It’s solely been round six months since Snap launched the fifth technology of Spectacles, its AR glasses for builders, and the corporate is already enhancing its newest pair with new Lenses and platform options.
Snap introduced on Monday that it’s launching the flexibility to create Spectacles-focused Lenses that faucet Location Services, new hand-tracking capabilities, and extra. Now, builders can construct Lenses utilizing Location Services, GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), compass heading, and customized places, permitting them to entry geo-location information and create issues like AR strolling programs.
The replace is primarily aimed toward bettering location-based experiences on Spectacles.
Snap showcased just a few examples that make the most of the brand new capabilities, equivalent to NavigatAR from Utopia Labs, which directs customers with Snap Map Tiles by displaying glowing arrows to help wearers in reaching their locations.
Other new platform options for Spectacles embrace the aforementioned hand-tracking capabilities, which detect seize gestures and when a consumer has a cellphone of their arms. Snap additionally now lets builders simply add a leaderboard to their Lenses for competition-focused experiences.
Additionally, there’s a brand new AR keyboard.
Spectacles are at present accessible solely via Snap’s developer program, which prices $99 per 30 days.
However, Snap not too long ago launched a 50% low cost for educators and college students, indicating that its long-term purpose is to deliver AR experiences to the lots whereas additionally serving to it compete with tech giants like Apple, Google, and Meta.
Alongside right now’s announcement, Snap unveiled a sequence of challenges that may award $20,000 to Spectacles-owning builders who create the highest 10 finest Lenses every month. Called the “Spectacles Community Challenges,” the sequence begins April 1.
