Facebook has joined forces with Franco-Italian eyewear company EssilorLuxottica, best known for its Ray-Ban brand, to launch its first smart glasses in the market.
Called Ray-Ban Stories, the new smart glasses let users capture photos, record videos, listen to music, podcasts and take phone calls without taking out their smartphone.
“Ray-Ban Stories are an important step towards a future when phones are no longer a central part of our lives and you won’t have to choose between interacting with a device or interacting with the world around you,” Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said.
Starting at $299, Ray-Ban Stories are available in 20 style combinations online and in select retail stores in the US, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Italy and the UK.
Users can control the smart glasses through physical buttons such as on-off switch and “capture” knob to take photos and record videos. There is a tiny touch pad to adjust the volume or answer a phone call.
They come with twin 5-megapixel cameras and three-microphone audio set-up for voice and sound transmission for calls and videos.
“Users can record up to 30-second videos using the capture button or hands-free with Facebook Assistant voice commands … background noise suppression algorithm provides an enhanced calling experience like [users] expect from dedicated headphones,” the company said.
Weighing less than 50-grams, the glasses will come with a leather hard-shell charging case.
Users can store hundreds of photos and videos on Ray-Ban Stories and transfer them to phones through the Facebook View app. The app on iOS and Android devices makes it easy to import, edit and share content captured on the smart glasses to other apps on the phone such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, Twitter, TikTok and Snapchat.
Users can also save content to their phone’s camera roll and edit and share from there.
Facebook said the smart glasses come with in-built security features to safeguard the privacy of wearers and the people around them. A white LED lights will glow to let people nearby know when the user is recording.
“In addition to encrypting your photos and videos, we have expert teams dedicated to preventing hackers from accessing your Facebook account,” the social media company said.
“We won't access your media without your consent, and we do not use the content of photos and videos captured with Ray-Ban Stories and stored in Facebook View for personalised ads,” it added.
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Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
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UJDA CHAMAN
Produced: Panorama Studios International
Directed: Abhishek Pathak
Cast: Sunny Singh, Maanvi Gagroo, Grusha Kapoor, Saurabh Shukla
Rating: 3.5 /5 stars
TWISTERS
Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos
Rating: 2.5/5
Like a Fading Shadow
Antonio Muñoz Molina
Translated from the Spanish by Camilo A. Ramirez
Tuskar Rock Press (pp. 310)
About Tenderd
Started: May 2018
Founder: Arjun Mohan
Based: Dubai
Size: 23 employees
Funding: Raised $5.8m in a seed fund round in December 2018. Backers include Y Combinator, Beco Capital, Venturesouq, Paul Graham, Peter Thiel, Paul Buchheit, Justin Mateen, Matt Mickiewicz, SOMA, Dynamo and Global Founders Capital
THE SPECS
Engine: AMG-enhanced 3.0L inline-6 turbo with EQ Boost and electric auxiliary compressor
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 429hp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh360,200 (starting)
Apple%20Mac%20through%20the%20years
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GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
The schedule
December 5 - 23: Shooting competition, Al Dhafra Shooting Club
December 9 - 24: Handicrafts competition, from 4pm until 10pm, Heritage Souq
December 11 - 20: Dates competition, from 4pm
December 12 - 20: Sour milk competition
December 13: Falcon beauty competition
December 14 and 20: Saluki races
December 15: Arabian horse races, from 4pm
December 16 - 19: Falconry competition
December 18: Camel milk competition, from 7.30 - 9.30 am
December 20 and 21: Sheep beauty competition, from 10am
December 22: The best herd of 30 camels
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
