I always thought Kinect Tango and other HW-dependent solutions were a fad, and SW-only on ubiquitous cheap sensors is the right solution. SW keeps getting cheaper, faster than HW does.

I predict that, even if Apple (re)starts the custom-HW fad, within 10 years we'll see devices with good-enough camera-plus-SW AR outnumber specalized-HW AR devices by at least 10:1, and it'll only get more extreme over time.

(Mind you, that prediction requires that we continue to get performance-per-watt-per-dollar improving; i.e. it assumes that Moore's law finds a way to outlive current processor fabrication technologies.)

> If AR is to be useful, it's got to be a lot better at tracking and drift, at making sense of the world, of supporting occlusion and mapping.

That's for sure.

The Tango model of using extra hardware is probably much better, but seems further ahead. The software model works today on existing devices and lets people see how this is useful. Once you have that convincing people it's with the money to have the hardware added to the phone becomes easier.

Given how many Android phones are lower cost than the flagship was Tango ever going to be very popular? Apple could have forced the issue (like Lightning or the headphone jack) but people could always switch Android OEMs to get something cheaper if they don't see the value.

I could be wrong, but I was under the impression they already leverage the dual cameras on the Plus phones.