Snap pushes into augmented reality shopping, unveils flying camera
By Sheila Dang
(Reuters) -Snap Inc will roll out new options to make it simpler for manufacturers to create augmented actuality purchasing experiences on its Snapchat app in addition to a flying digicam, the corporate mentioned on Thursday at its annual presentation to showcase new expertise.
The Santa Monica, California-based firm introduced the pocket-sized digicam known as Pixy, which might fly a couple of ft above its proprietor to take pictures and movies earlier than touchdown within the palm of the hand, in a renewed push to develop its {hardware} enterprise. Pixy will price $230 and shall be bought in america and France, Snap mentioned.
The theme for Snap’s Associate Summit was “Again to Actuality,” reflecting the corporate’s focus over the previous few years on augmented actuality (AR), a sort of expertise that enhances pictures, movies or the expertise of the true world with computerized photos.
“We imagine there is a super quantity of alternative to construct instruments … which are linked to what we see in entrance of us,” Bobby Murphy, co-founder and chief expertise officer at Snap, mentioned in an interview.
Snap will start providing quite a lot of free companies for AR builders together with knowledge storage. Till now, picture filters and lenses have needed to be easy and compact in file measurement so they may add on the app rapidly. With extra storage, builders will be capable of create extra complicated AR experiences, Murphy mentioned.
For instance, an augmented actuality backyard would be capable of embrace 3D fashions of extra flowers and vegetation, he mentioned.
Snap can even roll out a brand new characteristic known as “Gown Up” on Snapchat by which customers can browse AR purchasing filters that allow them just about strive on clothes and accessories.
Snapchat now has greater than 600 million month-to-month customers globally, up from 500 million final yr.
(Reporting by Sheila Dang in Dallas; Modifying by Will Dunham and David Gregorio)
