Lenovo Rolls Out Smartphone With Google’s Tango

Lenovo has reportedly rolled out the first-ever AR smartphone using Google’s depth-sensing technology dubbed Tango.

According to a report, the Lenovo Phab2 Pro went on sale earlier this week, priced at $499. In conjunction with the launch of the new smartphone, Google announced more than 35 new apps for Tango, all of which can be downloaded at the Google Play Store as of now. The idea behind Tango, which was born at Google’s Advanced Technologies and Projects division, or ATAP, was to integrate an array of sensors and cameras into a mobile device with the goal of having the device figure out its position based on its surroundings. With the technology, users can get directions, aid in home improvement projects and even create cartoon worlds. There’s also a host of games, including “Crayola Color Blaster,” which is a “zombie color-blasting game,” according to the report. The report noted the zombies show up in augmented reality view on the display so it appears as if the zombies are in the user’s room.

Arielle Lehrer, CEO of Legacy Games, the creator behind “Crayola Color Blaster,” said in the report the idea was originally to make coloring books in real space, until the company realized it could do a lot more with the technology. “We started to think about the magic window idea of Tango,” added Andrew Duncan, the game’s lead designer, in the report. “Anywhere you look, you change the environment. It really plays in any space.”

At a time when virtual reality is getting all the attention, Google with Tango is showcasing what can be done with augmented reality.