Snapchat Becomes Snap Inc, Introduces ‘Spectacles’
This weekend saw some big changes at Snapchat, and specifically the name itself. Snapchat the company will henceforth be known as Snap Inc. as detailed in a news release on their website. The name change itself is directly related to Snap Inc’s newest product ‘Spectacles’ – more on that below.
The news broke last weekend as an apparent promotional video was leaked for the new eyewear, ending with the text “Spectacles by Snap Inc.” Snapchat-er – Snap Inc. then disclosed the name change to the Wall Street Journal an posted the their side of the story on their news page.
The Spectacles have been in the works at Snap Inc. since their 2014 acquisition of Vergeance for $15 million, and they basically appear to be a rebranded version of their device. When wearing the glasses, the user can capture 10 second videos which sync with the users’s phone via bluetooth or wifi.
“We’ve created one of the smallest wireless video cameras in the world, capable of taking a day’s worth of Snaps on a single charge, and we integrated it seamlessly into a fun pair of sunglasses…” read Snap Inc.’s statement.
Thanks to the fish-eye lens on the glasses, the video format is circular, allowing the user to video the video in any orientation. “Circular video plays full screen on any device, in any orientation, and captures the human perspective with a 115 degree field of view,” said Snapchat.
The name change seems to have come out of utility following the introduction of a new product: “When we were just getting started it made sense to name our company Snapchat Inc., because Snapchat was our only product!” read the statement, “Now that we are developing other products, like Spectacles, we need a name that goes beyond just one product – but doesn’t lose the familiarity and fun of our team and brand.”
The name Snap Inc. will only related to the greater company while Snapchat and Spectacles will remain as the product names. “You can search Snapchat or Spectacles for the fun stuff and leave Snap Inc. for the Wall Street crowd :)” says Snap Inc.
