Snapchat spectacles 2.0: Record photos, videos even underwater
Shares
LONDON - Snapchat has now introduced a new product, Spectacles 2.0, which is the company’s new version of eyewear with built-in cameras. This is the company’s second attempt after the first version failed to catch on with users of the youth-oriented social network.
The new product, Spectacles 2.0 "are now more comfortable to wear with a smaller profile, and they're water resistant -- so you can bring them to the beach, or your next pool party," Snapchat parent Snap Inc. said in a statement.
The sunglasses allow users to record photos, video and audio that can then be transferred to Snapchat for messages to friends. The new glasses will sell for $150 or $20 more than the first generation.
Last year, Snap took a write-off of some $40 million for unsold inventory of its Spectacles. Snap said it sold 150,000 Spectacles, but some reports said it had produced hundreds of thousands that were unsold.
Snap, which reports its quarterly results next week, has been losing money since its stock market debut last year. Known for its disappearing messages popular with teens, Snapchat has expanded its mobile application to include video, news and other content from a variety of media partners.
Snapchat's share of digital advertising is small but growing. The research firm eMarketer says the social network is expected to generate $1.36 billion in worldwide ad revenue, up more than 92 percent over last year but accounting only for a market share of just 0.5 percent.
Recently, Snapchat announced the launch of 'Snappables', a new range of Lenses for sharing experiences and playing augmented reality (AR) games. Snappables are a new form of interactive Lenses through which Snapchatters can share experiences and experiment with AR, and will be available in Snapchat's Lens Carousel, on the left side of the circular capture button.
To get started, a user may tap on a Lens icon and then follow the on-screen directions. Some Snappables invite users to jump into another world together and then invite their friends to join in. Snappables will begin rolling out to Snapchatters globally this week on iOS and Android, the company said. - Agencies
