While I didn’t expect much when it comes to audio playback, the Stories surprised me with sound that was good enough for listening to light tunes or podcasts. I could see them being particularly useful while jogging or biking outdoors, where you want to maintain situational awareness. During the day, I’m never too far from my wireless earbuds, but being clubmaster able to get a bit of audio from my glasses in a pinch could be genuinely useful. Keep an eye here for more details on regular software updates as we continue to improve the experience over time. Through design iterations, months of planning, and international collaboration between our teams at Facebook and EssilorLuxottica , we were able to pull it off.
As ambitious as they may seem, Ray-Ban Stories are also yet another example of how Facebook seemingly can’t help but imitate Snapchat, which has been dabbling in smart glasses since 2016. Even their name hearkens back to the social story format that Snap kicked off and was later copied by Facebook, Instagram and pretty much every other social media outfit. But at this point, I don’t think Facebook cares if everyone calls them copycats if it ultimately leads to more engagement. And, well, we know how much Mark Zuckerberg wants to transform it into a “metaverse company.” As with any new device, we have a big responsibility to help people feel comfortable and provide peace of mind, and that goes not only for device owners but the people around them, too.
The use of Facebook Assistant for voice command-powered capture is totally optional. You can view and delete your voice transcripts, and you always have the option to turn off voice storage and/or Facebook Assistant in Settings. As an all-day wearable, the Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses need to be ready when you are. That’s why they come with a specially-designed portable charging case, so you can easily recharge your glasses — and keep them protected — while on the go. A fully charged case gives you an additional three consecutive days of glasses use.
Facebook is requiring the use of an iPhone or Android app called Facebook View, which is used to manage and set up the glasses. When a user takes a photo or video, the media will appear in a section of the app. A user can then choose to download that photo or video to their device for storage and editing. You can turn the glasses off, which cuts power to the camera and microphone.
They charge when you set them in the carrying case, which Facebook says gives three full charges. You won’t realize they’re special Ray-Bans unless you’re looking specifically for the two cameras on the corner of the device’s frames. You’ll be able to buy Ray-Ban Stories today in 20 different styles in the US, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Italy and the UK.
Despite creating various unique collections over the years, the Ray-Ban Aviator and Wayfarer are the two most sought-after models by far. Popularized by pilots in the 1930s, the Aviator collection soon became associated with the classic American style. The Aviator design has gone virtually unchanged since its debut. The collection is still recognized by its signature lens bridge. As for content moderation, Facebook spokespeople say that the same rules apply for the glasses as they do for any other content creation tool.
It’s not clear whether such a product will find a large market, given that the photos taken on smartphones are far superior and many phone users already have earbuds. They are also much pricier than regular Ray-Ban Wayfarers, which typically cost $100 to $200. Zuckerberg has said he thinks virtual and augmented reality-powered devices are the next major platform for human communication, after mobile phones, eventually replacing some in-person interactions. There’s also a touch area on the right side of the glasses for controlling music, a voice assistant and calls. A user can swipe left or right to adjust volume, tap to play, pause and skip music, or double tap to answer and end phone calls.
The multiyear partnership with EssilorLuxottica that Facebook has announced, which starts with these more basic glasses, clearly strives towards far more advanced stuff. Blending of virtual and real with embedded displays, spatial audio. Facebook’s bound to keep ray ban new wayfarer blurring the lines between privacy and your data as the hardware gets more complex, and so are other manufacturers of AR devices. A shutter button is on one arm, right above a touchpad that controls volume and can be tapped to answer calls and play/pause.