Just on-time with Google’s I/O developer conference, the 3D-scanning tablet has been released for sale – it goes for $512, and everyone can buy it. Just head down to their official store, and order one for yourself.
Named Project Tango, the tablet is designed to map the room, and offer a new 3D experience to its owner – but there’s really no aww factor to it yet.
Be warned that if you buy the 3D-scanning tablet you’ll not get a device that is designed for public consumers, and most certainly it won’t please you. It has no determined functionality, and this model is focused on developers – devs that are tasked to bring order to chaos.
No wonder that Google announced the 3D-scanning tablet is going on sale on the day that their developer conference has started, and has subsequently removed any doubt that a wider retail release is in the works. It will come as no surprise if Project Tango 2 will make it’s début in the next few days.
Even though it has moved further down the line from being a conceptual toy, its main focus still is to please developers. This isn’t to say that you won’t have anything to do with it if you indeed buy the device. It runs Kitkat 4.4, and you can use it as your average tablet, but is it really worth it?
If you look under the hood, the 3D-scanning tablet is more than just a prototype on sale:
- NVIDIA quad-core Tegra K1 chip
- 4GB of RAM
- 128 GB of internal storage
That’s the oomph! effect that you’re experiencing right now. Those specs wowed us last year too – yeah, in the storage department it doesn’t shine; more so, when you find out that you can’t add a microSD card to expand your storage, but 128 gigs of space is more than enough for the average Joe.
Google’s 3D-scanning tablet sports a beautiful 1080p display – it’s sharp, and offers crisp colours, and textures. Now, being focused for developers, Google didn’t built the device with appeasing the masses in mind, so don’t expect a shockingly awesome design. It features a minimalistic style, that quite suits Project Tango, and it gives it a more futuristic feel to it.
It features one USB 3.0, a micro-HDMI slot, Bluetooth LE, and LTE – availability may depend on which carrier you’re using, so if I were you, I would call them and ask what options I have.
The seven-inch 3D-scanning tablet was built to last, that’s way it packs quite a punch in the performance department. But what about pictures? Can you use it to take photos?
Sure you can, and you’ll amazed at what kind of quality it can output. It has two cameras, and a depth sensor on the back. One of the camera sports a 4-megapixel unit, and is paired with huge two-micron pixels – something on the line of what the UltraPixel sensor in HTC’s one is. It offers high light sensitivity, and faster speeds than your normal camera. Most of you will consider the 4-megapixel unit a deal breaker, and sadly, they won’t read further.
The second unit tracks motion, and offers a 170-degree wide-angle – a fish-eye lens to be more exact.
All of these goodies are encompassed is a slightly chunky looking device, but this may come as a feature to some of us known for being butterfingers. You can easily grip it with one hand, but I highly recommend you do it the right way, and use both of them. Here’s why.
Remember that Project Tango is a 3D-scanning tablet, this means that you can have some fun with its playable demo. If the settings are right, you can turn your room into a dungeon. Explore your hidden cave, as you see fit.
Most likely Google will announce a new iteration soon – more high-tech specs, and probably even a better camera. We’ll keep you updated as soon as any new info leaks from the I/O developer conference. Until then, I leave you with Project Tango’s promo clip.
