AfterDawn: News

Video Daily: Microsoft Kinect hacked

Last week, Adafruit Industries sent notice that it was giving a $2000 USD prize to anyone who could hack the new Microsoft Kinect to run on devices that aren't the Xbox 360.

Reads the notice:

"Upload your code, examples and documentation to GitHub. First person / group to get RGB out with distance values being used wins, you're smart – you know what would be useful for the community out there. All the code needs to be open source and/or public domain."

Today, user "AlexP" of the NUI Group Community Forums has posted a video doing exactly what the contest asks for, so it seems like that $2000 may have a new owner.

The Kinect is being controlled via a PC in the video, but there are little other details.

When shown the video, Microsoft was not happy with the "hacking."

"Microsoft does not condone the modification of its products. With Kinect, Microsoft built in numerous hardware and software safeguards designed to reduce the chances of product tampering. Microsoft will continue to make advances in these types of safeguards and work closely with law enforcement and product safety groups to keep Kinect tamper-resistant," says the company, via Cnet.



Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 7 Nov 2010 23:37

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• 9 comments

• DoomLight

  cool
  

  8.11.2010 00:25 #1

• Josipher

  wow that is pretty cool. imagine if you could control your pc like that, applications, surfing the web..

  8.11.2010 06:38 #2

• baxter00

  Nice. But I hope that they don't act like Sony and tell us that we can't modify OUR property because we don't really own it.

  8.11.2010 08:06 #3

• beanos66

  Originally posted by baxter00: Nice. But I hope that they don't act like Sony and tell us that we can't modify OUR property because we don't really own it. to late they already did
  
  Quote:Microsoft will continue to make advances in these types of safeguards and work closely with law enforcement and product safety groups to keep Kinect tamper-resistant,

  8.11.2010 15:38 #4

• ThePastor

  So, how do I map it for my XBMC ??? LOL
  

  Unfortunately for them, all Blu-ray protections have been broken and BD rips can be found around the Internet, usually before the retail even hits shelves.

  8.11.2010 16:57 #5

• cdxanti

  Now we just need a 3d interface to utilize.

  8.11.2010 18:45 #6

• KillerBug

  "Microsoft will continue to make advances in these types of safeguards and work closely with law enforcement and product safety groups to keep Kinect tamper-resistant," says the company, via Cnet."
  
  That is pretty radical. It is bad enough when these companies start trying to prevent the sales of dev boards because they could be used for piracy...but when Microsoft brings in law enforcement to prevent the use of microsoft products with MICROSOFT WINDOWS, we have already slid halfway down the slope...and we are sliding fast.
  

  9.11.2010 02:54 #7

• SoulGLOW

  slam it in your arse M$!!!

  13.11.2010 04:27 #8

• Jemborg

  Wow, I might even consider getting one if I could control my pc with it.
  
  I already do with a x360 controller and the wireless adaptor via the excellent Xpadder application.
  
  I use it to control not just keyboard-only games but stuff like VLC etc. It's nice, you don't need to be line of site. (Yes I have an excellent wireless trackball keyboard too.)
  

  Its a lot easier being righteous than right.
  
  
  

  16.11.2010 02:37 #9