ASUS may be a launch partner, but is not directly involved in the testing

Jan 31, 2012 15:38 GMT  ·  By

Looks like all those reports about Windows 8 laptops featuring Kinect are true, though our dreams of having technology like in spy movies may not become reality as quickly as people hope.

People may or may not remember the recent reports about a pair of ASUS laptops on which Microsoft's Kinect sensor was installed.

The rumor has now been confirmed and we have already covered the matter here.

What we did not go into were the specifics of ASUS' involvement, as well as the true significance of having portable PCs that can look back at you.

Apparently, ASUS is not actually directly involved in the testing of the project, even though the original sighting involved two of its netbooks.

Nevertheless, the company has a partnership with PrimeSense, which makes one of the Kinect's motion sensors.

As such, ASUS will probably end up as a launch partner, but will have to license the technology like everyone else.

It should also be noted that all computer partners using Kinect will have to agree to offer Microsoft exclusivity on motion-sensing technology.

That is to say, if they agree to make use of it, they won't use competing motion-control systems, not even to make hybrid installations.

That said, one of the main uses for Kinect in PCs is for automatic logon: one needs only to sit in front of the PC and (maybe) speak a password to be allowed access.

There won't be any need for extra voice recognition sensors or anything of the sort: Kinect will process both the image and the voice on its own.

Alas, there is one big problem with all this, even if Microsoft finishes setting everything up by the time Windows 8 is released.

Quite simply, Kinect consumes battery power like a ravenous beast from the netherworlds, and then some. Thus, power outlets will have to be used extensively, sadly defeating the purpose of a PC being designed with“mobility”, at least until solar panels become more commonplace.