Snap Inc. revealed a slew of new features and products at its annual Snap Partner Summit (SPS) 2024, to improve user experience and expand its augmented reality (AR) offering. The announcements featured a revamped Snapchat app, AI-powered lenses, and chat capabilities, new methods for artists to form communities, and a pioneering fifth version of the Spectacles AR eyewear.
A New and Simple Snapchat.
Snap is exploring a simpler Snapchat UI that prioritizes connection with friends, camera use, and content discovery. Stories and Spotlight videos are now combined into a single, personalized stream on the app’s right side, aided by a new recommendation engine. Conversations are organized on the left, and Stories are now at the top of the chat list.
Replies and Quoting: Snapchat users may immediately respond to creator Snaps, which creators can then convert into photo and video responses.
Snap Star Collab Studio: Allows creators to collaborate with companies and share engagement and demographic information with advertising. Snap AR is expanding its in-app and real-world experiences. Snap is growing its augmented reality environment through many initiatives:
Snapchat Cam at More Venues: The NFL and NBA are collaborating with Snapchat Cam to provide augmented reality experiences to stadiums and arenas.
Lip Syncing Lens with Eminem: A new lens allows users to make Snaps while lip-syncing to Eminem’s new song “Fuel,” with support for hundreds more tunes coming shortly.
NYX Beauty Bestie with Generative AI is an enhanced version of the NYX Beauty Bestie lens that employs generative AI to offer personalized cosmetics. Introducing new spectacles and Snap OS.
Snap announced the fifth-generation Spectacles, which are standalone AR glasses with a see-through display and a lightweight construction. Spectacles, powered by Snap OS, a revolutionary operating system developed for augmented reality interactions, allow users to experience Lenses and share real-world experiences with peers in new ways.
The Spectacles Developer Program
Snap has also announced the Spectacles Developer Program, which invites developers to create AR experiences for the new eyewear. The program provides access to Spectacles, development tools, and Snap support.
Key Features of Spectacles
See-through display: Allows users to view the actual environment while using AR overlays. Lightweight design: It weighs less than half as much as a normal VR headgear. Four cameras: Power the Snap Spatial Engine and provide smooth hand tracking. Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) microprojectors provide colorful and crisp pictures. Advanced waveguides eliminate the need for long calibrations and bespoke fittings. Dual Snapdragon processors deliver high performance while using minimal electricity. 45 minutes of continuous independent operation.Partner lenses for spectacles
Several partners are already developing Lenses for Spectacles, including LEGO Group with an interactive AR game, ILM Immersive (Lucasfilm) with Star Wars experiences, Niantic with Peridot and Scaniverse, and Wabisabi Games with a new version of Capture the Flag.