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Snap has announced its fifth-generation augmented-reality glasses, which will only be available to developers. The upgraded version of Spectacles overlays digital effects onto photos or videos of real-life surroundings through a camera or lens.
While Snap has been an early leader in AR, its core online advertising business has been struggling. Hence the latest edition has been targeted at key players who must commit to paying $99 a month for one full year if they want to build AR apps for the device.
The Spectacles were announced on Tuesday (September 17), at Snap’s annual Partner Summit in Los Angeles, where CEO Evan Spiegel acknowledged that breaking into the AR field has been challenging.
He said: “Making augmented reality glasses is really hard. And we know that the industry is littered with companies that have tried, and we’ve been working for a really long time on these.”
Snap first launched its smart glasses capable of recording video in 2016, selling them through vending machines in Los Angeles before expanding availability online. While the company reported sales of 150,000 pairs, most users stopped wearing them after a month, and lackluster demand left hundreds of thousands of units unsold.
Consequently, Snap’s director of AR Platform, Sophia Dominguez, admitted they were being cautious about the new release. She stated: “What we can’t predict is consumer adoption and so that’s why we’re taking this more thoughtful approach to how we’re releasing this version.
“It could change at any time, and if it does change … we’re ready to go.”
In February, ReadWrite reported that Snap had laid off around 529 employees as part of a restructuring, and its shares fell more than 20 per cent after the company reported its latest quarterly results in August.
Snap AR glasses key features
See the world through a different Lens. 👓
At today’s Snap Partner Summit, we introduced the fifth generation of @Spectacles, powered by Snap OS, our brand-new, groundbreaking operating system designed to enhance how people naturally interact with the world.
Learn more:… pic.twitter.com/fFRLpyA3Uc
— Snap Inc. (@Snap) September 17, 2024
Spectacles runs on a new operating system called Snap OS, which responds to hand and voice commands and better understands the user’s surroundings for enhanced AR effects, according to Spiegel. The glasses have a wider field of vision than earlier models and automatically tint in sunlight.
However, what people can do with AR glasses remains limited. Snap’s Spectacles can track hand movements, which means users can pick up and assemble virtual Legos, swing a phantom golf club, collaborate on drawings, and use a digital calculator. The device also includes AI, allowing users to ask questions and generate images through voice commands.
A Snap spokesperson told ReadWrite: “We’re currently only making [Snap Spectacles] available for AR creators and developers as a testing ground so that we can build something great together.”
“We’ll share details about any general availability in the future as we continue testing with our AR development community.”
Featured image: Snap Inc.
