Snap today announced new experiences, services and partnerships for SPECS, the company’s upcoming pair of consumer AR glasses.
Snap’s big Specs livestream today wasn’t technically a launch event—they’re still slated to arrive in the US, UK and France later this fall starting at $2,195—although the company did give a little more insight into what sort of software its first pair of consumer AR glasses will have when it does eventually arrive.
Firstly, Snap unveiled Specs Intelligence, or what the company is calling its “anticipatory AI service.”
Specs Intelligence is designed to work across Specs, iPhone and Mac; the company says it draws from connected apps and tools to build context around users’ goals, routines and relationships, then surface relevant info in the user’s field of view without being explicitly prompted.
The company says users will be able to choose what you connect and what information Specs Intelligence can use. In terms of off-device privacy, Snap says Specs Intelligence is “designed so Snap personnel cannot view or access the personal content you use with the service.”
“Personal content from connected accounts will not be used to train or fine-tune Snap’s AI models, or to serve personalized ads,” the company says in a press statement. “SPECS Intelligence uses on-device processing and secure cloud infrastructure, with security protections wherever data is processed.”
A preview is available starting today in the US through the Specs iOS app for users ages 18 and over.
Snap also announced a number new AR experiences across entertainment, education and fitness.
The Specs browser enables streaming from YouTube, HBO Max, and more on a virtual display, something Snap says “feels like a 115-inch cinema screen placed about 10 feet away.” Specs is also coming with Spotify.
In partnership with HBO Max, Snap is also bringing the world of Harry Potter to Specs in time for the new Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, which premieres this Christmas.
The company also revealed partnerships with the NBA and WNBA to release an interactive basketball training experience that will provide AR visual guidance, drills, and progress cues.
Other applications include soccer and golf training, an interactive Apollo 11 experience and Starmap, which overlays constellations onto the user’s surroundings, Snap says.
As for multiplayer content, Connected Lenses are said to allow two Specs wearers to share digital experiences in the same physical space, with the first experiences including Dominoes with Jimmy Butler, Chess and Table Tennis.
The company also underlined Specs’ everyday utilities, like real-time translation with support for 60 languages, augmented navigation and TripAdvisor information about nearby restaurants, landmarks and attractions.
A Shopify-powered experience was also announced, letting users view products in 3D at full scale within their surroundings.
While Snap is undoubtedly hoping to appeal to on-the-go users, Specs is also capable of acting as a wireless display for PC or Mac, including support for Bluetooth peripherals such as keyboards.
Notably, Snap says the glasses do not use facial recognition or continuously record audio, video or images. An external LED indicates when the glasses are actively recording.
And if you’re in for a pound, in for a penny: Snap also announced a new Specs Charging Case with Cellular, which not only provides four additional charges but also cellular connectivity.
In the U.S., the connected case bundle costs $2,395, with Verizon offering financing and data plans starting at $10 per month for customers and $20 for non-customers. Snap is also partnering with Orange in France and EE in the UK. You can find all pre-order info over on Specs.com.
If you’re looking to get your hands on Specs before plonking down the full two bands, Snap is also running free demos from October 1st at Snap’s First Look location in Westfield Century City, Los Angeles.
