Google has announced the Project Tango Tablet Development Kit. The tablet has 3D mapping and sensing capabilities, along with high-end specs and will go on sale for developers later this month for $1,024.
Project Tango is one of the latest projects Google has opened up to developers and one of its main focuses is its 3D mapping and sensing technology, which will enhance the latest trend that many companies, including Facebook, are focusing on with its purchase of Oculus; virtual experience.
Google has already shown off a prototype of a Project Tango smartphone and the company has just announced the Project Tango Tablet Development Kit via its Google+ page.
"Today, developers excited about Project Tango can start building using the Project Tango Tablet Development Kit. Created in close collaboration with Nvidia, the development kit includes the new Tegra K1 mobile processor to create a platform designed for computer vision and 3D sensing. You can use the Project Tango Tablet Development Kit to make applications that track full 3-dimensional motion and capture surfaces in the environment."
Google is taking a similar route it took with its wearable Google Glass glasses. The Project Tango Tablet Development Kit is intended for serious developers and not everyday consumers to provide Google with feedback. The 7-inch tablet is a little cheaper than Glass' $1,500 price tag; developers will be able to sign up to be notified when the Project Tango Tablet Development Kit goes on sale later this year for $1,024.
The Project Tango tablet features a 7-inch display and is powered by a very powerful Nvidia Tegra K1 processor and 4 GB of RAM, which will do all the heavy lifting for the resource-intensive task of 3D mapping. It will also be equipped with a 4-megapixel rear camera with motion tracking and integrated depth sensor, along with a front-facing 120 degree camera. Google is including 128 GB of internal storage (no mention of microSD expansion slot) and the tablet will ship with a built-in 4G LTE radio, Wi-Fi 802.11, Bluetooth 4.0 LE (low energy), and GPS.
On the Project Tango Tablet Development Kit page Google notes that the tablet is not intended for consumers and will be available in limited quantities when it launches. Google created a short video of the Project Tango tablet below.
