Latest news with #SnapOS
GSM Arena
2 days ago
- Business
- GSM Arena
Snap will launch its AR glasses called Specs next year, and these will be commercially available
Snap Inc. unveiled its fifth-generation AR glasses, called Spectacles 5, last September, but they were only available to developers who signed up for the $99/month developer program. The good news is that this won't be the case with Snap's next AR glasses, which are set to launch in 2026. This revelation came from Snap during the ongoing Augmented World Expo (AWE) 2025 in Long Beach, California, in the US, where the company also announced that its next AR glasses, which will be available to the public, will be called "Specs." 'We believe the time is right for a revolution in computing that naturally integrates our digital experiences with the physical world, and we can't wait to publicly launch our new Specs next year,' said Evan Spiegel, co-founder and CEO of Snap Inc. Spectacles 5 Spiegel also claimed that Specs, which will be Snap's first commercially available AR glasses, "are the most advanced personal computer in the world." While Snap didn't delve into the details of the Specs, it said these AR glasses feature "see-through Lenses that enhance the physical world with digital experience." Furthermore, the company revealed that it has spent more than $3 billion on AR glasses over the past 11 years. In addition to revealing the launch timeframe of Specs, Snap announced updates to Snap OS, including deep integrations with OpenAI and Gemini on Google Cloud. Moreover, the company launched new tools for developers building location-based experiences. It includes the Fleet Management app, Guided Mode, and Guided Navigation. That's not it. Snap also announced that WebXR support in the browser is coming soon, and it is partnering with Niantic Spatial to bring its Visual Positioning System to Lens Studio and Specs to build an AI-powered map of the world.
India Today
2 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Snap to launch smaller and lighter Specs in 2026, will compete with Meta Ray-Ban
Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, has revealed its plans to launch the sixth generation of its augmented reality (AR) glasses in 2026, as competition intensifies in the rapidly evolving smart glasses sector. In a departure from its previous branding, Snap announced that its forthcoming AR glasses will be called Specs, moving away from the familiar Spectacles name used for earlier iterations. According to the company, the Specs will utilise advanced AR technology, enabling wearers to interact with digital content seamlessly overlaid onto their real-world surroundings. advertisementWhile Snap has yet to confirm either a price point or an exact release date for the new device, the company has stated that Specs will be both smaller and lighter than earlier models. The previous generation of Spectacles, launched in September 2024, was made available exclusively to developers through a leasing model that required a monthly payment of $99 (around Rs 8,500) over the course of a year.'We couldn't be more excited about the extraordinary progress in artificial intelligence and augmented reality that is enabling new, human-centered computing experiences,' Snap CEO Evan Spiegel said in a statement announcing the Specs. The upcoming Specs are aimed squarely at consumers and will run on Snap's own Snap OS operating system. In a significant development, Snap has opened up the platform to allow developers to integrate Google's Gemini AI models into applications designed for the smart glasses. This addition offers coders greater flexibility when creating software for the device, expanding beyond the previously limited access to OpenAI's GPT language models. The integration of multiple AI platforms is expected to fuel innovation within Snap's AR ecosystem, offering a wider range of capabilities for developers and users alike. advertisement Snap first entered the wearables market in 2016 with the launch of its original Spectacles, priced at $130 (around Rs 11,120). Those early models were relatively basic, allowing users to record short videos for upload to Snapchat. In 2021, Snap advanced its product line by introducing AR displays to its Spectacles, offering users the ability to see virtual objects projected onto their real-world view. These AR-enabled glasses represented a major step forward for the company as it sought to establish itself in the emerging market for head-mounted Snap's initial foray, competition within the AR and VR space has grown considerably. Earlier this year, Apple entered the market with its high-end Vision Pro headset, which went on sale in February 2024 for $3,500 (around Rs 3,00,000). Meanwhile, Meta has broadened its range of hardware offerings, which now include the popular Quest VR headsets, the Ray-Ban Meta smartglasses, and the experimental Project Orion AR glasses, which were unveiled last a growing number of major tech players investing heavily in AR and mixed reality technologies, Snap's upcoming Specs will enter an increasingly crowded and highly competitive market. However, the company hopes that its unique combination of lightweight design, expanded AI integration, and its deep roots in augmented reality development will allow it to carve out a meaningful share of the smart glasses market as consumers continue to embrace wearable technology.
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business Standard
Snap introduces next-gen 'Specs' AR Glasses, Snap OS platform: What's new
Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, has announced its next-generation consumer-focused augmented reality (AR) glasses at the Augmented World Expo (AWE) 2025. Named Specs, the new wearable device is scheduled for launch in 2026 and marks Snap's most ambitious attempt yet at integrating AR into everyday life. Alongside the hardware reveal, Snap also introduced major upgrades to its AR operating system, Snap OS. The new Specs aim to understand users' surroundings, enable shared AR experiences such as multiplayer games, and support tasks like Browse, streaming, and productivity—all through a sleek, self-contained design. Snap Specs: Details Unlike previous Snap Spectacles—which were available only to developers—the upcoming Specs will be publicly released and are designed as an 'ultra-powerful wearable computer' with see-through lenses that overlay digital content onto the real world. Snap described the new Specs as a device built to 'seamlessly integrate digital content into everyday life,' positioning the glasses as part of a broader shift in computing where physical and digital environments converge. The company said it believes 'the time is right for a revolution in computing.' Snap OS: What's new Snap is also rolling out key updates to Snap OS, the platform powering its AR glasses. These upgrades are designed to support multimodal AI, spatial awareness, and real-time content generation. Highlights include: Deep integration with OpenAI and Gemini (Google Cloud): Developers can now create multimodal, AI-powered Lenses and publish them for the Specs user base. Depth Module API: Allows Snap OS to anchor AR visuals in 3D space using translated 2D data from language models—enhancing spatial intelligence. Automated Speech Recognition API: Supports real-time transcription in over 40 languages, including non-native accents, with high accuracy. Snap3D API: Enables on-the-fly generation of 3D objects directly within Lenses. Tools for developers Snap is also introducing fleet management tools and features focused on location-based and guided experiences, designed for venues such as museums, parks, and public exhibitions: Fleet Management App: Allows institutions or developers to monitor and manage multiple Specs units remotely. Guided Mode: Lets developers pre-configure Specs to launch directly into a multiplayer or single-player Lens for instant interaction. Guided Navigation: Designed for AR-based tours, this feature provides turn-by-turn guidance through points of interest like landmarks or exhibits.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Snap to launch easy-to-wear "Specs" AR glasses for everyday users by 2026
After years of development behind the scenes, Snap is finally ready to bring its AR glasses to everyday users. Speaking at the Augmented World Expo in Long Beach, CEO Evan Spiegel announced that the company's new Specs glasses will ship to consumers in 2026. Unlike earlier Spectacles designed mainly for developers, these new Specs are built for real-world use. You can wear them on your daily commute, at home, or while doing everyday tasks like cooking or fixing things around the house. Snap has invested more than $3 billion (approximately ₹25,000 crore) in AR over the past 11 years. That long term focus has led to a design that's lighter, easier to wear, and more transparent than anything Snap has produced before. These Specs are meant to be a complete AR device. They don't need wires, phones, or external processors. They operate entirely on their own, which puts them a step ahead of many existing headsets. Snap OS is at the heart of this push. The latest version comes with AI capabilities that let users see real time translations, follow recipe steps with visual cues, and use contextual overlays. Think of being able to change a tire with on screen instructions or line up a pool shot with visual guidance. Snap is also bringing developers into the fold. Its updated spatial tools and voice input APIs will let creators build AR apps that respond to both location and natural speech. This kind of interactivity aims to make AR more useful and intuitive. What gives Snap a strong position is the ecosystem it has already built. With over 400,000 AR developers, four million Lenses, and roughly $8 billion (around ₹66,000 crore) worth of AR interactions daily, Snap has the community and content to support its hardware. Its partnership with Niantic is expected to tie AR features to real places like museums, public parks, or city walks. The glasses are equipped with waveguide lenses, stereo speakers, and a six-microphone array to deliver both spatial visuals and audio. With a 46 degree diagonal field of view, the Specs aim to offer an immersive visual experience that still feels comfortable and natural. Snap has not yet revealed pricing or the final hardware specifications. However, CEO Evan Spiegel has said the new Specs will be smaller, lighter and more advanced than earlier versions. That sounds promising, but the real test will come from how they hold up in everyday use. Battery life, comfort and ease of use will ultimately determine their success. Will these glasses genuinely make day-to-day tasks easier? Can they offer value without forcing users to adjust their routines? These are the questions Snap still needs to answer.
CNBC
3 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
Snap to launch smaller, lighter augmented reality Specs smartglasses in 2026
Snap on Tuesday announced its plans to release a sixth-generation of its augmented reality glasses in 2026, as competition in the smart glasses market continues to heat up. The maker of Snapchat said that its next-generation glasses will be called Specs, breaking with the company's Spectacles branding that it used for previous versions of its wearable devices. The Specs will use AR technology to let people see and interact with digital imagery that's overlaid over the physical world. Snap did not reveal a price or exact launch date for Specs, but the new glasses will be smaller and lighter than their predecessors, the company said. Snap's most recent Spectacles were released in September 2024 to developers only. That edition of the glasses was available under a leasing model that required users to commit to paying $99 a month for a full year. The consumer-focused Specs will run on the company's Snap OS operating systems. Snap said that developers will be able to incorporate Google's Gemini AI models into programs they develop for the smart glasses, giving coders more AI options to choose from as they write software for the device. Previously, developers could only use OpenAI's GPT family of AI models to build AR apps for the smart glasses. "We couldn't be more excited about the extraordinary progress in artificial intelligence and augmented reality that is enabling new, human-centered computing experiences," Snap CEO Evan Spiegel said in a statement. When Snap launched its first Spectacles glasses in 2016, the $130 wearable was limited to simple features like helping users shoot short videos that they could post to Snapchat. The company updated its glasses with augmented reality displays in 2021 that allowed users to see virtual imagery overlaid by the glasses over what users saw in the real world. Since then, competition in the world of head-mounted computers has grown. Apple began selling its $3,500 Vision Pro goggles in February 2024, while Meta now has a range of cutting-edge products including Quest VR headsets, Ray-Ban Meta smartglasses and the experimental Project Orion AR glasses, which the social media company showed off last fall. Google, meanwhile, announced its own entry into the space in May when it revealed a $150 million partnership with Warby Parker, which said it will release its own smart glasses sometime after this year.
