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Pritect Sensor Cover for Xbox 360 Kinect
Score: 89%
Developer: Pritect
Device Type: Accessory


Function:

You want to harness the latest and greatest in gaming technology. That's why you own a Kinect. However, while that little camera can do some awesome things for games, you might not want an internet-connected camera pointing into your living room (or child's bedroom) when you're not using it. Whether it's the idea of advertisers watching you to better target your ads, hackers accessing your feed and watching you sitting on your couch eating chips in your unmentionables while watching TV or simply playing a game that features snapshot features when you weren't expecting them, if you're not ready for your close-up, Mr. Deville, then you don't want to be on camera.

However, removing the Kinect isn't an especially easy thing to do; certainly not when you might want to use it when you switch games in a half hour. The Pritect Sensor Cover gives you a quick and simple way to protect your privacy.


Performance:

The Pritect does just what it purports to do. It's a simple plastic sleeve that easily slips right over the Kinect and blocks the camera. Actually, it blocks everything on the front of the Kinect, with the exception of the Xbox 360 logo, which shows through a special rectangular cutout on the front of the Pritect.

I tested with the Pritect on and the sensor display in the bottom-right of the Xbox Menu screen goes completely black as soon as you slip the Pritect on the Kinect... and that's that.

Installation is a simple slip over the top of the Kinect and removal is just as easy. There's not really anything provided to store the Pritect when it's not on your Kinect, but I just set it off to the side when not in use.

Also, if you've got an otherwise nice home theater setup, but the Kinect LED indicator light and IR scanning pattern are distracting during your movies, slipping the Pritect over your Kinect will end this distraction, as well. Personally, I have a dozen other LED indicators on other devices that are just as distracting, but if you have an AV closet and all you have visible for gaming is your Kinect, then this could take your home theater the extra mile.


Features:
  • Hides LED Indicator Light and Infrared Sensor for Improved Home Theater Environment
  • Guards Privacy when Not Using Kinect Sensor
  • Protects Optical Lenses from Dust and Minor Impacts When Not In Use
  • Slips On / Off Kinect Sensor Easily
  • Felt Feet Prevent the Pritect from Scratching the Top of the Kinect

Drawbacks & Problems::

The fact that the Pritect is such a simple device means there's not a lot that you can do wrong. The design is simple and it works effectively. You can have the cover misaligned by a few inches and it is just as functional as being properly aligned.

The main issue I found is more of a conflict; it can't be used at the same time as a Nyko Zoom. Given that the minimum distance on the Kinect sensor is a bit much for your average living room or bedroom, the Zoom is a fairly popular accessory. However, if you have a Zoom on your Kinect, you'll have to remove it to use the Pritect. This means you're basically swapping them out for each other. Not a huge issue, just something worth mentioning.

The other issue I noticed is that even if you don't have a Zoom, when your Kinect is in use, you have to find some place to store your Pritect until you need it again. That might sound a bit petty, but it seems that it would be a small matter to make it reversible, such that when you want to use your Kinect, you would just remove the Pritect, turn it to face the rear of the Kinect and put it back on and strategically placed holes in the back of the Pritect would allow the Kinect to do its thing.

I have been called paranoid. On more than one occasion. However, I take security seriously. Many of those who say I'm paranoid simply don't know how easily privacy can be breached. If you want to keep your private life private while you're not using your Kinect, the Pritect offers that... and some piece of mind.


-Geck0, GameVortex Communications
AKA Robert Perkins

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