There are two important new things to know about SnapChat. The first one is relatively easy: SnapChat is called Snap now. The second new thing might be somewhat more of a gamechanger: Snap(Chat) will start selling video-grabbing sunglasses starting this fall. Shooting Snaps without your phone, pretty cool right?
Spectacles, Specs for short, tries to become a success in the market where the Google Glasses failed.
What are the specs of Snap’s Specs? They are sunglasses, that will be available in three colours, that will have a small camera in both front upper corners of the frame (see featured image). When the button next to left camera is tapped, the cameras will record for up to 10 seconds. Additional clicks get you 10 more seconds each, with a maximum of 30 seconds of video. The snap you make will be stored in your glasses until you transfer them to your phone. These so-called Specs Snaps will be saved under the memories section of the snap(chat) application.
By means of a lightsource, the specs will let you (but also the people around you) know that you are recording. Meaning: it will not be able to secretly film individuals around you, as they aware of the fact that you are making a video.
According to Snap, your Specs should last about a day on one battery. Additionally, a charging case will be available that will make your Spectacles’ battery last for about a week.
So, now the important question, how much will a pair of these bad boys cost you? $130, including the battery case. That is equal to the price for a new pair of Ray Ban’s (that cannot record). Also, comparing this to Google’s first initial price of $1500 for their glasses, $130 seems more than reasonable. Of course, Google Glass could certainly do more than Snap’s Specs, but where $1500 just seemed to scare potential buyers, $130 is more likely to attract early adapters.
Where Google Glasses focused on ‘being the future’, and GoPro focuses on the adrenaline junkies and sport fanatics, Snap chose to go for a different market segment: the day-to-day life of an individual who is not called Travis Pastrana. Think of the Specs as a GoPro for the ‘normal’ stuff. With the Spectacles, Snap choses to stay in the present instead of ‘being the future’.
In today’s Western world, where everything is recorded and put on social media, Specs help you do just that. Specs will help you relive your memories by focusing on video capture, rather than on augmented reality.
Of course, as can happen with every new product, things could turn south. The Specs might flop when it turns out the human race is just not interested in recordable glasses. But the fact that they actually look like designer sunglasses, have an affordable price, and that Snap simply focused on today’s trend of recording memories, builds a strong case in favour of Snap’s Specs.
I’m curious to see if this indeed becomes the new social media #trend, but the prospects are positive.
