Snapchat, which has now rebranded as Snap Inc., recently unveiled the Spectacles, which is the company's first hardware product.
The device, which was shown off by Snap CEO Evan Spiegel to a group of reporters, has generated a lot of excitement online. Here is what we know so far about the Spectacles, with answers to the top questions surrounding the smartglasses.
What do the Spectacles do?
The Spectacles are connected sunglasses that are capable of recording 10-second video clips, with a pair of cameras with a 115-degree lens to mimic how wearers see things around them.
What kind of videos do they take?
The format of the videos taken by the Spectacles is circular, as it tries to present the videos as how the human eye sees them while they were being taken.
How do you record videos?
A video recording is started by simply tapping a button on the top left-hand corner of the Spectacles. The recording will automatically stop after 10 seconds, but if the wearer wants more recording time, the button can be tapped again to add another 10 seconds.
If users would like to stop the recording before the 10-second limit, they can press and hold the button to do so.
What is the maximum length of videos?
The Spectacles can take up to 30 seconds of video.
Are there any signs that the Spectacles are recording?
While the Spectacles are recording, there will be an inward-facing light to alert the wearer, along with an outward-facing light that lets everyone in the user's field of vision know that they are being recorded.
How will the videos be transferred or uploaded?
The videos on the Spectacles can be transferred over a Wi-Fi network to an Android device or through Bluetooth to an iOS device. Owners of iOS devices can also choose to transfer files over a Wi-Fi network.
Upon transferring the videos, they will be uploaded to the Memories section of Snapchat.
How will you check battery life and charge up the device?
Double-tapping the outward-facing light turns it into a battery indicator, and Snap claims that the Spectacles can last a whole day on a single charge.
The device will come with a dedicated charging case and cable, with a fully-charged case able to recharge the Spectacles up to four times.
What colors and sizes are available?
The colors available upon launch are black, coral and teal. The Spectacles, however, will only come in one size.
How much will the Spectacles cost?
The Spectacles will come with a price tag of $130.
When will sales of the Spectacles start?
There is no specific date yet on when the device will launch, but Snap said that it will be sometime soon.
How are they different from the Google Glass?
First and foremost, with the light to show that it is recording, the Spectacles will not spawn the concern that the device is secretly recording other people, a worry that led to the rise of the term Glassholes.
In addition, the Google Glass came with a prohibitive price tag of $1,500 and at very limited availability.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly for Spiegel and Snap, the Spectacles are being positioned to succeed alongside the massively popular Snapchat app, which would be in stark contrast with the failures that the Google Glass suffered.
