Kinect For Xbox 360 Hacked To Work With Sony PlayStation 3 [Video]

It’s a headline we didn’t expect to be writing, but sure enough it’s true. One clever hacker has found a way to get the Xbox Kinect to work with Sony’s PS3.

As CrunchGear reports however, this isn’t quite ready for primetime! The hack works by connecting a Kinect to a laptop, which in turn sends the data to a DIYPS3Controller. From there data gets sent to the lucky PS3 in the form of normal control pad movements. As the video shows, the hack does work, though we’re not expecting this to be that widely used just yet!
The hacker detailed everything on his blog:

This post describes my first attempt at making Kinect work with a PS3. Microsoft’s new XBOX 360 accessory, kinect has made a powerful entry into the market, becoming the fastest selling gadget of all time. Looks like their “You are the controller” tagline is working. Of course, Sony’s “similar” accessory Move is selling well too but is far behind kinect adoption probably because nothing beats the lure of making something work with just “The Force”
Now, of course, kinect doesn’t work with PS3 obviously but then if we can’t break the rules, we can at least bend them a little towards our way. I’ve created a mashup that allows you to use kinect as an input controller for the PS3.
Please note that this is pre-alpha quality software currently. I haven’t updated to a lot of recent code for the below libraries and also haven’t done most of the performance/feature improvements yet. The axis performance specially needs lot of tweaking and it works well only while sitting. Putting this out purely as a proof of concept. For the things that I plan to add soon, please see the Todo section below. Follow me at @shantanugoel for latest updates.
The program makes use of several other programs in order to provide this functionality. To compile/use it, you also need the following programs:
1. OpenNI Libraries
2. NITE Libraries
3. PrimeSense Libraries for kinect
4. DIYPS3Controller
Installation/Compilation/Usage 
1. Make sure that the above 4 things are installed on your machine and working fine. 
2. Download the source of this project to the NITE Samples directory. You can even place it anywhere else but you would need to tweak the makefile to account for the changed paths. 
3. Make any changes to the source that you need. 
4. Change the included ps3 controller config xml file and place it in one of the locations where diyps3controller can find it. 
5. Run make -f kinect-ps3.mak 
6. The executable will be available in Samples/Bin directory of NITE. 
7. Run kinect-ps3 (without any arguments) 
8. Run emuclient (from ps3 controller software) and choose the new xml config file 
9. “Become the controller” 
Default Config : 
Menu Profile – This is the default profile that kinect-ps3 starts with and allows to operate the PS3 menus. Moving hand in any direction will move the ps3 menus as if you were using the DPAD with those directions keys pressed. If you run out of the kinect’s watched space, then just do a backward push with your hand, bring your hand to center and then again do the backward push and continue scrolling. This is like you lift your finger up and then start dragging from edges of a laptop’s touchpad.For selecting any item, make two successive push movements with your hand without changing any x-y direction. 
Game Profile – This profile can be switched to by doing 3 successive backward movements of the hand while in Menu profile. Right now I’ve implemented only directional controls in game profile because I’m still struggling with multiple hands detections and skeletal tracking. A full profile will be activated soon enough. Currently, the your hand’s x/y movements and directly translated to right stick x/y movements (e.g. this is looking in different directions in various FPS games). Moving the hand towards or away from kinect (z-axis) translate to left stick y movements (e.g. this is moving forwards or backwards in most FPS games).
Issues/Queries/Suggestions 
Please direct them to me by commenting here or emailing me at shantanu AT shantanugoel DOT com
Coming Soon/ToDo 
- Full Menu and Game profiles 
- Skeletal tracking for better game profiles 
- Switching back to menu profiles from game profiles 
- Easier way to specify user custom profiles instead of changing code for the same 
- Performance improvement for game profiles
Full source code of the project has been released at https://github.com/shantanugoel/Kinect-PS3 under GNU GPL v2.

This is just another in a long line of hacks designed to make Microsoft’s popular Kinect hardware work with various devices. We recently told you how an iPhone / iPad was even being used!
What next for Kinect? We’re waiting (im)patiently for the first Kinect-controlled automobile. You just know it’s going to happen!

Next Generation Xbox Hardware To Surface By 2015?

News out of ZDNet today brings the possibility Microsoft could be ready to release the next generation Xbox in 2015.

The image shown below came from a Ben Peterson’s web portfolio, part of Intelligent Entertainment Business – a group brought in by Microsoft to look at potential future user experience scenarios. Could this possible leak mean we’re set for replacement to the old workhorse Xbox 360 in 2015?

Microsoft Xbox: Confidential / Collaboration with Microsoft’s IEB Design group investigating future user experiences and hardware for 2015. *Work samples only permissible in person.*(March 2011)

With the current crop of consoles now starting to get on in years, it’s believed both Sony and Microsoft are looking to bring new hardware online in the next 5 years, with the current crop of hardware having a 10 year lifespan.

What really interests us is the direction Microsoft could take with the next Xbox. Will we see an iterative hardware revision or will the boys from Redmond want to get out in front of the competition with something brand new to the market, just as they did with the Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE?

One thing is for sure though – 4 years is a long time to wait to find out!

Tethered Jailbreak for iOS 4.3.1 Now Available (But Probably Not A Good Idea)

Just a few days ago, Apple released iOS 4.3.1 — and already, the endlessly ingenious jailbreaking crowd has found their way in. However, let it be known: these early hacks tend to have a caveat or two, and this one’s certainly not the exception.

First and foremost, the 4.3.1 jailbreak is currently “tethered” — which is a fancy way of saying that it’s temporary. Reset your iPhone (say, if the battery runs dry, or if some app is acting funny), and the jailbreak is gone. The process involved here is also a bit more strenuous than usual; thanks to a few bugs that snuck their way into the release (namely, the “RAMDisk Fixer” tool bundled with the jailbreak app is broken, and needs to be swapped out for a working build), there are a few extra points along the way where things can go wrong.

Ready to dive in, regardless of the risks and rocky route? Check out the tutorial over at here.

iOS 4.3.1 Jailbroken Already Using PwnageTool. Here’s A Complete How-To Guide !

The just released iOS 4.3.1 firmware update for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch has been successfully jailbroken, courtesy of some swift work by DjayB6 on iOS 4.3.1 jailbreak bundle, and Universal Ramdisk Fixer. The jailbreak though is tethered only for now, which means that you will have to boot it into jailbroken state every time you reboot.

Cydia running on iOS 4.3.1, iPhone 4 (GSM)

Support for iPhone 3GS and iPod touches is on the way ! Simply follow the instructions below to jailbreak iOS 4.3.1 on iPhone 4 using a combination of PwnageTool 4.2, Universal Ramdisk Fixer and tetheredboot utility.
Here’s what you will need:

• PwnageTool 4.2
• iOS 4.3.1 firmware
• iTunes 10.2.1
• Mac OS X
• PwnageTool bundle for iOS 4.3.1
• Universal Ramdisk Fixer
• tetheredboot utility

Note:

• There is no unlock for the new baseband on iOS 4.3.1. If your iPhone relies on a carrier unlock, DO NOT update to stock iOS 4.3.1.
• iPad 2 users on iOS 4.3 should stay away from iOS 4.3.1 until further confirmation.
• Cydia is fully working on iOS 4.3.1
• It is a semi-tethered jailbreak.
• Your baseband will not be upgraded during restore process.
• Hacktivation is supported.

Modifying PwnageTool
Step 1: Download PwnageTool bundle (includes Universal Ramdisk Fixer) for your version of iOS device. Extract the .zip folder, in there you will find a .bundle file, for this guide, we are using iPhone 4 bundle iPhone3,1_4.3.1_8G4.bundle. Move this file to your desktop.
Step 2: Download PwnageTool 4.2 and copy it to /Applications directory. Right click, and then click on “Show Package Contents” as shown in the screenshot below.

Step 3: Navigate to Contents/Resources/FirmwareBundles/ and pasteiPhone3,1_4.3.1_8G4.bundle file in this location.

Creating Custom Ramdisk for iOS 4.3.1 Custom Firmware
Step 4: Download Universal Ramdisk Fixer (part of the PwnageTool bundle package that you downloaded in Step 1 above) and simply install it as shown in the screenshots below. This is important because Ramdisk in the current version of PwnageTool is broken. This Universal Ramdisk Fixer basically patches it correctly for iOS 4.3.1 firmware.



Building iOS 4.3.1 Custom Firmware
Step 5: Download iOS 4.3.1 firmware. Move this file to your desktop.
Step 6: Start PwnageTool in “Expert mode” and select your device:

Step 7: Browse for iOS 4.3.1 firmware for your device as shown in the screenshot below:

Step 8: Now select “Build” to start creating custom 4.3.1 firmware file:

Step 9: PwnageTool will now create the custom .ipsw file for your iPhone which will be jailbroken.

Step 10: Now follow the following steps to enter DFU mode using PwnageTool:

• Hold Power and Home buttons for 10 seconds
• Now release the Power button but continue holding the Home button for 10 more seconds
• You device should now be in DFU mode

Restore iOS 4.3.1 Custom Firmware Using iTunes
Step 11: Start iTunes, click on your iOS device icon from the sidebar in iTunes. Now press and hold left “alt” (option) button on Mac, or Left “Shift” button if you are on Windows on the keyboard and then click on “Restore” (Not “Update” or “Check for Update”) button in the iTunes and then release this button.

This will make iTunes prompt you to select the location for your custom firmware 4.3.1 file. Select the required custom .ipsw file that you created above, and click on “Open”.
Step 12: Now sit back and enjoy as iTunes does the rest for you. This will involve a series of automated steps. Be patient at this stage and don’t do anything silly. Just wait while iTunes installs the new firmware 4.3.1 on your iOS device. Your iOS device screen at this point will be showing a progress bar indicating installation progress. After the installation is done, your iOS device will be jailbroken on iOS 4.3.1.
Booting in Tethered Mode
Last but not the least, since there is no untethered jailbreak for iOS 4.3.1 yet, we will have to boot it into a tethered jailbroken state. To do this, we will make use of a utility named “tetheredboot” as shown in the steps below.
Step 13: Download tetheredboot.zip utility for Mac OS X and extract the .zip file.
Step 14: First, we will need two files from the custom iOS 4.3.1 firmware namely:kernelcache.release.n90 and iBSS.n90ap.RELEASE.dfu. To do this, make a copy of your custom iOS 4.3.1 file that you created above, change the extension of this file from .ipsw to .zip, and then extract this .zip file.
Now copy kernelcache.release.n90 file, and then copy iBSS.n90ap.RELEASE.dfu files which are found under /Firmware/dfu/.
Move all these files, and tetheredboot utility to a new folder named “tetheredboot” on the desktop as shown in the screenshot below.

Step 15: Turn off your iOS device, and start Terminal on OS X and run the following commands:

sudo -s

enter your administrator password, then:

/Users/TaimurAsad/Desktop/tetheredboot/tetheredboot
/Users/TaimurAsad/Desktop/tetheredboot/iBSS.n90ap.RELEASE.dfu
/Users/TaimurAsad/Desktop/tetheredboot/kernelcache.release.n90

You will have to of course replace “TaimurAsad” with the name of the directory on your computer.
now press enter.
NOTE: If the above fails, try ‘tetheredboot -i ibss -k kernel’ instead of ‘tetheredboot ibss kernel’:

/Users/TaimurAsad/Desktop/tetheredboot/tetheredboot –i
/Users/TaimurAsad/Desktop/tetheredboot/iBSS.n90ap.RELEASE.dfu -k
/Users/TaimurAsad/Desktop/tetheredboot/kernelcache.release.n90

Tip: Simply drag and drop in Terminal – tetheredboot file, then iBSS file and then kernelcache.release file.

You should now see some code running in the Terminal window, at some point, it will ask you to enter DFU mode. Now follow the following steps to enter DFU mode:

• Hold Power and Home buttons for 10 seconds
• Now release the Power button but continue holding the Home button for 10 more seconds
• You device should now be in DFU mode

Now wait for your device to boot, Terminal at this point will be showing “Exiting libpois0n” message. After a short while, your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch will be booted in a jailbroken tethered mode !

3DS Crashing To “Black Screen Of Death”?

The 3DS is in the sweaty palms of hundreds of thousands by this time, and you know what that means: launch issues! Yes, like some other major hardware releases, the 3DS’s launch will not be without hiccups. There are reports that a few of the new handhelds are randomly crashing pretty hard to a black screen (seen above, and documented here) recommending a hard reset.

Don’t panic – this is only affecting a few users, and was initially only reported on Monkey Balland Street Fighter. The situation isn’t really clear, but some are saying that there is an update rolling out that fixes this problem. Resetting as recommended seems to fix it for the moment, and some mention reformatting their SD card to FAT32 solves it. I’d say just hang on and let Nintendo address it, or if you’re concerned and can replicate the problem, take it back to where you bought it, if possible.

We didn’t run into this issue in our review unit. Any of our readers encounter this problem?

Panasonic And Partners Announce New M-3DI Active-Shutter 3D Standard

Because the world of 3D isn’t confusing enough already! Yes, a new standard is rising, led by Panasonic and joined by a number of partners. M-3DI is a new “can we all just agree on this” standard for active-shutter 3D systems. What differentiates it from the systems that don’t follow its standard? Nothing, it appears, except that M-3DI devices will all work with each other. I guess that’s something.

So Panasonic and Xpand 3D are the leaders, and Hitachi, Mitsubishi, ViewSonic, and several other manufacturers are joining the fun. What about Sony, Samsung, LG, and the others, you ask? Not involved. You’ll have to use their glasses.

Of course, the active shutter generation of 3D is going to be obsolete in a year or two once polarized or glasses-free takes over. I’m glad Panny is trying to smooth out the active-shutter landscape, but I can’t get excited when I’ve never liked the technology and know it’s on its way out.

Here’s the full press release:

M-3DI STANDARD TO CREATE COMPATIBILITY AMONG 3D TVs,

3D PROJECTORS AND 3D CINEMAS

Licensing of Cross-Industry 3D Active Shutter Eyewear Technology to Start Next Month

New York, NY – Panasonic and XPAND 3D announced that they have formulated M-3DI, a new standard for 3D active-shutter eyewear products that will bring about compatibility among 3D TVs, computers, home projectors and cinema projection. Other leading 3D technology providers for televisions, projectors and cinemas have agreed to participate in supporting the new standard, including Changhong Electric Co., Ltd., FUNAI Electric Co., Ltd., Hisense Electric Co., Ltd., Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Seiko Epson Corporation, SIM2 Multimedia S.p.A. and ViewSonic Corporation.

Licensing of the M-3DI technology will begin next month from M-3DI License Agent (e-mail: license@m-3di.com), providing a communication protocol between 3D active-shutter eyewear products and 3D-capable TVs, front projectors, computers and cinema systems (XPAND-compatible theaters). The technology will let consumers enjoy the immersive 3D 

MIT Scientist Claims To Have Created Practical “Artificial Leaf”

One of the things green energy proponents eagerly look forward to is an “artificial leaf”: a truly small, portable, modular photosynthetic power plant. The ability to take a hundred or a thousand such units and plaster them on a wall, roof, tree, or whatever, and have them store power in a simple fuel cell all day long would be a great way to make power distribution less tricky in countries where there aren’t exactly power lines running everywhere.

MIT’s Daniel Nocera has apparently made a major advance just recently, producing an artificial leaf that not only uses cheap materials, but is ten times as efficient as a real leaf at the photosynthesis process.

The technology simulates photosynthesis by using sunlight to split water into hydrogen and oxygen; only a short while ago did Nocera manage to create a system, using a “proprietary solution of cobalt and phosphate,” that was able to convert sunlight at a better efficiency than solar cells. It can use dirty water, too, unlike some existing electrolysis/fuel cell solutions.

His study has only just been submitted to Science, and has not been reviewed or replicated, but that didn’t seem to matter to Tata, the Indian industrial giant, who have decided to work with Nocera — presumably to manufacture and distribute the system in India. With lots of sun and a huge population, it’s a natural fit.

Of course right now there’s very little information, no paper, and no pictures, so let’s all just take this info with a grain of salt and wait until we hear more.