Microsoft has rolled out another update to the Kinect for Windows SDK 2.0 public preview. This particular update comes just weeks after Microsoft rolled out over 200 changes to the SDK, making the development process easier and faster.
Microsoft started rolling out thousands of Kinect for Windows v2 sensors to developers, as well as the SDK 2.0 preview, back in July. The SDK is free and there are no fees for runtime licenses of commercial applications developed with the SDK.
This particular update simply makes the SDK more stable and feature-rich. This is what Microsoft had to say:
“Today we released another update to the Kinect for Windows SDK 2.0 public preview. This release contains important product improvements that add up to a more stable and feature-rich product. This updated SDK lets you get serious about finalizing your applications for commercial deployment and, later this year, for availability in the Windows Store. Please install, enjoy, and let us know what you think.”
Compared to the 1.0 sensor, the new Kinect 2.0 sensor itself features improved skeletal tracking, higher depth fidelity, 1080p HD video, new active infrared capabilities, and wider/expanded field of view. The Kinect sensor also features improved skeletal, hand, and joint orientation, as well as support for new development environments, powerful tooling, advanced face tracking, and simultaneous multi-app support.
Further reading: Kinect, Kinect for Windows, Microsoft, Windows 8.1
