Microsoft has made its Kinect for Windows v2 sensor available for pre-order online, and will be sent out from 15th July and is aimed primarily at Windows software developers.

Working with the Kinect for Windows software development kit 2.0, they’ll be able to create apps with voice and gesture controls for desktop and laptop computers.

The second edition of Kinect hasn’t enjoyed the best of careers thus far. Originally packaged with every Xbox One and billed as an integral component for the console, Microsoft has recently made it an optional feature: you can now buy an Xbox One without the sensor at a much-reduced price. Many gamers weren’t keen on the idea of an all-seeing, all-hearing sensor sitting in their living rooms, and that’s before you get to the issue of, well, the Kinect feeling distinctly non-integral for many games.

So Microsoft has given consumers a choice to get the console sans-Kinect (it can always be added later, after all). With the release of the SDK and Kinect for Windows v2, perhaps developers can give the sensor the boost it seems in need of.

So far South African’s can’t won’t be able to get their hands on the Kinect, as it is only available on the US and UK market at time of writing, but we’ll keep you posted on the most exciting Windows/Kinect apps that emerge in the future.

Source: Pocket-lint