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Six months after their release across the Atlantic, Meta decided to offer its first pair of glasses on the French market. The Stories, created and “designed” in collaboration with Ray-Ban, are intended to be versatile.
In September 2021, Meta – then still called Facebook – unveiled its first pair of connected glasses, in collaboration with Ray-Ban. A first step into the world of smartlens for the American company which had until then only marketed its product on its domestic market. It took until March 2022 for Meta to export its glasses to four new territories, including France.
The same product with software enhancements
For this European release, Meta does not revolutionize its product, which therefore retains its entire technical data sheet. It’s all about the software. First addition: it is possible to record longer videos. When released in the USA, the Ray-Ban Stories could only record 30s clips. Much too short according to the American public. The firm has therefore pushed back this limit and makes it possible to film content up to 30 or 60 s, still using the two 5 megapixel sensors present at the level of the right and left studs. One key captures images with a single press. A longer press authorizes to take a photo.
Three microphones are integrated into the temples to make calls, listen to music or control the pair of glasses. The Hey Facebook voice command allows you to trigger actions such as controlling music or reading messages received on Messenger. For their European release, the Ray-Ban Stories will master French in addition to Italian by means of an update. The pairing is done via an app called Facebook View App. As for Oculus Quest 2 or Portal, it is necessary to have an account with the blue giant to set up your pair of glasses. The application also allows you to edit captured videos and share them directly to other apps in the Meta group (Instagram or WhatsApp). It is also possible to save them in its image library to post them on TikTok, for example.
The Facebook View App. © Meta
The arm of the frame is tactile. It thus allows you to control the volume, change a song, pause or take a call. Because the Ray-Ban Stories are not only used to capture videos, they also allow music listening and voice conversations, as can the Bose Frames. Stories have built-in speakers, putting them somewhere between Snapchat’s Spectacles and Bose’s Frames. According to Meta, the listening quality would be equivalent to what a pair of conventional headphones can offer.
Safety in the sights
Aware of the legitimate questions that Stories can raise, Meta emphasizes confidentiality, whether for glasses wearers or those around them. Thus, it is impossible to hide from others that you are filming since a led indicates that the cameras are active. The shot content won’t be accessible by Meta, the company claims, unless you give it access. It further promises that your personal data other than that essential for the operation of the glasses will not be siphoned off by Facebook. Unless, again, you authorize this sharing of information with the company…
To convey this notion of private by design, Meta announces that a large prevention campaign will be deployed from April on the European market. The aim is to educate and inform about the operation of such a portable device, in particular on how to identify this type of product when worn and used by people.
A product that exists in view or solar. © Meta
On the French market, the Ray-Ban Stories will be available from April 14 at a price of €329. They will adopt three of the eyewear manufacturer’s classic frames: the Wayfarer, Round and Meteor. There will be something for everyone, as these models will accommodate corrective lenses for all views. In total, the brand claims 28 possible combinations.