Facebook, Ray-Ban team up for camera-embedded glasses

GaryPageau ,

Despite the lack of success of Google Glass and Snapchat Spectacles, Facebook has teamed up with Ray-Ban to launch Ray-Ban Stories, a $299 pair of “smart glasses” designed to capture photos and video. Ray-Ban Stories will be available for purchase in 20 style combinations online and in select retail stores in the US, as well as Australia, Canada, Ireland, Italy, and the United Kingdom.

Ray-Ban Stories have dual-integrated 5MP cameras, taking photos and up to 30-second videos using the capture button or hands-free with Facebook Assistant voice commands. A hard-wired capture LED lights up to let people nearby know when you’re taking a photo or video. Streamlined, open-ear speakers are built-in, and Ray-Ban Stories’ three-microphone audio array are for calls and videos. Beamforming technology and a background noise suppression algorithm provide for an enhanced calling experience like you’d expect from dedicated headphones.

Ray-Ban Stories, which come with a portable charging case, are available in three styles – Wayfarer (or Wayfarer Large), Meteor and Round – and five colors.

Ray-Ban Stories pairs with the new Facebook View app on iOS and Android to import, to edit, and to share content captured on the smart glasses to other apps like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, Twitter, TikTok, Snapchat, and more. You can also save content to the phone’s camera roll.

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Gary Pageau is principal of InfoCircle LLC, continuing his marketing communications career. InfoCircle LLC is a marketing and communications consulting firm, specializing in business-to-business markets. For nearly 25 years, he was with PMA International, serving most recently as Publisher, Content Development and Strategic Initiatives. His primary responsibilities included overseeing the Association’s editorial department, marketing research unit, education and corporate relations department.