Messaging service Snapchat said it will soon introduce its first hardware, the Spectacles sunglasses with an integrated camera. The new device will come in three colours and connect directly to Snapchat via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
After tapping a button on the hinge of the glasses, they record up to 10 seconds of video from the user's viewpoint. The videos can then be sent to the Snapchat app to be sent as messages. The glasses use a new circular video format in order to capture images closer to the human perspective, with a 115-degree field of view.
Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel told the Wall Street Journal that a limited number of Spectacles will become available this fall for USD 129.99. The company has been testing a prototype of the glasses since at least early 2015 and has posted a promotional video for Spectacles on YouTube. It is expected to show off the gadget in New York this week.
Snapchat also announced that it's changing the company name to Snap Inc, in order to reflect it's growing range of products beyond messaging. The company's statement suggested it may be preparing for an IPO, noting that customers could now use product names to search for information, such as Snapchat or Spectacles, "and leave Snap Inc for the Wall Street crowd".
