With Sony's expected PlayStation 4 press conference less than six hours away, information on a key component of the next Xbox, Kinect 2.0, has surfaced online.
VGLeaks has found a spec sheet for the next-gen Kinect, which rumors have suggested will come with every next-gen Xbox. Here are the alleged technical specs:
| Feature | Xbox 360 Kinect Sensor | Durango Sensor |
| Field of View (FOV) | 57.5Ëš horizontal by 43.5Ëš vertical | 70Ëš horizontal by 60Ëš vertical |
| Resolvable Depth | 0.8 m -> 4.0 m | 0.8 m -> 4.0 m |
| Color Stream | 640 x 480 x 24 bpp 4:3 RGB @ 30fps640 x 480 x 16 bpp 4:3 YUV @ 15fps | 1920 x 1080 x 16 bpp 16:9 YUY2 @ 30 fps |
| Depth Stream | 320 x 240 16 bpp, 13-bit depth | 512 x 424 x 16 bpp, 13-bit depth |
| Infrared (IR) Stream | No IR stream | 512 x 424, 11-bit dynamic range |
| Registration | Color <-> depth | Color <-> depth and active IR |
| Audio Capture | 4-mic array returning 48 Hz audio | 4-mic array returning 48K Hz audio |
| Data Path | USB 2.0 | USB 3.0 |
| Latency | ~90 ms with processing | ~60 ms with processing |
| Tilt Motor | Vertical only | No tilt motor |
According to the accompanying report, the device itself will be very similar to the original Kinect, albeit with many technical improvements. First and foremost, the next Kinect will feature it's own processor, allowing the console to process the data it gathers independently. The sensor's enhancements will answer many users' complaints regarding the device. Kinect 2.0 should be able to detect figures in more detail. The sensor's improved depth perception and wider field of view will support up to six-person multiplayer.
Overall, it sounds like this Kinect may be able to make good on the promise of Kinect when it was first shown. The current Kinect is actually a stripped-down version of the original model, which, like the Kinect 2.0, had it's own processor.
Regardless of the specs themselves, the timing of the leak is curious. Are these promising numbers an attempt by Microsoft to detract from Sony's big day? Since we'll likely never know, here's a better question: Does hearing about the next Kinect make you less interested in the PS4?