Photo app's sunglasses record ten-second video clips and upload them to social media... but are they creepy or cool?
TODAY is the day Snapchat finally released its camera-equipped sunglasses in the UK.
Snapchat Spectacles come with a whopping price tag of £130 and can only be bought from one single vending machine in London - or through the Spectacles website.
Snapchat's Spectacles, which allow owners to snap photos and shoot short filmsSnapchat has enjoyed incredible success and is one of the most popular apps around, famed for its vanishing pictures which have let celebs and civilians post sexy selfies, belfies and even "plastic surgerelfies" safe in the knowledge the picture will vanish within a set amount of time.
But are the camera-laden sunglasses an intrusive step too far?
We popped down to the launch of the glasses to see what people thought of them.
Phillip Caufield, a product designer, had scootered his way to the bright yellow Snapbot machine, which is situated just under the London Eye.
He told us he first heard the gadget had gone on sale through Twitter - “obviously”.
Phillip said he wanted to buy three pairs, as he was “obsessed” with Snapchat and “lived his life in it”.
Camera-fitted sunglasses sounds like something out of James Bond, if you ask me.
But I can see why people love Spectacles.
They're light-hearted, they only film short bursts, and they aren't exactly covert - who wouldn't spot you in the fluorescent teal shade?
The quality is pretty good, and it's like a more accessible, stylish go-pro to catch moments when your hands are tied.
Lightweight as your average sunnies, the addition of a camera goes unnoticed - it's just like wearing a pair of glasses.
But it did feel pretty creepy walking down the streets of London knowing people had no clue I was capturing them on camera.
The price tag is pretty hefty - but most are happy to splash out for seasonal eyewear.
Will they be abused in some way by nasty bullies and creeps?
Most likely.
But is that's the nature of technology.
So for now, go forth and make peace signs while puking rainbows.
It's a good thing too, as Phillip was waiting a while to get his glasses.
The Snapbot vending machine had a thirty-minute kip after some wiring issues caused it to temporarily break down.
But aside from the initial teething issues, buying the device is a treat in itself.
The receipt prints out in multicolour so they appear just like the infamous rainbow puke lens.
Donald, 26, an IT consultant, queued up to get himself TWO pairs of the specs.
He said: “I couldn’t decide which colour, but I might give one to my brother or my girlfriend”.
Donald doesn’t think there’s anything creepy about Snapchat.
He posts pictures on the app every single day – mostly “every few hours,” in fact.
“I can see why people would think it’s creepy but that’s the world we live in,” he said.
It’s a feeling echoed by most people who came to take a look at the fluorescent Snapbot machine.
Many felt the glasses were a little bit intrusive – but not any more than smartphones, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
And once you’ve had a go with them, it’s easy to see why people are so keen to get themselves a pair.
The sunglasses have a tiny camera on the left-hand side of the frame, which you activate by tapping a button on the side.
A little ring of light will then appear to show the person you’re looking at that the device has been switched on.
The social media company has rolled out Spectacles which can record 10 seconds of video and are operated by tapping a button on the device.
Video is then automatically uploaded to the ‘Memories’ section of the popular app via Bluetooth or wifi.
The glasses are the first hardware to be launched by the LA-based firm, which used to be called Snapchat but has renamed itself Snap Inc.
The specs feature a camera and no display, meaning they can't show you what you’ve just filmed using the frames.
All you need to do to start recording is pop them on and activate a switch on the frames – rather than using the app on your phone.
Like the phone version of Snapchat, they can shoot video in bursts of up to ten seconds.
You press once for a continuous ten-second clip, but three times if you want to make a longer 30-second version.
The clips instantly sync with your smartphone using Bluetooth, and they are ready to upload to your Snapchat "Memories" feature in seconds.
Walking through London wearing the glasses felt a bit weird, knowing that people had no idea I was filming them.But being able to capture moments when you don’t have your phone in your hand is something that will appeal to those who are used to snapping their lives away.
Spectacles’ camera uses an 115° angle lens, which is wider than the average smartphone.
It’s much closer to the eye’s natural field of view and the video it records is circular like human vision.
What's the verdict? We asked if it was creepy... but everyone said it was cool.
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