Google's depth-sensing Project Tango tablet get one step closer to reality today, as it appeared on the Play Store for the first time. The device was previously only available in very limited quantities at Google's I/O developer conference, but soon anyone that was unable to attend the event will be able to get their hands on one.
First spotted by Android Police, the tablet has some seriously impressive specifications: powered by the same Nvidia Tegra K1 processor found in the Nexus 9, with 4GB of RAM and a whopping 128GB of onboard storage, it looks like the most powerful Android tablet ever - and that's before you take the array of cameras and sensors on the back into account.
Capable of making 250,000 3D measurements every second, updaing position and orientation in real-time, Project Tango can create a single 3D model of the space around the user.
When it was first revealed as a prototype smartphone back in February, Google intended Project Tango to be a testbed for developers to come up with unique new ways to use depth-sensing technology. Using the cameras and sensors on the front and back of the device, the company proposed measuring the dimensions of a house by walking around with your phone, helping the visually-impaired navigate unfamiliar locations unassisted, or playing augmented reality games using your furniture as obstacles.
The device might now be visible on the Play Store, but there's no mention of pricing or availability. It cost $1,024 at Google I/O, so it's looking likely Google will charge the same through the Play Store. It's very much a developer device so won't be aimed at the public, and it's not clear whether it will be available outside of the US, but it's a welcome next step for the technology that could eventually see it filtering into commercial smartphones and tablets.
