sometime next year. But that’s just my take.