14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft's CES press conference has just ended, and the company revealed some pretty big features that will be added soon to its Xbox 360 console, more specifically, to its Kinect motion detection sensor.
As you all know, Microsoft launched the Kinect a few months ago, and sales have been going great, so the company is bent on introducing more features in order to take the Kinect past the "gimmick" stage and turn it into an essential part of the Xbox 360 gaming experience.
In order to do that, Microsoft's Steve Ballmer announced what was already rumored on the web: Avatar Kinect, a new virtual chat room of sorts and not an online social network, as previously reported.
The new service is basically an extension of the Xbox Live Party mode, allowing you to interact with friends through your own Xbox Live Avatars.
The Kinect will receive a special setting in order to allow it to detect subtle facial gestures, like raising your eyebrow or moving your mouth, so that your avatars will interact in almost lifelike ways.
The Xbox users will be able to choose the background of their chat, as well as record videos of their conversations and put them on Facebook.
Ballmer also took the chance to reveal that the Netflix and Hulu Plus digital content delivery services will receive support for the Kinect in the following months.
As such, you'll be able to flick through your instant queue on Netflix or surf for your favorite TV shows on Hulu Plus with just hand gestures instead of using the old controller.
Microsoft said last month that 2011 would be the year of the Kinect, and, up until now, the company is really backing up its new peripheral.
Expect more new features to be unveiled for the motion detection sensor at future events like the Game Developers Conference or E3, later this year.
Until then, check out a video below showcasing the new Avatar Kinect system.