Unless you are obsessed with Snapchat and follow a bunch of influencers on the app you may not be aware of one of their coolest products that they have launched recently. It isn’t a fancy feature, update or another app but it is a physical product called Snapchat Spectacles.
They are only available in a limited release. You can currently purchase them only in the U.S. at a storefront in NYC at 5E 59th St. (not far from Central Park by the Apple Store) which is open until February 19, 2017, or from one of a couple vending machines or bots randomly dotting the U.S. The bots have so far appeared many times in and around LA, once in Florida, once in Breckinridge, Colorado, Ohio, the bottom of the Grand Canyon, Hawaii and most recently in Las Vegas.
Once the bot appears, it only stays for several hours or until supplies are gone, disappointing the lines of Snapchatters that quickly queue up for the coveted spectacles.
Then the bot disappears, like a text.
You can only purchase two pairs max at a time, which has also lead to these hot items blowing up on the black market. From a bot they cost US$ 130 plus taxes but online have been going for upwards of $1,000.
The Snapchat Spectacles bot in the bottom of the Grand Canyon; image credit Snapchat Inc.
If you can’t make it to New York to grab a pair from the storefront then visit snapchat.com/spectacles and click on “find a bot.” Here it posts a 24-hour countdown each time another bot is making an appearance somewhere in the U.S. so keep an eye out and they maybe in a city near you soon.
But what is so great about Snapchat Spectacles? They are sunglasses with a built-in camera that film first-person point of view Snapchat stories. The glasses automatically upload the stories through Bluetooth to your Snapchat memories on your phone. Once it’s paired to your Snapchat account you can edit and upload your story right away or download an HD version when connected to Wi-Fi for an even better quality story.
Spectacles will film a snap of 10 seconds at a time or less if you chose by holding down on the record button to stop them. Or press down twice or three times and it can film up to 20 or 30 seconds creating 3 10 second snaps at a time.
Got my @Spectacles just in time for my trip to Japan! pic.twitter.com/kdZDCyrdye
— Karen X. Cheng (@karenxcheng) December 12, 2016
Content creator @karenxcheng made this awesome video of her travels in Japan while wearing Spectacles.
Once you get them set up they are quite easy to use and you can have a lot of fun with them and play with a new filming perspective. A couple things to take note of when using them however, is to remember to keep your hair away from the front of the lens. Alsobe mindful of the audio you are recording specifically if there is wind noise.
The Spectacles come with a bright Snapchat yellow carrying case that charges the spectacles each time they are placed inside. The case holds at least 4 full charges for the Spectacles and you can get by on a couple of days in between charges.
Snapchat Spectacles might not exactly work for filming every snap that you want to take (i.e. selfies unless you have a mirror) but they do give an extra perspective that is fun to use to change up the type of snaps you create.
Have you seen Snapchat Spectacles before? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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