Latest news with #Lenses
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Snap Launches ‘Lens+‘ Paid Subscription Offering for Advanced AR Features
This story was originally published on Social Media Today. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Social Media Today newsletter. Snapchat's adding another element to its popular Snapchat+ subscription offering, with 'Lens+,' which will provide exclusive access to a range of additional AR experiences that are only available to paying users. So now, not only will you be able to pay for the 30+ add-on features of Snapchat+, which aim to enhance your overall in-app experience, but you'll also be able to get new, advanced AR tools and experiences in the app, all for the low price of $8.99 per month (with Snapchat+ subscription included). As explained by Snap: 'In addition to all of the value from our Snapchat+ subscription, Lens+ provides access to hundreds of Lenses and AR experiences that let you play, create, and share Snaps with friends in whole new ways.' Which could also provide a new monetization pathway for Snap's 400,000+ AR creators. Snap's Lens Studio has been a powerful launching pad for AR development, and enabling more people to create their own AR experiences. This could provide a means for them to charge for these advanced options, and facilitate all new growth opportunities within Snap's creator ecosystem. But it's not moving in that direction just yet. Snap says that, at launch, Lens+ subscribers will be able to access Lenses built by Snapchat, as well as some from select creators, 'including exclusive AI video Lenses, a brand new Bitmoji Game Lens, and more.' The AI options, presumably, will be the big carrot here, as Snap looks to lure more paying subscribers with next-level features. Snapchat says that it will be looking to add new AR experiences every week, as it builds on the offering. It's another avenue to expanded revenue intake for the app, which, as noted, has already seen success with Snapchat+, which is now up to 15 million subscribers. Snap's audience nous, combined with its largely affluent user base, makes this a prime opportunity for the app, and it'll be interesting to see just how popular AR add-ons will be, and whether more users will be willing to pay extra for such. Snap says that users can subscribe to Lens+ by tapping their Bitmoji character on their profile, then tapping the Snapchat+ link. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Engadget
3 days ago
- Engadget
Snapchat adds a new subscription tier for Lenses
Snapchat has added a new layer to its paid offerings. The Lens+ subscription combines the existing Snapchat+ monthly plan with more access to "hundreds of Lenses and AR experiences that let you play, create, and share Snaps with friends in whole new ways." The plan will cost $9 a month. At the start, the subscription will feature Lenses made by the company or by select creators. New augmented reality experiences will be added each week. Creators will be granted the option to build and monetize Lenses for the program in the coming months, although Snapchat hasn't publicly explained how it will select the "select" participants. A representative from the business confirmed to TechCrunch that the launch of Lens+ will not see any Lenses that were previously free placed behind a paywall. The social media platform introduced the Snapchat+ paid option in 2022. According to the blog post announcing this extra option, the program has 15 million subscribers. The Lens program has been taking advantage of developments in AI. Already this year, the company debuted generative AI video Lenses for Premium subscribers and released a standalone app for any user to create their own effects. Snapchat's other AR project is Specs , a set of glasses that it expects to release next year.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Meta Launches AI Video Restyling Tools in Edits and the Meta AI App
This story was originally published on Social Media Today. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Social Media Today newsletter. After previewing its AI-powered video editing tools late last year, Meta is now making the first of these available in both the Meta AI and Instagram's Edits app, with a new 'Restyle' option enabling users to completely alter the context of their video clips. As you can see from these examples, Restyle uses AI understanding to completely alter the context of your videos. So now, if you want to make it look like you're in an animated film, or underwater, you can use these AI filters to reform your content. As explained by Meta: 'You'll now be able to easily edit your short-form videos using a variety of preset AI prompts that can transform your outfit, location, style and more. It's available in the U.S. and more than a dozen countries around the world.' So you do have to choose from a preset, you don't have the option to edit your clip based on text prompts as yet. But that's also in the pipeline, with Meta working on a range of AI customization and editing tools to help customize and reimagine your video clips. Meta says that there are currently more than 50 editing prompts that you can use to transform 10 seconds of your video 'for free for a limited time.' Which is worth noting. Instagram chief Adam Mosseri has previously said that Edits is available for free for now, but that Meta may have to charge for access in future to cover the cost of things like AI editing elements. From the wording here, that still appears to be the case, with Meta likely moving to a paid subscription tier for Edits at some stage. But for now, you can try out these prompts for free, which you can also use in the Meta AI app: 'Once you've chosen a preset prompt, Meta AI will edit your video to match the selected scenario. You can turn your video into a graphic novel, and see yourself reimagined as a vintage comic book illustration. Or change the lighting of a video you captured on a rainy Seattle day to create a dreamy mood with shimmery sparkles, pearlescent blur and soft focus. Or you can turn your video into a video game, complete with fluorescent lighting and battle clothing.' There's a range of options here, and I can imagine that a lot of people will be looking to try them out, and see what can be done with Meta's evolving video editing tools. Will that change video on IG as we know it? I imagine the impact here will be similar to Snapchat's Lenses, in that some people will be interested in trending effects and features, but for most, they'll continue to share their regular uploads instead. Because social apps are ultimately about connection, and filtering your content into unreal scenarios, while an impressive novelty, isn't helping on that front. But like Lenses, there will be trending filters, and there will be a lot of people posting their own take on these trends by using the same effects. Either way, it's an impressive-looking option, based on the examples, and it could open up more sharing and engagement opportunities in Meta's apps. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Snapchat rolls out a new $8.99 Lens+ subscription tier
Snapchat on Wednesday announced the launch of a new Snapchat+ tier called 'Lens+.' The new tier costs $8.99 per month and, as its name suggests, is centered around giving users access to exclusive Lenses and AR experiences. In addition to giving users access to the perks unlocked with the standard $3.99 per month Snapchat+ tier, Lens+ gives users the ability to use hundreds of Lenses that let you 'play, create, and share Snaps' with others, the company says. 'We're starting with Lenses built by Snapchat and select creators, including exclusive new AI video Lenses, a brand new Bitmoji Game Lens, and more — and we'll be adding new AR experiences every week,' Snapchat explained in a blog post. A Snap spokesperson told TechCrunch in an email that the company won't be gating any Lenses that have previously been available for free. In the coming months, select Lens creators will be able to monetize exclusive Lenses, the company says. This means that creators will be able to unlock a new way to grow their earnings on the platform. Snapchat did not share any details about what the revenue split will look like for creators. Launched in 2022, Snapchat+ has over 14 million paid subscribers. The social network has attributed the paid subscription tier as a big driver of revenue growth. In April, Snap reported first-quarter revenue of $1.36 billion, a 14% year-over-year increase. The company said at the time that the uptick was driven by the growth of its Snapchat+ subscription service, along with progress that it had made with its advertising solutions. By launching another subscription tier, Snap is looking to grow its revenue even more by locking its more advanced Lenses and AR experiences behind a paywall. Of course, not everyone will want to pay to access these features. It's worth noting that Snapchat also offers a $14.99 per month Platinum Snapchat+ tier that gets rid of ads and gives you access to all of the perks in the standard Snapchat+ and Lens+ tiers. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
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Business Standard
4 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.
