Snap's CEO demoed the soon-to-launch Specs standalone true AR glasses live on stage, including an official Harry Potter experience from HBO.
Revealed back in June, when the company opened preorders, the $2195 Specs are set to be the first fully standalone true AR glasses outside China, and the most advanced on the planet that you can actually buy, beating companies like Meta and Apple to market.
David Heaney
This week, Snap announced that Specs will have a cross-platform AI agent and an optional cellular charging case for on-the-go connectivity.
But arguably more importantly, CEO Evan Spiegel showed off the glasses on-stage in a live demo of their capabilities, something more useful to potential buyers than any pre-rendered marketing videos ever could be.
During the presentation, Spiegel demonstrates:
- The main Snap OS interface. Shortcuts to Specs Intelligence, the home screen, and quick controls are available on your palms, poked by a finger from your other hand. Opening home brings up a floating window launched in front of you, which you interact with by pointing and pinching.
- The Snapchat app on Specs, including taking and sending pictures by snapping your fingers, and making video calls where the other person sees your first-person view.
- YouTube in the web browser, including launching into it via asking Specs Intelligence.
- A Shopify-backed AR shopping experience, wherein you can place the product into your physical environment at true scale and buy it with a tap.
- A port of the Quest app Pencil, teaching you to draw by showing a path outline.
- HBO's official Harry Potter experience, including receiving a Hogwarts acceptance letter from an owl and casting the Wingardium Leviosa spell.
David Heaney
You can watch our supercut of the on-stage live demos here, or the full hour-long launch event here.
