Meta's Smart Glasses Gain Live AI and Live Translation

[joecomo]

I have both, and you are absolutely wrong. I hate to even use the "apples and oranges" cliche to describe what you posited, because the two devices are so dissimilar. And honestly, there is no reason to "switch between the two on a daily basis".

I cannot understand why so many in these threads or on Reddit (although it is much better there recently) want the AVP device to fail or are so negative about it. Most of the hostility seems to be aimed at the price.

I have been a Mac guy since the 80's; I spent $3500 on a PowerBook 2400c...in 1998 (it would be almost $6,800 in 2024 dollars). This past February, I was fortunate to have a bunch of older iPhones, MacBooks, and an iPad that I traded in that took off $2000 of the AVP price.

However, after having it since launch in February, I would gladly put the full amount on a credit card - this is the most amazing thing Apple has ever produced, and an exciting way to see their path forward.

And other than an internet connection, it bears zero resemblance to Meta Glasses.

I WFH, and while it took me a few months to figure out how to use it in my workflow, I now work 4-8 hrs/day using my AVP. My Meta glasses are a toy that I use for AI questions much less than I thought I would. On the couple of occasions that I wore them out of the house, I showed my friends what they did, and frankly, they were creeped out by the cameras no matter how much I showed them that the cameras light up and will not function if the light is covered. I don't wear them out anymore.

However, when I show my friends, family, and grandkids Guest Mode on my AVP, I love seeing the amazement on their faces after they take it off. There is no comparison, and the AVP is definitely not "serving the same market" as the Meta Glasses.

I agree that it is a great device - but I really have no use case for work. A good monitor is always better (and a ProDisplayXDR certainly is) not to speak about weight and other inconveniences.

 

[tomtad]

View attachment 2463222

Yup because this just screams Cooool. 🙄

A pair of the Meta Ray-Bans with tinted lenses look just like traditional Ray-Ban Wayfarers.

But what do you see through the Meta Ray-Ban lenses?

 

[Sphincty]

Time to re-educate, not too late for that

Great! Time to start building the camps...

 

[xboxphanatic]

But what do you see through the Meta Ray-Ban lenses?

I think this is where the confusion is for someone who's never tried these kind of smart glasses. The Meta Glasses are basically, AirPods with a camera other than you wear them like glasses instead of headphones. There is no display or anything to see through the lenses. The interaction is strictly your voice and listening to the response, but also with the advantage of it being able to use the camera to do a little more than you can with AirPods and Siri. The better comparison of these are not with the Vision Pro, but with the Visual Intelligence feature of the iPhone 16.

I was very weary of these myself, but a couple months ago on a trip to Spain someone in my group had a pair. They were able to translate signs and ask Meta about landmarks and things we came across while walking around. I since bought a pair and they have also been nice while doing activities with my kids. In times when I would normally pull out my phone to take a photo or video of them playing, I can now interact and have a better experience while also being in the moment.

 

[Dr32Degrees]

I agree that it is a great device - but I really have no use case for work. A good monitor is always better (and a ProDisplayXDR certainly is) not to speak about weight and other inconveniences.

I am a triple-monitor guy, and you have a great point - what I have found is that using the monitor in the AVP provides me with much more focus. I am an average-sized nearly 60-year-old, and I have not had one time where the weight was an issue. The #1 annoyance for me is having to take off the AVP because FaceID doesn't recognize me when I need to unlock my phone (the very definition of a "first world problem" lol).

 

[joecomo]

I am a triple-monitor guy, and you have a great point - what I have found is that using the monitor in the AVP provides me with much more focus. I am an average-sized nearly 60-year-old, and I have not had one time where the weight was an issue. The #1 annoyance for me is having to take off the AVP because FaceID doesn't recognize me when I need to unlock my phone (the very definition of a "first world problem" lol).

besides weight, I also miss some sharpness (I might need prescription lenses though) for work.
For me the killer application is really immersive video - a pity there is not much of it.

 

[M-5]

Not really. Eventually AVP like devices become head phones of screens with spatial computing. I would love to take larger screens when I travel instead of those ugly foldables. Imagine tethering a phone or iPad or MBP to beautiful screens when travelling. This device by meta doesn’t really solve any problem other than being creepy spy recording everything.

Why would you prefer a large screen that doesn’t fold as opposed to one that can fold to be more compact? You can already tether your iPad or MacBook Pro to a larger display??

Meta glasses have a lot of uses. They’re not creepy spy recording devices; there’s a notification light to alert others when it’s being used. Meta glasses are great for casually listening to music hands free. You can ask it questions you would ask Siri, it it’s hands free; you don’t have to take out your phone. And Meta AI is so much more intelligent than Siri at the moment. The cameras a great because you can ask it to identify things in front of you like plants, or food, or translate languages, and you don’t have to take out your phone. You can quickly take photos and pics. Basically a lot of phone functions on the fly with really smart AI. I ask it general queries all of the time, and it gives very accurate answers.

 

[tbayrgs]

But what do you see through the Meta Ray-Ban lenses?

The actual world. And they can be worn and used in public.

I know they’re not direct competitors to each other but I’d argue the Meta glasses offer far more real world functionality on a daily basis. I to be clear, I’m a big Apple fan and generally despise all things Meta. But I’ll spend my money on the Meta glasses way before I would on an Apple Vision Pro.

 

[TechnoMonk]

Why would you prefer a large screen that doesn’t fold as opposed to one that can fold to be more compact? You can already tether your iPad or MacBook Pro to a larger display??

Meta glasses have a lot of uses. They’re not creepy spy recording devices; there’s a notification light to alert others when it’s being used. Meta glasses are great for casually listening to music hands free. You can ask it questions you would ask Siri, it it’s hands free; you don’t have to take out your phone. And Meta AI is so much more intelligent than Siri at the moment. The cameras a great because you can ask it to identify things in front of you like plants, or food, or translate languages, and you don’t have to take out your phone. You can quickly take photos and pics. Basically a lot of phone functions on the fly with really smart AI. I ask it general queries all of the time, and it gives very accurate answers.

I still need to look in to a screen. It’s a pain working on MBP 16 inch when traveling . Foldable can give me 20 inch or so, but I would pack a 70 inch wide screen in AVP like device. It’s like saying carry a foldable bigger speaker instead of headphones. I have no need for meta AI or Siri.

 

[coolfactor]

I'd say that is what Apple has proven they can't develop. Waiting for Apple "Intelligence" to change this, but Siri as a primary interface is pretty bad. I appreciate Apple's approach to user privacy, and I wish the likes of Meta were required to respect it, but at some point you actually have to make a better product.

There's no proof of anything. These "smart sunglasses" are a totally different product from Apple Vision Pro. Are you saying that there's actual useful consumer demand for smart sunglasses and that's where Apple should be focusing its energy, rather than just being a gimmick?

There will be a heckuva lot more privacy invasions with these types of sunglasses and I think Apple is being careful about that, too.

 

[chelsel]

There is no on device image processing yet capable of handling the computing required... so this means an Internet connection will be required, with a paired phone, and everything you do/see will be uploaded to Facebook. I bet that's a very interesting T&C.

 

[Dr32Degrees]

The actual world. And they can be worn and used in public.

I know they’re not direct competitors to each other but I’d argue the Meta glasses offer far more real world functionality on a daily basis. I to be clear, I’m a big Apple fan and generally despise all things Meta. But I’ll spend my money on the Meta glasses way before I would on an Apple Vision Pro.

And you will be woefully disappointed. They don't even do 5% of what an AVP can do.

 

[tekipaki]

Okay, if these can transcribe in realtime to text then I think this will be great in terms of accessibility. If you are deaf or otherwise hard of hearing, having a way to participate in any conversation that you want is a game changer, it levels the playing field to be able to walk into a conversation, because you don't have to be focused on the lips prior. It can even just be english to english.

Wouldn’t someone who is hard of hearing be better served with a hearing aid? Get them the latest pair of AirPods.

 

[tekipaki]

Share the glasses? And why would I be a native English speaker? I’m not and less than 5% of the world‘s
population are, so it‘s rather unlikely.

I just got a funny image in my head of two people swapping a pair of sunglasses back and forth 😂 Sorry but this is just absurd.

And you’re writing in English, so I think it’s safe to assume you’re proficient in it (unless you’re dictating this comment to your smart glasses to translate for you).

The point is that English is the most studied second language in the world and most people — if not proficient — can speak SOME English. Maybe not well, but generally it’s easier for native English speakers and even non-native speakers to fall back on English to communicate rather than pulling out tech and awkwardly pass it back and forth.

I’m an expat and I speak the local language, so I’ve never used tech like this but I have on one or two occasions seen foreign tourists try on their smartphones and everyone just laughs at the sight of it and then proceed to convey whatever message is needed in simple English.

 

[tbayrgs]

And you will be woefully disappointed. They don't even do 5% of what an AVP can do.

I’ve owned an AVP and am intimidately aware of its capabilities and limitations. That’s also why I no longer own an AVP.

The ability to limit the brightness of the sun in my eyes alone makes the Meta Ray-Ban imminently more useful on a daily basis than the AVP. Everything else would just be a bonus.

 

[burgman]

Time to re-educate, not too late for that

Right, Those stupid consumers let it go. Personally I don't use Meta or Facebook, defiantly not the new X, not for privacy concerns just not interested. Look at your privacy report on websites you visit, Look at privacy of all the apps you use. Look at 3d WiFi mapping and privacy. Finally think about all the government/private cameras and license plate readers capturing your image or plate everyday. Using facial recognition and plate database identification and sold to brokers . Privacy 😂

 

[burgman]

This is what people said about smoking in the 60s

I wasn't aware smoking has been eliminated