Google Launches 'Project Tango' 3D-Mapping Smartphone

[inkswamp]

If I can ask my phone where I lost my keys, and it tells me where they are because of this technology, then that is awesome.

The only people that should be afraid of Google (and the NSA) information gathering are terrorists and pedophiles, so if you don't count yourself part of either or those groups there is nothing to worry about.

But honestly there must be a lot of pedophiles and terrorists out there the way people always complain about this stuff.

Don't see the value of privacy, huh? Fine. Post your bank account, PIN, and all your credit card info here if you really believe that. Throw in your logins and passwords for all the sites you frequent too as well as your personal contacts, your social security number and tax returns.

I mean, why not, right? You say the only people concerned about privacy are criminals and unsavory types. So prove it. Post all your personal data right here, right now.

 

[Barnso]

I personally think this thing is creepy...
But I also avoid google as much as I can...
But I noticed that almost everybody in the Video is using a mac.
Even if they do evil and develop 1984 style tech , they develop it on great mashines
Maybe it is time for apple to bring the 1984 commercial back...

 

[kevinof]

You don't get it do you? Google are not creating a product here. They are building a technology so that others can build something. They (have) invested a lot of money (from the looks of it) into this idea, built a platform and will now release it to developers and say - here we think this is great but let's see what cool applications you come up with.

What's wrong with that? This is one of the things I like about Google. They put money into something that may never bring in real $'s just because it seems like a useful technology.

Let's see Apple do something similar with all their cash in the bank.

Typically Google, announcing something that is just in a test phase. I wonder how many of those projects Apple has going on. Difference is, apple don´t share things until its ready. Google tend to release alpha software and it stays in that state for many years and make the company seem messy.

 

[Nevaborn]

3D printing has a huge future and so does the capture and rendering of a 3D environment.

But putting this tech in a phone is a gimmick. It lacks any real direction or purpose to the average user. This is a fail.

 

[Solomani]

fascinating idea, horrible codename

I wish Apple would code-name one of their future projects…. 'Project Koolaid'.

 

[whooleytoo]

Crowd-source 3D mapping. Potentially, every city/town would be fully 3D mapped / modelled.

Never mind Liberty City / Los Santos, I can't wait to play Grand Theft Auto: Cork City! Woohoo!

 

[CJM]

This is really cool tech that I hope to see come to all phones someday.

As long as you can refuse to upload your mapping data.

Seems like you could just add a second camera, add focal distance to the metadata and stream the video/photo feed to a cloud server for the heavy lifting of the 3d calculations. I have been wondering why Amazon hasn't done this with the kindle for a while. No more guessing if clothes will fit, use the kindle to make a 3d model and know they will fit.

That's such a cool idea... What if you could scan your entire body and have clothes custom made to fit you, without visiting a tailor?

Scan, choose a fit and pay. Get tailored clothes instantly. The possibilities!

 

[alphaod]

I think Apple should combine forces with Google on this. Maybe add Microsoft too with the Kinect and all that.

 

[DaffyDuck]

If I can ask my phone where I lost my keys, and it tells me where they are because of this technology, then that is awesome.

This will more likely happen when it is integrated into Google Glass and future wearable technologies. Imagine being able to see changes in your environment. "Google, show me the differences in this room from last week."

What I'd like to see next is automated texture creation and mapping and object creation. You look at your couch. It knows it's a couch and turns it into a couch object.

 

[FirstNTenderbit]

Creepy and invasive.

Is Google just a front for the NSA?

How did you read the post and come to this conclusion?

 

[huntlane]

Am I the only one starting to think that Google is genuinely innovative, and Apple is not?

Glass, Loon, and now this, have all popped up within a short time frame, and all have the potential to change things dramatically.

What's Apple done within the same time frame? Besides the usual refreshes / updates to their usual lineup.

Not released products until they are ready for the mass market?

 

[i-John]

I want to be a Project Tango Explorer for $1500 and help Google map private interior spaces for the betterment of humanity, it's the least I can do to help this multi-billion dollar corporation.

But seriously, "it takes two to tango" meaning Google + some unwitting jerk like me.

But of course, if Apple does the same thing later, it's cool and innovative.

 

[krravi]

That's right, somehow I am not sure.

As you should be, not knowing how or even if it will work.

I am.. but I have a good imagination....

 

[urbanslaughter1997]

This is just awesome. We're starting to see things we all imagined would be part of our future. I just hope I live long enough to see the cool things that will come from this!

 

[pickaxe]

Not released products until they are ready for the mass market?

iOS 7, Apple Maps., Siri, the 3rd Generation iPad, OS X 10.7...

 

[A MacBook lover]

So Apple had 3 "wows"- all at least 3 years apart. And also, the ipad isn't as a big of a "wow" as you think buddy

It wasn't when it was announced, until I actually used one for the first time. Apple popularized and perfected three product categories. It's only a matter of time for the next.

 

[IJ Reilly]

Probably to use crowd sourcing to 3D map the world at no expense for Google.

That's a good thought. You could be right.

The only method I see in Google's madness is to constantly try and look fresh and innovative so their brand doesn't go stale. They need Android in order to stay relevant in mobile search. There aren't many obvious things left to do with the mobile phone platform, but if there's only a few power-ups left, Google has to be sure Apple doesn't find them first. The two killer apps are games and navigation, and Tango supports both.

Google is being pretty up front about the fact that this is research, not a product. They built 3D imaging into a phone form factor and they want to see what people could do with it.

Apple bought Primesense, Microsoft/Nokia has Kinect. This is Google's move, and it's not a trivial showing. Microsoft would have put together that video and then buried the tech because they didn't know how to finish it or what to do with it. To Google's credit they're taking it public.

I'm not sold, but I'm interested in what happens next.

I suppose what tends to irritate me about Google is their pursuit of random and often ridiculous projects that apparently have little if any hope of becoming profitable. They often behave like kids with a compulsion to fill their closet with more and more toys because they are bored with the ones they already own. Apple may be too much the opposite, but I see little method in Google's madness. The fact that so many cheer them on seems a bit strange to me.

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But of course, if Apple does the same thing later, it's cool and innovative.

Maybe, or not. The "innovation" being celebrated here is not an actual product, but a project. If/when Apple joins this fray, they will do it with an actual product.

 

[KdParker]

This could be supremely useful in design & engineering, once it's about a hundred thousand times more accurate than it is now.

But I don't want it in my life.

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Then why record and store everything?

Today, maybe not. Tomorrow...

When you are born in the states you where tracked.
As soon as you get a SSN you are tracked.
As soon as you open an account, buy a cell , etc....you are tracked.

They can already piece together what you do and when you did it without your emails/electronic data.

So the issue of NOT wanting to have your personal information collected and stored is a 'right' that we as consumers have already given away. (Long before the internet)

If you really are so concerned about your emails to whoever about whatever being collected, are you willing to have a black hole in data surveillance that people with bad intentions can operate freely.

I have always operated under premise that if I put it online, it can be accessed by whomever want's to put in the effort.

That will not stop for corporations, criminals, hackers. Making a big issue out of the government doing what corporations in all fields are already doing doesn't make alot of since to me.

 

[Kadorus]

http://matterport.com/

They use a "Kinect-like" device to 3D-fy your building, house, etc, primarily for remodeling purposes but could easily be used for an FPS (my personal dream ).

And today they have a video demonstrating use of Tango!
http://vimeo.com/87234195

 

[oliversl]

This project is an excellent example of Google Marketing. How great is this, but has no use for the mass, just like Glass.

Will Google make any money of this? Never
Will it make Google stock price climb? Absolutely

 

[sixrom]

I admire how fearless Google is. They innovate and take chances, not afraid to fail, they're doing what Apple used to. The amount of success greatly increases when you're not afraid. All the excitement they generate, all the innovation they display is truly amazing.

I _really_ enjoy my MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and iPads. Hopefully at some point in the future Apple will create an up to date iPhone. From the very first one until two years ago, iPhone was my primary smartphone.

Then I tried Android, lured away by it's larger display. Bought a Galaxy that came with SWYPE, wow that was an eye opening fun new typing experience. Now it's what I rely on, mainly because it's such a time saver and fun experience.

Only time will tell if Apple continues to be content profit taking, or decides to innovate. They're the best when they do, it's just a question of "will they?"

 

[nfl46]

This is pretty cool.

 

[kdarling]

I admire how fearless Google is. They innovate and take chances, not afraid to fail, they're doing what Apple used to.

On the good side, Google is not afraid to try anything in public. On the down side, sometimes they yank support for things they lose interest in.

The amount of success greatly increases when you're not afraid. All the excitement they generate, all the innovation they display is truly amazing.

True, partly because of their secrecy, Apple have gotten themselves into the unenviable position of not having the luxury to fail, after they do finally reveal a project or its update.

Perhaps they need more projects classified as a "hobby", like ATV, that they can put out without having to be super polished. Or not.

 

[IJ Reilly]

On the good side, Google is not afraid to try anything in public. On the down side, sometimes they yank support for things they lose interest in.



True, partly because of their secrecy, Apple have gotten themselves into the unenviable position of not having the luxury to fail, after they do finally reveal a project or its update.

Perhaps they need more projects classified as a "hobby", like ATV, that they can put out without having to be super polished. Or not.

Two extremes. Google is constantly thinking out loud, and Apple doesn't reveal anything about what they are thinking until a product is released. Probably neither extreme is very healthy, but I suppose that's why we read Mac Rumors instead of Google Rumors.

 

[dBeats]

It's going to be like Clippy from Microsoft. "Looks like you're going to the bathroom." [Shows you a Charmin Ad]

"I'm sorry Dave, Project Tango can't let you go into that bathroom without clicking on the Charmin Ad" (The Nest on the wall starts to glow red in the middle and the heat starts to rise)