
Know how sometimes grabbing your smartphone to take photos or videos actually ruins a moment? Well, soon, you might not have to do that anymore as Facebook announces its partnership with Ray-Ban to create smart glasses that let you take photos and videos and take calls. It's called the Ray-Ban Stories.
In an explainer video, Facebook CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg said that people can now stay in the moment with their smart glasses.
“You can capture photos and videos, listen to music or podcasts or take phone calls, all while staying in the moment and without even taking out your phone. Whether you're on a hike, cooking, or just hanging out, or playing outside with your kids, you're gonna be able to quickly capture that experience and share it if you want to,” Zuckerberg explained.
The Ray-Ban Stories powered by Facebook / Source: Ray-Ban Films (YouTube)
He also said that it is the first step to the future, where smartphones will longer be a central part of our lives.
The smart glasses will take on the frame of the iconic Ray-Ban Wayfarer. It'll be a few millimeters thicker than the usual Wayfarer and the two 5-megapixel cameras will be concealed on each wing.
The cameras are able to shoot still images and videos of up to 30 seconds long with a long or short tap of the smart glasses' only button.
You could also do so hands-free through the Facebook Assistant, simply by saying, “Hey, Facebook, take a video.”
The smart glasses also have built-in discreet open ear speakers on the side of the frames.
You can save up to about 30 videos and 500 photos, and they will remain encrypted on the smart glasses until you're ready to download them using the Facebook view companion app.
The product is pretty similar to Snapchat's Spectacles and the Google Glass, which was launched in 2013.
However, Ray-Ban Stories want to get right what Google Glass failed to do before: address privacy concerns.
Back when Google Glass was launched, many didn't like the idea that they could be secretly filmed with it.
So, Ray-Ban stories added an LED light on the front of the glasses, so that people around you would know when you're taking a photo of video. It also has a power switch so you could turn it off whenever you want.
The capture LED light of the Ray-Ban Stories / Source: Ray-ban Films (YouTube)
Zuckerberg also emphasized, “When your glasses are off, they are completely off. The mic is off. You can't take photos or record videos.”
The smart glasses are said to be only 5 grams heavier than the iconic Wayfarer that was first released in 1952.
The smart glasses collection is comprised of 20 style variations: three frame styles, four colors, and six types of lenses, which can be made with your own prescription.
Its introductory price is $299 or around PhP14,867 and currently already available in the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Italy, and Australia.
What do you think of the Ray-Ban Stories? Will you skip it or add to cart once it drops in the Philippines? Let us know in the comments section, mga Kapuso.
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