Ray-Ban Stories are a new product from Facebook and Ray-Ban that were announced in September 2021. They are smart glasses that can take photos and video, play audio, and make calls while allowing you to still see the world around you.
What are Ray-Ban Stories?
Ray-Ban Stories are a pair of smart glasses created through a partnership between Facebook and eyewear company Ray-Ban. They look like regular Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses but have built-in speakers and dual cameras to take photos and videos.
Key Features
- Dual 5MP cameras to take photos and 30-second videos
- Open-ear speakers to listen to music, podcasts, and calls
- 3 microphones for phone calls and videos
- Touch controls on the glasses to take media and control volume
- LED light indicator to show when cameras are on
- All-day battery life and included charging case
- Compatibility with Facebook View and Facebook Assistant apps
So in summary, Ray-Ban Stories let you capture photos, video, and audio while keeping your phone in your pocket. The glasses connect to the Facebook View app on your phone to share your media.
Why did Facebook make Ray-Ban Stories?
There are a few key reasons why Facebook collaborated with Ray-Ban on smart glasses:
Expand into wearable technology
This allows Facebook to move into the emerging smart glasses and augmented reality space. They are experimenting with a new form factor for accessing social media and digital information.
Make smart glasses more stylish
By partnering with the iconic Ray-Ban brand, the glasses look like regular fashionable sunglasses. This helps overcome the bulky designs of previous smart glasses.
Target broad consumer adoption
Facebook wants to make smart glasses mainstream. Ray-Ban Stories start at $299, which makes them accessible to more consumers than past enterprise-focused smart glasses costing $1000+.
Increase Facebook app engagement
The glasses integrate with Facebook apps to share media and access Facebook Assistant. This could increase time spent in Facebook’s apps.
What can Ray-Ban Stories do?
Here are the key features and capabilities of Ray-Ban Stories:
Take photos and videos
The dual cameras let you take 5MP photos and 720p videos up to 30 seconds long simply by pressing the button on the side of the glasses. An LED light indicates when you are capturing media.
Listen to audio
With the open-ear speakers and motion sensors, you can listen to music, podcasts, audiobooks, and take phone calls. You can control volume by swiping on the side of the glasses.
First-person perspective
Seeing life through your own eyes, the glasses allow you to capture unique, personal photos and videos. You can share your own point of view on events and activities.
Hands-free experience
With taps and swipes on the glasses, you can control your media and calls without needing to use your phone. This allows for a hands-free, heads-up experience.
Share on Facebook apps
You can easily share your photos, videos, and audio captured with Ray-Ban Stories on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and other social apps. The content transfers through the Facebook View app.
How do Ray-Ban Stories work?
Ray-Ban Stories use the following technologies and components:
Cameras
There are two 5MP cameras, one on each temple of the glasses. These cameras can capture still photos and 720p videos.
Speakers & Microphones
Open-ear speakers play audio. There are also 3 built-in microphones for phone calls and recording videos.
Battery & Charging Case
The glasses provide about 6 hours of continuous use. The included charging case provides up to 3 additional charges for all-day battery life.
Capture LED
An LED light on the front of the glasses indicates when you are taking photos or videos.
Touch Controls
You can tap and swipe on the side of the glasses to control media capture and volume.
Bluetooth & Wifi
The glasses connect via Bluetooth to your smartphone. They also have WiFi support for future app integrations.
Facebook View App
The Facebook View app on your iOS or Android phone pairs with the Ray-Ban Stories glasses via Bluetooth. It lets you import, edit, and share content captured on the glasses.
What can you do with Ray-Ban Stories?
Here are some of the key uses and activities people can do with Ray-Ban Stories:
Capture everyday life
Take photos and videos of your daily routine, family, friends, travel adventures, and special moments. The glasses allow first-person perspective.
Get work done hands-free
Listen to music or take calls while keeping your hands free for tasks like cooking, cleaning, paperwork, and hobbies.
Record workouts
First-person video can give a fun, immersive look at your fitness routines from weight lifting to running.
Share on social media
Post your photos, videos, and stories on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and more. The Facebook View app lets you easily share.
Relive memories
Looking back on the photos and videos can help you reminisce about fun times. The glasses provide a unique view of life events.
Stay present
By keeping your phone in your pocket, the glasses allow you to stay present and engaged with the world around you.
Are Ray-Ban Stories worth it?
Here are some pros and cons to consider about the value of Ray-Ban Stories:
Pros
- Relatively affordable at $299
- Stylish, lightweight design
- Great for hands-free use
- Fun first-person photos & videos
- Good battery life with charging case
- Seamless sharing to social apps
Cons
- Only 30-second video limit
- No AR features currently
- Potential privacy concerns
- Only available in black and brown colors
- Facebook account required
For the right consumer interested in smart glasses, Ray-Ban Stories provide solid capabilities and style for $299. But limitations like short videos and lack of AR may disappoint some tech early adopters. It depends on your budget, needs, and desire for cutting-edge features.
How are Ray-Ban Stories different from Google Glass?
Ray-Ban Stories differ from Google Glass in a few key ways:
Design
| Ray-Ban Stories | Google Glass |
|---|---|
| Stylish Ray-Ban design | Futuristic tech look |
| Available in 2 colors | Limited color options |
| Lightweight frames | Heavier frame |
Ray-Ban Stories blend in like normal glasses while Google Glass stands out.
Cameras
| Ray-Ban Stories | Google Glass |
|---|---|
| 2 cameras 5MP each | 1 camera 5MP |
| 720p video 30 seconds | 720p open-ended video |
Google Glass has a more versatile camera, while Ray-Ban has dual cameras but shorter videos.
Display
Ray-Ban Stories do not have a display, while Google Glass has a small prism display in the top corner for viewing information.
Price
Ray-Ban Stories cost $299 while Google Glass starts at $999 for the enterprise version. Ray-Ban targets a much lower consumer price point.
So in summary, Ray-Ban Stories prioritize style and affordability, while Google Glass focuses more on technology capabilities and enterprise functionality.
What are privacy concerns with Ray-Ban Stories?
Some potential privacy concerns that have been raised regarding Ray-Ban Stories include:
Always-on cameras
Since the glasses have cameras continuously pointing forward, there are concerns around consent of people being recorded in public places. The LED light indicates when recording, but not everyone may notice it.
Facial recognition
There are worries that facial recognition capabilities could be added to identify people through the Stories cameras, which would enable covert, public surveillance. Facebook has not indicated plans for this.
Collecting data on users
As a Facebook product, some worry the company could use Stories to gather data on user behavior, interests, and habits to improve ad targeting. The full extent of collected data is unclear.
Hacking potential
If the glasses were hacked, bad actors could potentially access video feeds and private information. It’s unclear how secured the glasses are from cyber attacks.
Children’s privacy
Parental consent requirements for Stories are unclear, so there are concerns children could be recorded without permission or safeguards in place.
Facebook claims it has built Stories with privacy in mind, but time will tell how data is managed and if more safeguards are needed. Users should carefully weigh privacy tradeoffs.
Conclusion
Ray-Ban Stories represent an interesting evolution of smart glasses that aim for more mass market appeal than past enterprise devices like Google Glass. The $299 price, fashionable design, and integration with Facebook apps could attract some consumers.
However, limitations like short video lengths, lack of AR features, and privacy concerns may disappoint technologists and worrisome consumers alike. As Facebook’s first smart glasses, Stories will provide real-world usage data to further refine later generations. But only time will tell if there is enough clear value here for Ray-Ban Stories to break the glasses into the mainstream.