"You can see them from a mile away" – new Snap Specs smart glasses released on pre-order, boasting an all-new solution to the backlash against Meta camera glasses (and it's not just the price)

Snap co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel has officially introduced Specs, his company's latest venture into the camera glasses market. These glasses, which resemble a significant departure from the company's previous attempts in this area, aren't intended for recording content for Snapchat. Instead, they present a new operating system without a keyboard or mouse, aiming to demonstrate how Meta and Apple may have gone about it the wrong way.

The launch event began with a particularly memorable 170 seconds, before diving into the practical details of Specs. It is essential to note that these glasses indeed feature a camera, but their primary function is to understand the world without recording it. Spiegel emphasized that Specs can perceive the world in 3D and create 3D shopping experiences, as well as take images for Snapchat.

One of the key selling points of Specs is its distinct appearance, which Spiegel claims is designed to avoid drawing unwanted attention from "creeps." The glasses also feature a flashing LED, similar to Meta's version. However, the photo-taking process requires a finger-clicking gesture, which leaves the user's arm and hand visible in the frame. The device utilizes a four-camera system, consisting of dual optical and dual infrared cameras.

During the demo, it was mentioned that the glasses can record video and photos for limited periods in capture mode. However, this capability is not unique to Specs, and concerns remain about its potential for misuse. The keynote presentation mentioned that the glasses have an alien mascot because, during company meetings, they imagined aliens looking down at humanity's reliance on head-mounted devices and decided to gift them with Specs to improve their lives.

The price of Specs remains a point of contention, with the standard model priced at $2,195 / £1,999, and an additional cost for the cellular-capable version. For those hesitant to invest in the device, there is an option to use Specs Intelligence, an AI assistant, for free by downloading the app on an iPhone or a Mac.

Despite the limitations, such as a battery life of only about 4 hours even when used primarily for audio, Specs is an impressive device. It offers a dimming feature that allows the glasses to act more like a private world or operate as a head-up display similar to traditional see-through glasses. The display has a 51-degree field of view, equivalent to standing ten feet from a 115-inch TV.

When the glasses are dimmed for entertainment content, the lenses appear nearly completely dark. Specs will be available for pre-order this fall and will begin public demonstrations in Los Angeles and other locations in the coming months.