Google Project Tango support

Lenovo (www.lenovo.com/) unveiled the 'PHAB 2 Pro,' the world's first smartphone to support Google's Project Tango, which enables augmented reality on smartphones. Along with this, it also announced the 'PHAB 2 Plus,' equipped with a dual camera, and the large-screen smartphone 'PHAB 2.'

Equipped with Tango technology, a set of sensors and software developed by Google, the 'Fab 2 Pro' can detect and map its surroundings, providing a cutting-edge augmented reality (AR) experience on a smartphone.

For example, through an augmented reality app, you can summon a life-sized virtual dinosaur into a classroom during class, and using the augmented reality data overlay feature, you can display information helpful for learning while walking around the dinosaur. With augmented reality games, you can not only play virtual dominoes but also raise a virtual pet in your bedroom.



You can also battle virtual aliens that have invaded your home. The Fab 2 Pro will change the way people perceive indoor spaces by creating new experiences, such as augmented reality museum tours, through the GuidiGo app. As such, the 'Fab 2 Pro' equipped with Tango technology provides an unprecedented user experience that allows for continuous learning and improvement via the smartphone.

Jeff Meredith, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Lenovo’s Android and Chrome Business Group, explained, “We wanted to turn an amazing idea into a commercially viable mobile device. Lenovo instinctively felt that Tango would become a technology used by everyone, just like GPS. Accordingly, we developed the 'Fab 2 Pro' to be accessible to general consumers at a reasonable price, so that it could become a true game changer in the smartphone market. Therefore, we are introducing to the market for the first time a phone that is fantastic in every respect, not just a phone equipped with cutting-edge technology.”

Google’s Director of Engineering, Johnny Lee, explained, “Tango technology enables devices to detect physical movement and space. This will ultimately bring about a significant change in how we interact with our surroundings. Devices equipped with location sensing capabilities will be widely used in our daily lives going forward. We expect the 'Fab 2 Pro,' equipped with these new features, to further enhance the usability of smartphones.”

Alex Katouzian, Vice President of Product Management at Qualcomm Technologies, said, “Lenovo needed a platform with powerful performance and reliability capable of supporting Tango. It is very encouraging that Lenovo adopted the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 652 processor to enable products with advanced technology and integrated design.” “Through close collaboration between Lenovo, Google, and Qualcomm, we have been able to fully deliver new and innovative user experiences in software powered by the Snapdragon 652. In addition, because there is no need for a separate coprocessor or hardware re-certification, we were able to meet Lenovo’s aggressive new product development schedule,” they stated.

Users can also use the Fab 2 Pro to help with the home remodeling process by virtually placing furniture in their living rooms or kitchens. Lowe's, a home interior specialist, is one of the first partners to develop a Tango-enabled app and plans to introduce an app called Lowe's Vision. Through this app, users can measure their space using Tango technology and preview how appliances, decorative items, countertops, or kitchen tiles will look placed. With Lowe's Vision, customers will be able to use next-generation augmented reality tools with a single touch of their finger.

Richard Maltsbarger, Chief Development Officer at Lowe's, said, “With Tango technology, customers can preview how their interior remodeling plans would look when actually implemented, which was previously impossible. By introducing Fab 2 Pro to Lowe's, we will support customers in confidently designing and completing their interiors.”

Tango's three core technologies are motion tracking, depth perception, and area learning. Through the motion tracking feature, the 'eyes' of the 'Fab 2 Pro' can see their position in a 3D environment. In addition, 'spatial learning' enables the smartphone to determine its current location, while 'depth perception' analyzes surrounding surfaces and obstacles to grasp the appearance of the real world. This marks the first time in history that a smartphone visualizes and understands surrounding objects and the environment. To achieve this, sensors capable of taking more than 250,000 measurements per second are used.

In addition to Tango technology, the 'Fab 2 Pro' boasts high-spec features befitting a premium smartphone. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 processor, the 'Fab 2 Pro' provides efficient hardware integration and processing, 4G LTE connectivity, cutting-edge time stamping, and camera and sensor processing. Demanding computer vision processing is achieved through a single, highly efficient Snapdragon processor, combined with a core module that tightly integrates a DSP, ISP, and an integrated sensor hub.

Snapdragon's heterogeneous computing platform is well-suited to support Tango's workloads and is designed for all-day use. Additionally, the Snapdragon 652 processor time-records and rapidly processes the vast amount of data generated in real-time from multiple camera sensors, gyroscopes, and accelerometers. This allows 3D AR graphics to overlay more naturally onto the real environment, delivering a fast and natural augmented reality experience.

The Fab 2 Pro features Dolby Audio™ Capture 5.1 and Dolby Atmos® playback capabilities, allowing you to enjoy everyday moments recorded with high-quality sound. With Dolby Audio Capture 5.1, you can record and share every moment of your daily life with incredibly clear 5.1-channel surround sound, capturing special moments with richer, clearer, and deeper audio. To this end, it is equipped with three microphones, spatial acoustic capture technology, and noise reduction functions.

It also supports crisp 4K video recording with a 16-megapixel camera. Furthermore, when watching Dolby Atmos content with headphones, you can enjoy vivid sound that feels as if you are actually inside the screen. The 6.4-inch 'Phab 2 Pro' supports ultra-high definition QHD (2560 x 1440) resolution and adopts an intelligent Assertive Display to deliver optimized image quality tailored to ambient lighting and content.

More detailed information about the development of the Lenovo 'Fab 2 Pro' equipped with Tango can be found on the Lenovo website (http://news.lenovo.com/TechWorld2016).