Version 2 of Microsoft's highly praised Kinect motion sensor is coming to Windows on July 15.

The new Kinect for Windows v2 sensor, however, can only be used with Kinect for Windows software development kit (SDK) 2.0 which has to be licensed separately. It does not ship with any other software and will operate only with applications developed for Kinect for Windows v2.

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Developers can use it to build applications with C++, C#, VB.Net, Cx or JavaScript.

Kinect 2.0 for Windows will retail for $199. Pre-orders are still open through the Microsoft Store in 23 territories.

Analysts said the Kinect 2.0 for Windows enables more of the precision and intuitive capabilities developers need to fashion interactive voice- and gesture-based applications for the Windows desktop and Windows Store.

Kinect is a range of motion sensing input devices marketed by Microsoft in 2010 for Xbox 360 and Xbox One video game consoles and Windows PCs. The original version was built around a webcam-style add-on peripheral that enabled users to control and interact with their console/computer without using a game.

The original version of the Kinect, however, didn't come with a standard USB port for transmitting data, making it incompatible with PCs. On the other hand, Kinect 2.0 for Windows gives the device a standard connector and also ensures full compatibility with the Kinect for Windows SDK.

Kinect 2.0 includes an upgraded 1080p main camera with a wider-angle lens. The camera also has better depth-sensing capabilities; can track more players in one frame and has a larger field of view.

Microsoft said Kinect developers will have easy access to publishing apps in the Windows Store.

Some pundits believe Kinect 2.0 will open the doors to another deluge of useful hacks. The original Kinect for PCs resulted in a deluge of hacks that made use of Kinect's sensors.

The first-generation Kinect was introduced in November 2010. Microsoft released Kinect SDK for Windows 7 in June 2011 This SDK allowed developers to write Kinecting apps in C++/CLI, C#, or Visual Basic .NET.

TagsKinect 2.0, sensor, sale