Controlling Windows Media Center from the sofa without a remote is something that just sound cool so using Kinect sounds a really good idea. Last year there was a beta for Kinect for Media Center and now thanks to the commercial released of Kinect for Windows the final version is out.
With the Kinect you can use hand gestures and voice commands to control Windows Media Center and then control the addins that run on it including Netflix, My Movies and Media Browser. The developer says that that the addin has been designed so that audio coming from a TV show or music can’t trigger a voice command and that there are lots of configuration settings so you can get it working the best way for you.
The addin costs $6.99 and you need a Kinect for Windows (the Xbox 360 version is not supported but may work). I am going to give it a try on the 360 version and will report back on how well it works. Head over to the developers site for details and the download links
Here are some of the features:
Functionality
Gestures
Hand Swipe Left, Right, Up, Down
Moves the selection in Media Center based on velocity of gesture.
Hand Swipe then Hold
Moves the selection in Media Center and repeats the swipe continuously until you release the Hold.
Hand Tap
‘Ok’ in Media Center.
Hand Zoom (Hands moving away from each other)
‘Ok’ in Media Center.
Hand Pinch (Hands moving closer to each other)
‘Back’ in Media Center.
Dominant Hand Hold
‘Play’.
Secondary Hand Hold
‘Stop’.
Wave
Signals that you are in control of the gestures, if multiple people are in view.
Voice Commands
General:
‘Stop gestures’
Temporarily stops watching for Gesture Commands.
‘Start gestures’
Starts watching for Gesture Commands again.
‘Stop voice’
Temporarily stops listening for Voice Commands.
‘Start voice’
Starts listening for Voice Commands again.
Basic Media Center:
Ok, Enter, Select
‘enter’ key
Up, Down, Left, Right, Back
Home, Start
Media Center home page
Play, Stop, Next, Previous, Pause
Info, Record
Navigation:
‘Go to music,’ ‘Go to my music’
‘Go to movies’, ‘Go to my movies’, ‘Go to movie library’
Launches ‘MyMovies 4’, ‘MyMovies 3’, the built in Movie Library, or ‘Media Browser’, depending on your configuation.
‘Go to pictures’, ‘Go to my pictures’
‘Go to videos’, ‘Go to my videos’
‘Go to Netflix’
Launches Netflix add-in if installed.
‘Go to Media Browser’
Launches Media Browser add-in if installed.
‘Go to Now Playing’
‘Go to weather’, ‘Go to HeatWave’
Launches HeatWave add-in if installed.
Media:
‘Play Artist …’
‘Queue Artist…’
‘Play Album…’
‘Queue Album …’
‘Play Playlist …’
Requirements
Kinect for Media Center has the following requirements:
Hardware
Microsoft ‘Kinect for Windows’ Sensor
the ‘Kinect for 360’ sensor is not supported
Computer with a dual-core, 2.66-GHz or faster processor
How about we get a fix for those of us that can’t use Xbox as an extender since installing Win7 SP1 before we worry about controlling MC winth Kinect. I have another post on this site along with several others with the same problem they have had for over a year now that after installing SP1, the live tv and recorded tv wont work on the extender. We get the message of: Video Error, the files needed…
I am not sure. It never mattered before if I was connected to xbox live or not. This problem only happened since my install of SP1 on my home theater pc running Win7 and my new update to the new user interface on the xbox. You are saying that you can’t watch recorded tv or live tv on your xbox extender unless you are signed into xbox live? I will have to try this tonight.
Well I was hopefull this would fix it. I signed in to xbox live and still couldn’t watch live tv or recorded shows on my xbox. Once again I am using my newly updated xbox as an extender to my HTPC that I also recently updated to SP1 and now i can;t watch live tv or recorded shows.
Really interested in trying this with my 360 Kinect but looks like you have to shell out the money before you can try it.
Have you had a go on your 360 Kinect yet Ian??
I installed the Kinect for Media Center software and the device is recognized by Windows. However, the software won’t initialize it because it says that you have connected unsupported hardware “You are using XBOX 360 hardware”.
Is really that the hardware won’t work or the software refuses to use it because of a licensing agreement?
{"id":null,"mode":"button","open_style":"in_place","currency_code":"GBP","currency_symbol":"\u00a3","currency_type":"decimal","blank_flag_url":"https:\/\/thedigitallifestyle.com\/w\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/blank.gif","flag_sprite_url":"https:\/\/thedigitallifestyle.com\/w\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/flags.png","default_amount":500,"top_media_type":"none","featured_image_url":false,"featured_embed":"","header_media":null,"file_download_attachment_data":null,"recurring_options_enabled":true,"recurring_options":{"never":{"selected":true,"after_output":"One time only"},"weekly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every week"},"monthly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every month"},"yearly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every year"}},"strings":{"current_user_email":"","current_user_name":"","link_text":"Leave a tip","complete_payment_button_error_text":"Check info and try again","payment_verb":"Pay","payment_request_label":"TheDigitalLifestyle.com","form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","general_server_error":"Something isn't working right at the moment. Please try again.","form_title":"TheDigitalLifestyle.com","form_subtitle":null,"currency_search_text":"Country or Currency here","other_payment_option":"Other payment option","manage_payments_button_text":"Manage your payments","thank_you_message":"Thank you for being a supporter!","payment_confirmation_title":"TheDigitalLifestyle.com","receipt_title":"Your Receipt","print_receipt":"Print Receipt","email_receipt":"Email Receipt","email_receipt_sending":"Sending receipt...","email_receipt_success":"Email receipt successfully sent","email_receipt_failed":"Email receipt failed to send. Please try again.","receipt_payee":"Paid to","receipt_statement_descriptor":"This will show up on your statement as","receipt_date":"Date","receipt_transaction_id":"Transaction ID","receipt_transaction_amount":"Amount","refund_payer":"Refund from","login":"Log in to manage your payments","manage_payments":"Manage Payments","transactions_title":"Your Transactions","transaction_title":"Transaction Receipt","transaction_period":"Plan Period","arrangements_title":"Your Plans","arrangement_title":"Manage Plan","arrangement_details":"Plan Details","arrangement_id_title":"Plan ID","arrangement_payment_method_title":"Payment Method","arrangement_amount_title":"Plan Amount","arrangement_renewal_title":"Next renewal date","arrangement_action_cancel":"Cancel Plan","arrangement_action_cant_cancel":"Cancelling is currently not available.","arrangement_action_cancel_double":"Are you sure you'd like to cancel?","arrangement_cancelling":"Cancelling Plan...","arrangement_cancelled":"Plan Cancelled","arrangement_failed_to_cancel":"Failed to cancel plan","back_to_plans":"\u2190 Back to Plans","update_payment_method_verb":"Update","sca_auth_description":"Your have a pending renewal payment which requires authorization.","sca_auth_verb":"Authorize renewal payment","sca_authing_verb":"Authorizing payment","sca_authed_verb":"Payment successfully authorized!","sca_auth_failed":"Unable to authorize! Please try again.","login_button_text":"Log in","login_form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","uppercase_search":"Search","lowercase_search":"search","uppercase_page":"Page","lowercase_page":"page","uppercase_items":"Items","lowercase_items":"items","uppercase_per":"Per","lowercase_per":"per","uppercase_of":"Of","lowercase_of":"of","back":"Back to plans","zip_code_placeholder":"Zip\/Postal Code","download_file_button_text":"Download File","input_field_instructions":{"tip_amount":{"placeholder_text":"How much would you like to tip?","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"invalid_curency":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please choose a valid currency."}},"recurring":{"placeholder_text":"Recurring","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"}},"name":{"placeholder_text":"Name on Credit Card","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please enter the name on your card."}},"privacy_policy":{"terms_title":"Terms and conditions","terms_body":null,"terms_show_text":"View Terms","terms_hide_text":"Hide Terms","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."},"unchecked":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please agree to the terms."},"checked":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."}},"email":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"not_an_email_address":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Make sure you have entered a valid email address"}},"note_with_tip":{"placeholder_text":"Your note here...","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"not_empty_initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"saving":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Saving note..."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Note successfully saved!"},"error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to save note note at this time. Please try again."}},"email_for_login_code":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."}},"login_code":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."}},"stripe_all_in_one":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"success":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"invalid_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is not a valid credit card number."},"invalid_expiry_month":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration month is invalid."},"invalid_expiry_year":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is invalid."},"invalid_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is invalid."},"incorrect_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incorrect."},"incomplete_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incomplete."},"incomplete_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incomplete."},"incomplete_expiry":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration date is incomplete."},"incomplete_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code is incomplete."},"expired_card":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card has expired."},"incorrect_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incorrect."},"incorrect_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code failed validation."},"invalid_expiry_year_past":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is in the past"},"card_declined":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card was declined."},"missing":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"There is no card on a customer that is being charged."},"processing_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"An error occurred while processing the card."},"invalid_request_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to process this payment, please try again or use alternative method."},"invalid_sofort_country":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The billing country is not accepted by SOFORT. Please try another country."}}}},"fetched_oembed_html":false}
How about we get a fix for those of us that can’t use Xbox as an extender since installing Win7 SP1 before we worry about controlling MC winth Kinect. I have another post on this site along with several others with the same problem they have had for over a year now that after installing SP1, the live tv and recorded tv wont work on the extender. We get the message of: Video Error, the files needed…
Are you connected to xbox live? mine does that if not connected with live tv and movie files..
I am not sure. It never mattered before if I was connected to xbox live or not. This problem only happened since my install of SP1 on my home theater pc running Win7 and my new update to the new user interface on the xbox. You are saying that you can’t watch recorded tv or live tv on your xbox extender unless you are signed into xbox live? I will have to try this tonight.
Well I was hopefull this would fix it. I signed in to xbox live and still couldn’t watch live tv or recorded shows on my xbox. Once again I am using my newly updated xbox as an extender to my HTPC that I also recently updated to SP1 and now i can;t watch live tv or recorded shows.
Really interested in trying this with my 360 Kinect but looks like you have to shell out the money before you can try it.
Have you had a go on your 360 Kinect yet Ian??
■Microsoft ‘Kinect for Windows’ Sensor ■ the ‘Kinect for 360′ sensor is not supported
What does this mean? That an XBOX 360 Kinect sensor will not work with the Kinect for WMC software?
What’s the difference between the Kinect for Windows and Kinect for XBOX 360 sensor? Apart from the Windows one is like $100 more.
Thanks
I connected the Xbox 360 Kinect to my PC using the following:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004S7GA46/ref=oh_o01_s00_i00_details
I installed the Kinect for Media Center software and the device is recognized by Windows. However, the software won’t initialize it because it says that you have connected unsupported hardware “You are using XBOX 360 hardware”.
Is really that the hardware won’t work or the software refuses to use it because of a licensing agreement?
check out
http://www.amuletdevices.com/blog/index.php/amulet-voice-kinect-%E2%80%93-part-1-using-haarclassifiers-so-you-can-sit-down.html
it works with xbox360 kinect.