Ray-Ban Stories in stores

Ray-Ban Stories. © EssilorLuxottica.

Facebook and the French-Italian multinational EssilorLuxottica, Ray-Ban’s parent company, partnered on a pair of glasses with built-in cameras. The Ray-Ban Stories function a lot like Snapchat’s Spectacles launched in 2016. Vocal commands or clicking a button on top of the frame trigger a dual 5-megapixel camera that takes photos or 30-second videos. The glasses are also outfitted with speakers, three microphones, and a white light that turns on at the front of the glasses so there’s no mistaking that filming is taking place. An Android and iOS mobile app imports and edits videos and photos, then shares them on social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, Twitter, TikTok and Snapchat.

Facebook promptly swept aside concerns about privacy. “From the start, we designed Ray-Ban Stories with privacy in mind, adding numerous built-in features to provide control and peace of mind to both device owners and bystanders,” Facebook says. OK, we feel better.

Ray-Ban Stories are available in Ray-Ban’s timeless Wayfarer style that built its reputation, as well as in different colors and lens options such as transparent, tinted, prescription, and even progressives. They’re available online and in some retail stores in the US, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Italy, and the UK. Prices start at US$ 300.

⇨ YouTube, “Welcome back to the moment. With Ray-Ban x Facebook..”

⇨ The Verge, Alex Heath, “Facebook debuts Ray-Ban Stories, smart glasses that record video.”

2021-09-09