Fashion Tech NewsCan Snap Inc’s Spectacles Shrug Off The Gimmick Label And Be Taken...
Can Snap Inc’s Spectacles Shrug Off The Gimmick Label And Be Taken Serious?
In May 2018 Snap Inc took a gamble by launching Spectacles 2, if you are debating on whether to invest we have decided to give you the answers to the most asked questions.
In 2016, Snap Inc, formerly known as Snapchat, confidently dived into the wearable tech space with their new ‘videocam shades’ called Spectacles. Sure, for some, Spectacles was a fun distraction, but once the hype was over, Spectacles went from innovative to gimmick, novelty, fad. These ‘negative’ labels led to news sites like Techcrunch wrote articles analysing why the product failed.
Sapphire with Twilight Spectacles | Photo Credit: Snap Inc
By the time 2017 rolled around many of us were already preparing for the burial of Spectacles right next to Google’s Glass, but it wasn’t long before we learnt that Snap Inc was undeterred by the bumps in the road. Instead, they had decided to give the smart glasses market another go with their Spectacles 2. Want to find out whether the new version of Spectacles is worth your hard earned cash? Well, we have the answers to the most asked questions.
What are Spectacles?
They are smart glasses that will allow you to take Snaps from your personal perspective, with just the tap of a button.
So what is the story about the latest version?
The new version of Spectacles incorporates some of Snap Inc’s community’s most requested features — water resistance and photo mode — as well as design updates and technical improvements. Designed to be fun and seamless Snap Inc has admitted to putting a lot of effort into improving the end-to-end Spectacles experience by focusing on three essential things; water resistance, improving image and audio quality, and increasing transfer speed.
Ruby with Sunset Spectacles | Photo Credit: Snap Inc
What fashionable features will entice me to invest in a pair of Spectacles?
Available in 3 new colours, besides the classic look making a comeback, Snap Inc has introduced three new approachable colours: onyx, ruby, and sapphire. You can also now choose between two Lens shades for each colour. Additionally, they have further miniaturised the electronics, so they’re sleeker and more lightweight. The temple area of the frame, which houses the bulk of the electronics, is about ⅓ smaller. This means that the charging case is smaller too, over 20% smaller.
Which technical features are most impressive?
The new dual-microphone that can capture clearer, higher quality sound, reducing wind noise and balancing the conversations in your Snaps. They have also developed a Wi-Fi only import that eliminates the need for SD content – so all content is in HD. This simplifies the experience and ensures you only see the highest possible video quality. Also thanks to “home wifi” memory, Snaps can transfer automatically to Snapchat when you return home. It is also good to know that Spectacles can store up to 150 videos or 3,000 photos at a time.
Ruby with Daybreak Spectacles | Photo Credit: Snap Inc
What does Snapchat Memories entail?
This is a feature that allows the user to transfer your ‘snaps’ to Snapchat Memories. This means that you can keep your snaps as memories for yourself, send to friends, post to your Story, or download to your phone’s camera roll!
How can I pair my Spectacles with Snapchat?
To pair Spectacles open Snapchat and go to your profile. Open settings and select “Spectacles”. Follow on-screen instructions and press and hold for 7 seconds. Now Snaps taken on these Specs will transfer to this specific Snapchat account.
Photo Credit: Snap Inc
Where are they available?
Spectacles are available in the US, Canada, France, Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Spain and Italy.
Where can I grab a pair and what will be the damage to my bank balance?
Spectacles are available exclusively at Spectacles.com, and they cost £149.99 which includes charging case and cable.
Founding editor-in-chief of FashNerd.com, Muchaneta is currently one of the leading influencers writing about the merger of fashion with technology and wearable technology. She has also given talks at Premiere Vision, Munich Fabric Start and Pure London, to name a few. Besides working as a fashion innovation consultant for various fashion companies like LVMH Atelier, Muchaneta has also contributed to Vogue Business, is a senior contributor at The Interline and an associate lecturer at London College of Fashion, UAL.
