Since its initial release in 2011, photo-sharing service, Snapchat, has risen to become one of the most popular social media platforms in the world. The mobile app has garnered millions of fans across the globe, after consistently championing new and advanced features. This dominance was aided by Snapchat’s incredibly streamlined and user-friendly approach. It’s a short but extremely successful run for the technology and its Californian parent company, Snap Inc – a new name that was born of a September rebrand, which coincided with a major announcement regarding future products.
In a now fateful announcement earlier this year, Snap Inc. debuted the Specatcles. The new device is a wearable camera, that has the silhouette of classic Ray Ban sunglasses. The corporation announced that the Spectacles would be available for purchase at $130, and are geared to enhance the Snapchat experience. With the quick touch of the glasses hinge, users can record 10-second videos, and upload them to their Snapchat account. It’s a move to uphold the company’s cutting-edge reputation, and helps test physical products, geared to augment the digital brand.
Now after teasing its fanbase, as well as the global market, Snapchat has dropped the Spectacles in physical stores. In the official flagship location in New York City, fans waited in massive lines, all hoping to snag a pair of the sleek shades. Speaking of shade, the building was set up across the street from the Apple Store, who have yet to publicly test their own wearable, sunglasses tech. Inside of the Spectacles store were rotating screens, which tested the Spectacles 360 tech. At the back of the store, was a sole vending machine, that housed the devices themselves. There has yet to be word of other potential locations, but there may be more vending machines popping up soon. In the meantime, you can visit the Spectacles website here.
