Snap debuts true AR glasses that show the potential (and limitations) of AR

Like previous glasses the company has produced, they are called Spectacles.Spectacles enable new ways to view and create Snapchat Lenses, which are generally simple augmented reality filters that Snapchat users apply to the videos they send each other.At 134 grams, Spectacles are among the most compact AR glasses of this type. Significant improvements in this area are difficult to achieve without compromising other important design parameters for making AR glasses both practical and immersive.Another challenge companies with AR ambitions like Snap, Facebook, Apple, Microsoft, or Google must overcome is battery life; Snap's Spectacles run out of juice after just 30 minutes of continuous use.Most of the technologies at play in the newest AR glasses have been around for years and with the exact same limitations. Rumors has it that Apple has been targeting a 2022 release date for its first effort at releasing a mixed reality headset, but leaks suggest that the first mixed reality product from the company will probably be aimed more at the developers who will create future apps and experiences than at end users.While Facebook has repeatedly indicated that while AR glasses are a huge focus for the company, a mass-market release is still a few years away.