Snapchat has rebranded itselfs recently as Snap Inc, presenting itself as a camera company. The company renamed itself to reflect its expansion into consumer hardware. Spectacles will be the first product from Snap Inc an will cost $130. Spectacles are Sunglasses with a camera. Spectacles let you tap the glasses rim to instantly record 10 seconds of video, with a maximum of 30 seconds by tapping three times. The video is captured with an 115-degree wide view lens in a format that can be watched full-screen on a phone in any orientation.
The video made by the Spectacle is automatically stored and can be wirelessly sent to to a phone over Wifi or Bluetooth so the user can edit and share via Snapchat later
Snap Inc is not the first company to offer such a product. Google offered such a product by releasing Google Glass, but their product faced a lot of criticism over privacy concerns, and people who weared these glasses were viewed by many as nerdy and annoying people. Google Glass users are branded as“glassholes.”
Google Glass failed to take off for many reasons. First off all the price. Google Glass debute price was $1500 dollar which was unafordable for most of the Google fans. Secondly the Google Glass looked very nerdy and most of the young people did not liked the design and lastly the privacy issues, most people did not liked the fact that someone with a google glass could record them without knowing.
So what is the difference between Google Glass and Spectacles and will Spectacles succed?
Functions
Where Google failed, and where Snap may succeed, is in how the public perceives the product. Google Glass was an attempt at putting the experience of a smartphone inside a pair of glasses. Spectacles are designed for one thing, and one thing only.Filming short, throwaway clips from one’s own view-point By deliberately limiting what Spectacles can do, Snap Inc has streamlined the product and kept the price tag low. Spectacles retail at $129.99, less than a pair of designer sunglasses and much less than a pair of $1500 Google Glasses. This price is affordable for most comsumers.
Where Google failed, and where Snap may succeed, is in how the public perceives the product. Google Glass was an attempt at putting the experience of a smartphone inside a pair of glasses. Spectacles are designed for one thing, and one thing only.Filming short, throwaway clips from one’s own view-point By deliberately limiting what Spectacles can do, Snap Inc has streamlined the product and kept the price tag low. Spectacles retail at $129.99, less than a pair of designer sunglasses and much less than a pair of $1500 Google Glasses. This price is affordable for most comsumers.
Design
Another difference is the design. Spectacles look cooler and less nerdy than Google Glass. The spectacles are available in black, teal and coral, and are basically looking like sunglasses you can buy at popular sunglasses webshops Cheapasszonnebrillen and Ikhebeenbril
Another difference is the design. Spectacles look cooler and less nerdy than Google Glass. The spectacles are available in black, teal and coral, and are basically looking like sunglasses you can buy at popular sunglasses webshops Cheapasszonnebrillen and Ikhebeenbril
Charger
Snap Inc has come up with a very creative idea and design to charge the Spectacle. The Snap Spectacles charger is like a case of sunglasses, it keep-safes the sunglasses so they don’t break and it also charges the spectacle. The battery should last a day and you can get up to four full recharges from the portable charging case.
Snap Inc has come up with a very creative idea and design to charge the Spectacle. The Snap Spectacles charger is like a case of sunglasses, it keep-safes the sunglasses so they don’t break and it also charges the spectacle. The battery should last a day and you can get up to four full recharges from the portable charging case.
Privacy
Snap spectacles have a unique feature which indicates that it is recording a video.
The glasses have a light on the front alerting people you’re recording. This feuture was indicated due to the privacy criticism Google getted.
Snap spectacles have a unique feature which indicates that it is recording a video.
The glasses have a light on the front alerting people you’re recording. This feuture was indicated due to the privacy criticism Google getted.
Conclusion
I think the Spectacle will be a success since it is affordable and it looks nice. Most of Snapchat users are young people (13-16 years old) who are willing to buy these kinds of products
I think the Spectacle will be a success since it is affordable and it looks nice. Most of Snapchat users are young people (13-16 years old) who are willing to buy these kinds of products
http://www.wsj.com/articles/snapchat-releases-first-hardware-product-spectacles-1474682719
http://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2016/09/24/snaps-spectacles-may-succeed-where-google-failed/#1aacd6528dd8
https://www.cnet.com/news/snapchat-spectacles-glasses-camera-snap-inc-evan-spiegel/
http://www.businessinsider.com/snap-is-doing-something-i-havent-seen-since-the-1970s-2016-9
http://www.techtumor.com/2016/09/27/why-snap-spectacles-will-succeed-over-google-glass/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2016/09/24/snaps-spectacles-may-succeed-where-google-failed/#1aacd6528dd8
https://www.cnet.com/news/snapchat-spectacles-glasses-camera-snap-inc-evan-spiegel/
http://www.businessinsider.com/snap-is-doing-something-i-havent-seen-since-the-1970s-2016-9
http://www.techtumor.com/2016/09/27/why-snap-spectacles-will-succeed-over-google-glass/
Thanks Ruben for your interesting post about Snap’s Spectacles!
It is great how you made the comparison with Google Glass, in my opinion I think Snap Spectacles will be a success as well. However, I have some side notes to take into account on your mentioned factors: function, design and privacy.
Where Glass was an exercise in speculative future-gazing, as you mentioned, Snap’s new Spectacles are a study in opportunity. Their simplicity, the very decision not to even attempt to break new technological ground, could be the very thing that assures their place in the future. Snap does give Spectacles one particularly innovative touch: the circular video that the device shoots. In a stroke, that’s solved, for Snapchat, at least, the annoying problem of video appearing in the wrong orientation if people hold their phone in horizontal view.
Second, about the design. The styling is undeniably youthful, and it’s easy enough to imagine a teenager lusting after a pair. However, Snap is trying to attract more users from over 25. Those people are more attractive to advertise to, because unlike teens, they tend to have money. But it’s not clear if Spectacles are the product to drive that adoption.
Third, about privacy. Glass suffered a lot of criticism for the ways in which it enabled snooping, and Snap will be seeking to avoid the same. It is clearly at least considered the issue: the glasses light up when they’re recording, which may help. A little. But that feature is sure to be hacked within days of the device’s release.
What could act in Snap’s favor is volume. While Glass targeted wealthy, middle-aged Sillicon Valey gadget freaks whom are perceived as not very ‘normal’. Snap targets Millenials whom are perceived as young innovative and inspirational people and could help to normalize public video recording. If it does, and they do, Spectacles could help Snap turn an idea that’s always proved unsuccessful into something that allows people to document their lives easily.
Source:
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/602465/why-snaps-spectacles-are-going-to-finally-make-life-logging-cool/