When Dell launched the Venue 8 7000 tablet, a sleek device that's insanely thin, it included a bunch of extra cameras. They provided the hardware necessary for Intel RealSense, which adds depth-sensing capability for images. The end result was kind of awkward, but hey, it's an innovation in progress.

Today at the Intel Developer Forum, the company announced that it has worked with Google to develop a Project Tango developer kit for smartphones utilizing RealSense. To accompany this news, there's a smartphone sporting a 6-inch display and a bunch of cameras on the back. Engadget has shared several photos of the device, which looks a bit like the top half of a Nintendo 3DS.

Google's current Project Tango hardware, which lets developers create apps that are aware of the physical environment, is really pricey and gradually making its way to more countries. Today's announcement brings about more ways to tinker with how our devices perceive and display the area around them.

Interested parties should be able to use the developer kit to create 3D-mapping apps by the end of the year.

PRESS RELEASE