We’ve already seen two Project Tango devices to date — one smartphone and one tablet — but they were both intended for developers. That’ll change with the next Tango device, which Google will make in collaboration with Lenovo.
Lenovo announced tonight that it’s working with Google to create the first consumer Project Tango device. The smartphone will launch in summer 2016 at a price that’s less than $500.
Most of the spec details of the device are still unknown, as is its design, but Lenovo does say that its Project Tango phone will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. Lenovo says that it, Google, and Qualcomm are working together to optimize the phone’s hardware and software to ensure a smooth experience. The phone will be able to give you an augmented reality experience that overlays information and objects onto the real world.
Project Tango has been an interesting project ever since Google first announced it in early 2014. The project is meant to create devices that can do things like create 3D maps, offer indoor navigation, and create immersive gaming experiences. So if your Project Tango device has the proper info, it can help you navigate inside a shopping mall to an object in a store using its cameras and sensors.
Since Project Tango is a fairly new project, third-party support is likely to be light at launch. Lenovo and Google are working to change that, though, inviting developers to submit Project Tango app proposals and possibly win funding to create their project. They could even have their app featured on the Lenovo Project Tango phone.
So now that we know when the first consumer Project Tango phone is going to launch, are you going to consider buying one?