Snap tries to make the case again for its $2,200 smart glasses
techcrunch ·
Snap is attempting to rehabilitate the reputation of its $2,200 Specs smart glasses following a disastrous initial launch that triggered stock declines and public ridicule. At a recent event in Los Angeles, CEO Evan Spiegel unveiled new features designed to integrate the device into broader digital activities and justify its high price point. Key announcements include Specs Intelligence, an anticipatory AI system that pairs with user devices to manage goals and routines, as well as entertainment integrations with HBO Max and Spotify. The company also introduced Specs for Enterprise, partnering with firms like Amazon and Nvidia to target IT technicians with corporate workflow solutions. Additional updates feature an NBA-branded AR basketball training app and a separate cellular connectivity package via Verizon for on-the-go usage. Spiegel framed the glasses as a human-centric computing alternative to virtual worlds, arguing that technology should make users more important rather than irrelevant. Despite these efforts, questions remain about the real-world utility and mass-market appeal of the heavy, expensive hardware. Snap plans to host a pop-up event in October before the devices officially ship later in the fall.
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