Xbox One's Kinect Can Actually Be Turned Off

[Frezzato]

If they had a satisfactory answer, they would have said it by now. Why is it always "more details to follow" with these people? Wow, you can turn the Xbox off. Obvious, dumb marketing spin.



To anyone still confused about their statement, all they said was that there's a physical "off" switch--for the console, not the Kinect.

I suspect that if the Xbox has power, the Kinect will always be on, listening, and probably watching as well. Think I'm being paranoid? Possibly, but I'm paranoid for a good reason [http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/31/microsoft-envisions-invasive-approach-to-targeted-advertising/].

 

[Timmey]

Soooo this hasn't abated anyone's fears really has it? It's not always on if you don't plug it in, no shit sherlock. What about when it's plugged in!?

 

[Alexander Kirby]

I don't get why they'd even consider stuff like visual DRM etc. Surely you can just turn the Kinect away from you or something even if it can't be turned off.

 

[Gordon_4_v1legacy]

....This whole fiasco brings to mind a drunken clown trying to cross a minefield.

 

[Atmos Duality]

Isn't it hilariously paradoxical that we're expected to be grateful about something like this?

It's like there's a long "retard checklist" for anything new that enters the game industry and the majority of the "positive" features involve listing ways it WON'T piss you off.

> It WON'T be always-online! (half truth)
> It WILL let you play used games! (for a fee)
> You can control your TV with it! (region specific)
> Kinect can be turned off!

Oh boy Microsoft, all those features are getting me so hyped! /sarcasm

Christ, these are fucking funny times we live in...in a tragic kind of way...

Don't forget the curious lack of games on the fucking GAME CONSOLE.
They can call it an all in one entertainment device, but if that's the case, why use the Xbox branding?

You know, the branding they've built up over 12 years as being directly related with VIDEO GAMES?

At this point, the 'One' in Xbox One might be a subtle warning label:
ONE. As in "mono", as in "MONOPOLY, WE WANT NOW."

DON'T GET A SMART TV. XBONE DOES THAT. (but only in HD!)
DON'T BUY ANOTHER CONSOLE OR PC. XBONE IS A "CONVENIENT" PC THAT SURFS THE WEB (via Bing only no doubt) AND PLAYS GAMES.
DON'T BOTHER WITH OTHER MOTION CONTROLS: XBONE HAS KINECT INNATELY.
DON'T BURDEN YOURSELF WITH GAME OWNERSHIP. WE XBONE WILL HANDLE THAT FOR YOU VIA OUR AZURE CLOUD NETWORK.

And hopefully, people aren't going to hand it all over to Microsoft on a platter, because every new "feature" surrounding the device screams "CONTROL CONTROL CONTROL" more than "EASY TO USE GAMING DEVICE".

 

[Xzeox]

The fact that Microsoft is waiting so long to "reveal" if the kinect turns off is what worries me.

Keep it unplugged, just to be safe. - Xbox One

 

[Lucane]

You would think with all the concern over the whole "Always On" thing they would be quicker to tell people that they can turn it off, but whatever. Just goes in line with how badly they've handled everything.

Do they mean the whole system or will the Xbone's Kinect have it's own power switch so the console can be in power down mode?

 

[Legion]

At first I thought, "Oh, good, Microsoft is making a positive announcement," but, actually, I'm still confused. So, you can turn the Kinect off completely, but Kinect is still required in order to play games? Does that mean I can only turn the Kinect completely off when the system is off, but that it's mandatory to turn it on when I actually want to do anything with it?

That was my understanding of it.

XBone is on = Kinect is on.
XBone is "off" (standby) = Kinect is on.
XBone is completely off = Kinect is off.

Is what I am assuming right now. Although according to an article a few posts above, while Kinect will be on, it's apparently possible to turn the camera off.

 

[Strazdas]

I Don't understand how the system will require kinect to be plugged in to operate, yet it can be turned off? Or maybe he was just referring to the system itself? Interested to see where this goes, as I am still looking forward to this console.

I think what this means is that it can be turned off when the system is off. when you use Xbone you will ahve to keep it on.

DON'T GET A SMART TV. XBONE DOES THAT. (but only in HD!)

As far as im aware there are no SD smart tvs.

 

[idarkphoenixi]

This just doesn't add up. You can "turn it off" yet you are still required to have one?

As far as I know they're still shipping a Kinect with every Xbox One, that's a massive cost increase (meaning a massive cost to THEM, since they can't possibly sell for a profit) And yet if you so choose, it can essentially be a very creepy paperweight?

You need to pay very close attention to the PR wording here. Can it be turned off 'at all times?' and 'under any circumstance?' and do you still need it to be connected to the Xbox, even if you can turn it off?

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

If I can't turn it off during gameplay I DON'T CARE!

 

[The Artificially Prolonged]

Well of course we knew we could unplug the system. Its not like they would the plug weld itself to the socket so that couldn't be turned off. I'd rather here about privacy settings the xbone has in relation to the kinect and standby mode.

 

[KoudelkaMorgan]

As many have already said, that statement "You can turn the system completely off. This would use no power and turn everything off. We'll share more details about how it all works later." just makes me roll my eyes.

I imagine it being said by the boss from Office Space in the most condescending voice ever.

You can turn it off, and...wait for it, this would use no power. We will explain this concept further later, mkay?

Yes, I know that is NOT how they intended it to be read, but it makes me laugh.

That there was ever a debate about the actual issue they are belatedly seeking to clarify is an example of poor communication. That even AFTER they sought to clarify it, people still don't know what they really mean is exceptionally poor communication. Telling us to await further details on how to turn off their not-a-game-console, as if anyone at this point is still optimistic on their ability to convey information that they alone possess regarding the machine they are pinning their future on, is...they may as well have had a bull shat on a note card and had a blind man read it to us like braille.

BS is BS.

 

[MiskWisk]

Question.

Does this mean just the Kinect can be turned off (the sensible one) or that you can turn the entire system off?

"You can turn the system completely off. This would use no power and turn everything off. We'll share more details about how it all works later."

This right here suggest to me that all they told us was the entire system could be shut off, not just the bit I'm concerned about. I mean, I do not want something spying on me while I'm playing a game.

 

[keniakittykat]

I still don't want ANYTHING that looks like HAL9000 in my living room...

 

[Madgamer13]

This whole big brother microsoft watching you is definately a concern, but not one that I share. I am too used to PC gaming and much prefer to stay with what I know, instead of entering the frightening area of console gaming. The family member who lives with me is also someone who doesn't need such complex systems, so I've no need to worry about a piece of tech watching me.

Judicial systems and watchdogs do need to pay attention however, even if Microsoft doesn't intend to use this type of tech for bad, it is all too possible for such things to be used against those it watches.

 

[Dragoon]

So the detailed instructions will be pretty much this right? Microsoft are just digging themselves deeper and deeper.

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

Wow. I didn't even think this was news. How do you think it comes in the box? If I were even remotely considering buying one, I'd be more worried that it is watching and listening all the time when the Xbox is on, which is to be honest, what I thought was the extent of the concern in the first place. I hadn't even considered that the Kinect would be operational all the time even when the Xbox is not in use, so I suppose I'm understandably underwhelmed by this information.

Virtually every damning feature of the Xbone has been hastily met by Microsoft with a "Oh no, it's not like that, nothing of the sort. It's only like that if you actually want to use the Xbox or any of its features".

 

[anian]

The only thing worse than camera and microphone that can't be turned off, that must be connected to the internet, can detect your heart rate, number of people and record in the dark...well if they gave it legs so it can follow you around, a strong laser pointer beam and maybe a creepy sound it makes when it moves.

Also I think we are all forgetting the big leap M$ is making here. They're going from a console that had extra insurance if it stopped working for random overheating or other reasons and just showed the ring of death, to a console that has a special feature of turning off when unplugged.

 

[Deathlyphil]

Also I think we are all forgetting the big leap M$ is making here. They're going from a console that had extra insurance if it stopped working for random overheating or other reasons and just showed the ring of death, to a console that has a special feature of turning off when unplugged.

To be fair, an always online, always watching, always listening device that DIDN'T turn off when uplugged would be far scarier.