Posted Thu Jun 9, 2016 at 02:15 PM PDT by Steven Cohen
The upcoming smartphone is the first to use Google Tango augmented reality technology.
Lenovo has announced the latest addition to its smartphone lineup. The Phab 2 Pro is now the first Tango-enabled smartphone, offering augmented reality (AR) gaming and utilities.
With Google Tango technology, the Phab 2 Pro uses a set of sensors and software to sense and map its surroundings, enabling an augmented reality experience through motion tracking, depth perception and area learning. In practice, this allows apps and games to overlay digital objects over a user's surroundings when looking through the smartphone's display. For instance, if a customer is shopping for a new bed, Tango AR technology allows them to view their bedroom through their phone while visualizing different options of virtual furniture in the space. Likewise, Tango gaming experience can allow users to play with a set of virtual dominoes on their kitchen table or fight against aliens invading their actual house. In addition, Google hopes that Tango will also help users navigate different real-world locations, like malls and museums through overlayed directions. Check out the video below for an example of the tech in action!
Beyond the added benefits of Google Tango, the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro features a 6.4" QHD (1440 x 2560) Assertive Display with a 2.5D curved glass and 8.9 mm aluminum unibody design. Under the hood, the device is powered by a Snapdragon 652 processor Tango Edition, 4 GB of RAM, and a 4050 mAh 2.4 x turbo charging battery. A 16 MP rear camera and an 8 MP front camera are included as well. In addition, the smartphone offers Dolby Audio Capture 5.1 with Dolby Atmos playback capabilities.
"Put simply, we wanted to take what was an amazing concept and transform it into a commercially viable mobile device," said Jeff Meredith, vice president and general manager of Android and Chrome Computing, Lenovo. "From the moment we saw Tango, we knew it could become pervasive, just like GPS. However, to truly make the PHAB2 Pro a game-changer, we developed it at an affordable price for mainstream consumers, delivering not just a bleeding-edge phone, but an all-around fantastic phone that’s first to market."
Lenovo's Phab 2 Pro is expected to launch globally beginning in September. Prices will start at $499.
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