Snapchat comes to the desktop with Snap Camera

Before you get ahead of yourself, Snapchat coming to the desktop isn’t the same as its mobile counterpart. Instead, Snap Camera is designed to add custom lenses to other video conferencing and social desktop apps, such as Twitch, Skype, and YouTube. The free app is coming to Windows 10 and macOS and is designed to run in the background as a camera output. Through the app, you get access to “thousands” of lenses, which is accessible via a gallery within the app. You don’t need a Snapchat account to use it.

Twitch users seem to get a special feature though as broadcasters and viewers can unlock special Snap Camera lenses in broadcasts by scanning QR codes. Some of these lenses include faces of characters from games like PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds and League of Legends. The minimum system requirements you’ll need to get Snap Camera running include a PC or Mac with an Intel Core i3 processor clocked at least 2.5GHz or an AMD Phenom II clocked at 2.6GHz, 4GB of RAM, and a screen resolution of 1,280 x 768 or higher.

Source: Digital Trends

Snap's news Spectacles 2 now available in Canada in two new styles

Snap's camera-enabled Spectacles are now on a Gen 2 revision and while the original style suited a lot fo early adopters many fashion-forward users just didn't see that style as compatible with their look. Two new model Spectacles, named Veronica and Nico are now available and are selling for $269. If you fancy the original style, it is still available for $199. Snap's website says the Spectacles, which record in HD, will be shipping in 1-2 weeks.

The new Spectacles 2 are available online and will shp to customers in the US, Canada and select European countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Italy

Source: Engadget

Snapchat reportedly plans to release dev kit

If reports are to be believed, you might be able to see a “Log in with Snapchat” option in non-Snapchat apps. TechCrunch reports that Snap is planning to launch a full-fledged developer platform it’s calling Snapkit. This platform will let third-party developers do things like the aforementioned being able log into their apps with Snapchat credentials, or use Snapchat’s camera (and even share back to Snapchat), or even use Bitmoji avatars in their apps. This move might help bring back the followers it’s lost or even attract new users, especially for those wary of using Facebook to sign into new services now. And since Snapchat asks for less information, it might be less risky if a site with your Snapchat login will compromise too much information. It isn’t clear thought which apps will offer login first, this might be dependent on which companies Snap can convince to partner with them. If this does come true, are you willing to use the “Log in with Snapchat” option?

Are we getting another version of Snap’s Spectacles?

We aren’t just getting one new iteration of Snap’s Spectacles. Rumour has it the company is working on two new Spectacles models. The second-generation version will offer bug fixes, performance improvements, and new colours. Meanwhile, the company is also preparing another version that could come with two lenses and feature more advanced camera technology that could cost up to $300. The second-generation model is supposedly far along in the production process and we should expect a Q2 or Q3 launch. With the big US$40 million loss on the first generation verson of Spectacles, Snap is expected to produce fewer units this time around.

On top of this, Snap has reportedly acquired imaging company FiveFocal at the end of 2017 to expand its camera ambitions. Snap is also reportedly in talks with major glasses manufacturers Warby Parker and Luxottica to license out its camera tech.

Source: The Verge