Snap launches fifth-generation Spectacles, adds SnapOS

Snap Inc. announced several initiatives at its SPS 2024 conference. Despite its recent struggles, the company is forging ahead with new hardware initiatives, and plans to expand its software platform. Among the highlights:

• Fifth-generation Spectacles, the company’s see-through, standalone AR glasses enable the user to use Lenses and experience the world in tnew ways. Spectacles are powered by Snap OS, a new operating system. Spectacles are available as part of our Spectacles Developer Program. Spectacles also work seamlessly with mobile devices. Through the new Spectacles app, users can use the phone as a custom game controller with Lenses, launch Spectator Mode so friends without Spectacles can follow along, mirror your phone screen, and more. Spectacles weigh less than half the weight of a typical VR headset at only 226 grams. They are equipped with four cameras that power the Snap Spatial Engine and enable seamless hand tracking. The Optical Engine has been designed and built from the ground up here at Snap and leverages our proprietary technology to enable a see-through AR display. Spectacles’ small, highly capable Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) micro-projectors create vivid, sharp images.
• Snap announced a partnership with Google Cloud to power multi-modal GenAI experiences within My AI, the company’s chatbot.
• Adding GenAI tools to Snapchat Lens creation. The news Easy Lens makes it possible to build Lenses in a matter of minutes, just by typing what you want to create, the company said.
• A new Simple Snapchat, which organizes the app around communicating with friends, using the camera, and watching Snaps from friends and the broader Snapchat community, including creators and publishers. The new design unifies Stories and Spotlight.