Just earlier this week, Google announced that the Project Tango tablet would be available for everyone willing to pony up $512. Previously an inivted was needed to obtain the tablet powered by the Tegra K1 processor and 4 GB of RAM. Now, it seems as if a successor is in the works, and this time it will be a smartphone.
Qualcomm may have jumped the gun a bit, seeing as Google hasn’t formally announced a Project Tango smartphone. The reasoning behind Qualcomm’s reveal is that the device will use the controversial Snapdragon 810 processor that has been plagued with overheating and throttling issues since its conception. Qualcomm’s entire press release can be seen below.
Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 810 processor will power Google’s next generation Project Tango smartphone development platform. Project Tango devices combine the camera, gyroscope, and accelerometer to estimate six degree of freedom motion tracking, providing developers the ability to track 3D motion of a device while simultaneously creating a map of the environment. This capability is especially useful for applications such as real-world 3D gaming, indoor navigation, and virtual and augmented reality experiences.
Developers will be able to utilize tools from Qualcomm Developer Network to take advantage of features included in the premium tier Snapdragon 810 processor and enhance the performance of Android applications, such as access to the Qualcomm® Hexagon DSP™ via the Hexagon SDK as well as the Qualcomm® Vuforia™ mobile vision platform.
If you need a refresher, Project Tango essentially gives the developers a way to use the camera, gyroscopes, and accelerometer to track 3D motion and make a map of the surroundings.
One has to wonder if Qualcomm is trying to win back the support of their flagship chipset, the Snapdragon 810. Like stated above, it has been overheating since day one, even though they deny it. There is a reason LG chose to use the Snapdragon 808 inside their flagship, the G4. If Google chooses to use a Snapdragon 810 in their Project Tango, it must be good. Right?
