Ray-Ban Meta glasses now offer a live translation feature to all owners, after an earlier small-scale test. You can download language packs in advance, enabling translation even when you don’t have a mobile data connection.
The Meta AI features, which lets you ask the glasses questions about what you’re seeing, has also now launched in EU countries, and there are new frame and lens combos too …
The smart glasses have so far offered two main features. First, you can shoot POV photos and videos using either a button-press or a voice command like “Hey Meta, shoot a video.”
Second, you can ask the built-in AI to tell you about whatever it is you’re looking at, with a “Hey Meta, tell me what you see” command. You can see a bunch of examples of this in my review of the glasses, with more in a follow-up post.
The feature can be incredibly impressive – for example:
The text was definitely too small in the frame for the glasses to have cheated.
That feature was initially withheld from the EU due to privacy concerns, but is now available in all EU countries.
Live translation
Meta has been testing a live translation feature, and says it’s now available to all users.
Whether you’re traveling to a new country and need to ask for directions to the train station or you’re spending quality time with a family member and need to break the language barrier, you can hold seamless conversations across English, French, Italian, and Spanish—no Wi-Fi or network connectivity required if you’ve downloaded the language pack in advance.
When you’re speaking to someone in one of those languages, you’ll hear what they say in your preferred language through the glasses in real time, and they can view a translated transcript of the conversation on your phone. To get started, just say, “Hey Meta, start live translation.”
Other languages are likely to follow.
I’ll be putting this to the test shortly – watch this space.
New styles too
Meta has also announced new frame and lens combos.
Starting today, we’ve got new and expanded Skyler frame and lens color combos. The new Skyler Shiny Chalky Gray with Transitions® Sapphire lenses is perfect for those who favor a cat-eye shape in a neutral tone with a pop of color and great for indoor and outdoor use. But if you prefer a more timeless aesthetic, you can also now grab Skyler Shiny Black with G15 Green lenses or Skyler Shiny Black with Clear lenses.
The glasses are now available in a wide range of style and color combos.
There’s more to come, including Instagram integration and more conversational exchanges.
Highlighted accessories
Photo: Meta
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