Snap's Rocky Start with Specs
When Snap debuted its long-awaited smart glasses, Specs, earlier this year, the reveal was not only underwhelming but a genuine disaster. The glasses β which cost a whopping $2,200 and are vaguely reminiscent of scuba gear β inspired jeers online and calls for CEO Evan Spiegel to resign. The company's stock subsequently nosedived.
Since then, Snap has clearly been looking for an opportunity to explain why Specs β a heavy, expensive piece of hardware that most casual consumers will probably be unable to afford β deserves to exist.
A Second Chance to Make the Argument
This week, the company got that chance. At an event in Los Angeles, Spiegel and other Snap executives unveiled a variety of new features and services connected to Specs. The updates appear designed to integrate the glasses into a broader array of digital activities and, in doing so, give Specs a clearer sense of purpose.
During the event, Spiegel shared details about several new features. After a trippy promotional video vaguely reminiscent of an ayahuasca hallucination, the CEO took the stage and began a series of live demos.
New Entertainment Integrations
New entertainment options β Specs can now connect with HBO Max and Spotify β provide a baseline of interactive fun that smart glasses have largely lacked until now.
Specs Intelligence: The Centerpiece Announcement
Yet perhaps the biggest announcement was the launch of Specs Intelligence, which the company calls a new "anticipatory AI" system designed to pair not only with the company's glasses but with user devices β including iPhones and Macs. Snap claims that this new system "builds an understanding of your goals, priorities, relationships, and routines from the apps and tools you choose to connect, helping you focus on what matters ..."
via TechCrunch