Snapchat is a different kind of social experience. The messaging application operates differently than Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or any of the other social networks on which businesses can curate content and track engagement from a social media management and analytics platform. Its ephemeral messaging and user interface (UI) are intentionally more difficult to use. It's also marketed at a younger demographic and, unless they're a Discover partner, businesses are largely left to their own devices when it comes to growing their audience and engaging users.
So, when Snap, Inc. announced Snapchat Spectacles—the startup's foray into hardware and wearable devices ahead of a reported $25 billion initial public offering (IPO)—it wasn't exactly surprising that Snap handled the marketing and rollout of the Snapchat-connected sunglasses a bit differently. Instead of a mass rollout around the holiday season and review units for popular tech publications, Snap dropped cute roaming vending machines called Snapbots into different cities around the country, each sporting a limited number of the $130 Spectacles.
Snap describes itself as "a camera company" that sells "toys" to the connected generation. Spectacles are a key piece of the company's business model as it diversifies its revenue streams ahead of its IPO. The wearables market isn't exactly doing gangbusters at the moment, with action camera maker GoPro announcing it's cutting 15 percent of its staff amid restructuring, and health tracker company Fitbit reportedly acquiring smartwatch pioneer Pebble. The state of the market makes Spectacles all the more intriguing, particularly since Snap has thus far continued its "limited rollout" amid mounting buzz for its colorful glasses that record video snippets synced to your Snapchat Memories.
What You Need to Know
Thanks to Snap's out-of-the-box marketing, there's still a fair bit of mystery surrounding what you actually get with a pair of Spectacles and what the eyewear can do. Social listening and influencer marketing agency Mediakix put together the infographic below breaking down what comes in the box, the hardware specs, and where you may be able to find a pair.
Spectacles come with four pieces of hardware: the glasses themselves, a charging case, a USB charging cable, and a cleaning cloth (shaped like a ghost, of course). The glasses come in three colors: black, teal, and coral, and the battery can power around 100 10-second snaps per charge with compatibiliy for both Android and iOS. The Spectacles also don't need to be in range of your phone to sync; once you've paired the glasses with your Snapchat app, once the Spectacles are back in Wi-Fi range of the phone your recorded snaps will sync with your Memories.
The case holds four charges and takes about 90 minutes for a full charge. As far as the camera and LED specs go, Spectacles shoot 115-degree circular video in HD quality. There are small cameras in the top corner of each lens, each with a ring of LED lights. Here's a quick cheat sheet on what each LED light indicator means and how to start and stop recording:
- To record: There's only one button on the left-hand side of the glasses. Tap it once to record a 10-second snap, and each additional tap adds 10 more seconds to your recording.
- To stop recording: Hold down button for two seconds.
- LED lights up in a circle: Recording in progress.
- 1 LED flashes 3 times: Low battery
- 5 LED flashes 3 times: Storage full
- 2 LED flashes 3 times: Software update available.
- 3 rotating LED with progress: Low/high temperature warning.
Where Can You Buy Them?
At the moment, Snapbots are the one and only way to snag yourself a pair of the $129.99 Spectacles, which come with a one-year warranty. Snap Inc. has a Snapbot map on its website, but it's yet another mystery wrapped in a riddle as all you get is a series of playful question marks. Here's a list of all the locations Snapbots have been spotted so far:
- New York: 5 E 59th St, New York, NY 10022. Open Through New Year's Eve, Mon-Fri 4pm-10pm, Sat-Sun 6am-12pm; closed Dec. 24-25. This is the only official and semi-permanent location currently shown on the Snap Inc. website.
- Los Angeles: There have been Snapbot sightings most recently inside the Skyspace LA open-air observation deck in the U.S. Bank Tower and at The Grove shopping center in La Brea. Snapbots have also touched down in Big Sur, Santa Monica, Pasadena, Brentwood, and in Venice Beach near the Snap Inc. headquarters since Spectacles first went on sale on Nov. 10.
- Oklahoma, Arizona, and Florida: One roaming Snapbot has been spotted road trippin' along Route 66 in Catoosa, Oklahoma, taking in the sights at the Grand Canyon, and hanging out on the Florida State University campus.
For more, check out our hands on with PCMag's very own pair of Spectacles to get a closer look at Snap's new toy.
Image credit: Mediakix.