Spectacles
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Snap is working on a new set of Spectacles
Snap's first forays into hardware may not have been a rousing success -- a year after the launch of Spectacles there were reportedly hundreds of thousands of pairs still sitting in Chinese warehouses. However, it seems the company isn't willing to admit defeat just yet, as a new FCC filing has surfaced suggesting a new version of the tech is on its way.
Snap may release two new pairs of Spectacles soon
Snap's camera-adorned Spectacles were never going to be a huge seller; rather, they represented the company's first dip into hardware. Still, they sold less than expected, with reports claiming the company had hundreds of thousands of unsold pairs and a confirmation that Snap took a $40 million bath after completely mis-estimating demand. Despite a rocky launch, it seems that Snap may not be ready to give up on its hardware ambitions just yet. Cheddar is reporting that Snap is planning two new pairs of Spectacles.
Snap is backing away from reckless experiments and that’s okay
When Snap first started selling its video-recording glasses, the hype was real. The company had only focused on software before that and was dipping its toe into hardware with a relatively simple product. Add to that the device's limited availability via sporadic pop-up stores, and Spectacles fever spread rapidly. But hype alone cannot sustain a business. A year and a half later, with 150,000 Spectacles sold and hundreds of thousands reportedly languishing in warehouses, the furor has officially died out, apparently along with Snap's hardware ambitions.
Snapchat's in-app Snap Store peddles memetastic merch
It's no secret that Snapchat has struggled a bit when it comes to attracting users and generating revenue. And earlier this month, reports surfaced that Snap had laid off 22 employees and consolidated its content operations. Now, as TechCrunch reports, Snapchat has launched an in-app Snap Store, and it could be a sign of where the company will seek revenue going forward.
Snap heads to trendy east London to peddle those unsold Spectacles
What do you do when hype around your quirky hardware play dies, leaving you with hundreds of thousands of unsold units? You open an experience and retail store in a trendy part of east London and hope to catch a few late adopters cruising by, of course. That's exactly what Snap is doing this weekend, opening of a store dedicated to peddling Spectacles in the hipster haven that is Shoreditch's Boxpark. It's no transient pop-up, though, but a permanent store and Snap's first in Europe.
Snapchat plans a big redesign to attract more users
Rounding up the collection of tech companies releasing performance results this quarter is new kid on the (trading) block Snap Inc. According to its third-ever public earnings report, Snap continues to add daily active users (DAU) at a relatively slow growth rate of 3 percent. That translates to 4.5 million new users for the app, bringing the total number to 178 million. That's a far cry from the 800 million DAU on Instagram, which saw 100 million new users in less than half a year.
Snapchat reportedly has 'hundreds of thousands' of unsold Spectacles
Sure, they were a hot commodity when they first dropped, but almost a year later and Snapchat has "hundreds of thousands" of pairs of Spectacles sitting in Chinese warehouses. The news, via The Information, comes after CEO Evan Spiegel boasted that sales of the video-recording sunglasses had topped 150,000. Apparently execs were so enthused by how popular Spectacles were in their limited run, that the company ordered more and is left holding the bag now that demand has waned.
Snap CEO: Spectacles sales are 'over 150,000 units'
Now that the hype around Snap's Spectacles has died down, there is the question of how many units the company actually sold. In a conversation today at the Vanity Fair New Establishment Summit, CEO Evan Spiegel revealed that sales of its camera-equipped sunglasses had topped 150,000 -- more than the 100,000 units he claims the company expected and more than the iPod sold in its first year. It's hard to tell if that's spin or a sign that Snap has a real future in hardware, but Spiegel is pushing forward, as he told Walter Isaacson "If you look at the Snapchat camera, layering this expression on top of your experience encourages anyone anywhere to be creative." Of the company's IPO and recently slumping stock price he said: "I think one of the things we've been going through this year is how to communicate the Snap story."
Magic Leap’s rumored AR glasses may have been revealed in patent
Magic Leap's much-hyped augmented reality system has been an object of skepticism ever since the company was funded at a high level back in 2014. The tech world seems fairly obsessed with the possibilities, as is the company's founders, but no one is quite sure what the ultimate product will entail. We're a bit closer today with a newly granted patent (originally filed in 2015) for a smallish set of eyewear that could be the delivery system for Magic Leap's AR system.
Custom-built diving mask takes snaps under the sea
Spectacles have made sharing marginally exciting videos on land via Snapchat easier. It also helps that you no longer need to hunt down a vending machine to snag a pair in the US. But a custom diving mask built by Royal Caribbean cruise line using the social media's capture technology will make it easy to capture footage under the sea.
Andy Rubin's Essential is toying with the idea of smart glasses
Now that Andy Rubin's technology startup Essential has emerged from stealth, there's a healthy amount of interest around what the company plans to do to stand out. We've already had our first look at the Essential Phone and smart Home assistant, but a recent patent filing also hints that the Android co-founder and his team could launch smart glasses that look a lot like Snapchat's Spectacles.
Snap's camera-equipped Spectacles arrive in Europe
Snap's camera-equipped Spectacles have made their way across the pond. The creators of the famous ephemeral messaging app are bringing their first hardware product to Europe through their bright yellow vending machines called Snapbots. According to Wired, you'll find the first European Snapbot at the London Eye, where it's already dispensing Spectacles for £130.
NYT: Snapchat built its own drone
Snapchat's second or third reinvention was to describe itself as a "camera company," but really it wants to become a hardware maker. At least, that's the theory coming out of the New York Times, which has spoken to three anonymous employees who claim the startup has been working on a photography drone.
Snapchat's Spectacles can now be bought online
Snapchat's video and photo-capturing spectacles are no longer restricted to those who can hunt down its colorful vending machines. From today, you can also buy them online. Or rather, you can if you live in the US. Head to the Spectacles website and you'll see the option to purchase a black, coral or teal pair for $129.99. Add them to your basket, however, and you'll find a note which says "available in the US only," as well as a reminder that only six Spectacles can be ordered per address/person. A welcome expansion then, but one that will frustrate power-snappers outside the states.
What Snap's IPO tells us about Spectacles' future
When Snap Inc. officially filed its IPO last week, we finally got our clearest look yet at its operations. In addition to learning that its co-founders will be donating as many as 13,000,000 shares of their stock to a philanthropic organization the company quietly set up, we also found out just how much Snap paid for its acquisitions of Bitstrips and Vurb.
Snap Inc. is expanding its presence in China
Snapchat is officially banned by the Chinese government, but its parent company Snap Inc. is looking to expand its presence in the country's tech and manufacturing hub of Shenzen. According to a CNN, Snap Inc.'s Shenzen office will work on research and development related to Spectacles, the company's only hardware device, which is already being manufactured in China.
After Math: Come undone
It's been a hell of a week, folks. American intelligence confirmed that Russia conspired to hack of our election, Uber unleashed a pack of poorly trained autonomous automobiles upon the streets of San Francisco, Snapchat's Spectacles went all medicinal and Super Mario Run debuted on iOS. Numbers, because how else are you going to know how many fingers are feeding you magic?
ICYMI: Snap's Spectacles are being used to broadcast surgery
try{document.getElementById("aol-cms-player-1").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: A surgeon who goes by the name virtualsurgeon on Snapchat used Spectacles to broadcast a hernia surgery. Meanwhile the Office of Naval Research demoed its prototype autonomous swarm watercraft, that no joke travel in packs and investigate other boats. There was so much big news this week but we recommend reading up on how scientists are duplicating climate change data before a Trump presidency. As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.
Re-live the first surgery recorded via Snapchat Spectacles
UK-based teaching surgeon Dr. Shafi Ahmed -- the man who previously brought you surgery livestreamed in VR -- has repeated a similar feat in a slightly smaller format. After hearing about Snapchat Spectacles, Dr. Ahmed told the BBC that he saw an opportunity to "use cutting-edge technology in relatively low-cost gadgets to teach people everywhere."
Prescription lenses for Snapchat's Spectacles just got cheaper
While Snapchat's Spectacles are pretty neat, they're not ideal for those who need prescription lenses. A couple weeks ago, however, Rochester Optical announced that it would offer corrective lenses for the video-recording glasses for only $99. That sounds pretty good, right? Well, GlassesUSA announced today that it would offer the same thing starting at only $29 for single vision lenses. The catch here is that you'll need to have your very own pair of Snapchat Spectacles to start with. That's because you're only ordering the lenses themselves. Simply enter in your prescription and then you can choose from a variety of lenses such as reflective lenses, tinted sunglasses, transition lenses, computer "digital block" lenses" and more. Once you receive the lenses through the mail, you'll be able to "snap" those lenses in place yourself by following a how-to tutorial. There's no need to send the Specs to a specialty retailer. It all seems pretty easy enough, though the trick is getting those Snapchat Spectacles in the first place. Better head on over to New York City to get your pair now.
