Snapchat Releases First Hardware Product, Spectacles • Hacker News Board

Re: Snapchat Releases First Hardware Product, Spectacles

#301

Post by ams6110 » Sun, Sep 25, 2016, 1:30 AM UTC

keithwhor wrote: post #134

flohofwoe wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't tell whether your comment is satire or serious, I should quit the internet today ;) Also, that 'thing' looks even more ridiculous then Google Glass.

Dead serious. "Cool" is all this product needs to be successful. People buy sunglasses. People like Snapchat. At $129 this is a no-brainer. Don't underestimate the power of social signaling.

No, they look ridiculous. If anyone walked up to me wearing those I'd have to really restrain myself from ripping them off their face and stepping on them. At the very least they'd get a laugh.

Re: Snapchat Releases First Hardware Product, Spectacles

#302

Post by hellogoodbyeeee » Sun, Sep 25, 2016, 1:34 AM UTC

erichocean wrote: post #41

hellogoodbyeeee wrote: post #38

I don't understand why all these software companies are in a rush to make hardware. With the lone exception of Apple, all hardware seems to resort in a race to the bottom commoditization resulting in paper thin margins.

> With the lone exception of Apple… And why is Apple profitable with hardware? Because the company that makes the hardware also makes the software . Just like Snap, Inc.

Didn't Facebook try a Facebook phone? How'd the Microsoft phone projects work out?

Re: Snapchat Releases First Hardware Product, Spectacles

#303

Post by [deleted] » Sun, Sep 25, 2016, 1:34 AM UTC

erichocean wrote: post #41

hellogoodbyeeee wrote: post #38

I don't understand why all these software companies are in a rush to make hardware. With the lone exception of Apple, all hardware seems to resort in a race to the bottom commoditization resulting in paper thin margins.

> With the lone exception of Apple… And why is Apple profitable with hardware? Because the company that makes the hardware also makes the software . Just like Snap, Inc.

[deleted]

Re: Snapchat Releases First Hardware Product, Spectacles

#304

Post by vonmoltke » Sun, Sep 25, 2016, 1:58 AM UTC

Johnny555 wrote: post #298

yolesaber wrote: post #281

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most phones are subsidized by wireless contracts.

Cell phones aren't subsidized, they are just financed over 2 years (with the payment often hidden in your monthly cell phone bill). If the price of the glasses is a problem (I doubt it is), they could be financed the same way "Just give us $11/month for a year and you can have them today!"

That's becoming more common but is not universal yet. Phones often still are subsidized, even when the buyer is still paying something for the phone.

Re: Snapchat Releases First Hardware Product, Spectacles

#305

Post by lazzlazzlazz » Sun, Sep 25, 2016, 2:02 AM UTC

keithwhor wrote: post #99

I think this is brilliant. Even the press details seem perfectly crafted, with one article referencing Evan's "supermodel girlfriend." Snapchat can win here based on brand alone. The hardware features are a plus, but they're going to sell a lifestyle. Think GoPro + Versace. Commenters here are caught up in the tech. It's not the tech. Get a few celebrities in these, people will buy them and barely use the recording f…

These are shitty glasses that are already being billed as This is not even remotely "Versace" - it can't possibly be.

Imagine pimply-faced teen nerds wearing these.

They will not even attempt to go for a "luxury" / "high-end" feel. Snapchat is not even remotely Apple.

Relax for a moment and come out of your fantasy.

Re: Snapchat Releases First Hardware Product, Spectacles

#306

Post by maxerickson » Sun, Sep 25, 2016, 2:05 AM UTC

vonmoltke wrote: post #304

Johnny555 wrote: post #298

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cell phones aren't subsidized, they are just financed over 2 years (with the payment often hidden in your monthly cell phone bill). If the price of the glasses is a problem (I doubt it is), they could be financed the same way "Just give us $11/month for a year and you can have them today!"

That's becoming more common but is not universal yet. Phones often still are subsidized, even when the buyer is still paying something for the phone.

The phone-sized early termination fees put the lie to it being any sort of subsidy.

(for "subsidy" to be a reasonable description of the flow of funds, the phone company would probably have to be losing money on the most expensive phones; of course they aren't. They provide the phone up front with a minimal payment, but they have structured the monthly fees to more than cover their costs for doing this.)

Re: Snapchat Releases First Hardware Product, Spectacles

#307

Post by vonmoltke » Sun, Sep 25, 2016, 2:26 AM UTC

maxerickson wrote: post #306

vonmoltke wrote: post #304

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's becoming more common but is not universal yet. Phones often still are subsidized, even when the buyer is still paying something for the phone.

The phone-sized early termination fees put the lie to it being any sort of subsidy. (for "subsidy" to be a reasonable description of the flow of funds, the phone company would probably have to be losing money on the most expensive phones; of course they aren't. They provide the phone up front with a minimal payment, but they have structured the monthly fees to more than cover their costs for doing this.)

Except they charge me the same rate if I already have my device as the person in the long-term contract, just without the early termination fee. If they have structured the locked-in person's contract to cover hardware costs then they have structured mine for that as well, despite the fact that I didn't get hardware from them. Therefore, I am paying part of the hardware costs for the people who buy phones from the provider; i.e. I am subsidizing them.

Furthermore, early termination fees are constant for all contracts. The person who got the $150 phone has the same termination fee as the person who got the $600 phone. Thus again, someone is subsidizing someone else.

Re: Snapchat Releases First Hardware Product, Spectacles

#308

Post by fma » Sun, Sep 25, 2016, 2:26 AM UTC

TAForObvReasons wrote: post #264

yolesaber wrote: post #222

Earlier quoted context omitted.

LMAO right? These are literally shitty-looking sunglasses with a ten second loop camera on them that's only usable with Snapchat. These will be handed out at fancy NYC/LA/SF parties where people will play with them for a minute or so before putting them back down and going on their phones.

Try to understand the essence of the problem and the whole thing makes perfect sense. Problem: many spontaneous moments are missed because the phone is not immediately accessible. The phone is in the pocket and it takes seconds to dig out the phone and switch to the camera app, and by that time I missed the moment. Solution: put a camera at line of sight. Make it super simple to capture. When you phrase it as a camer…

Why not just enjoy the spontaneous moment rather than fiddling with a phone or press a button on the glasses. The odds of looking back through all your archived 10 second video and reliving the spontaneous moment is pretty nill.

Re: Snapchat Releases First Hardware Product, Spectacles

#309

Post by KC8ZKF » Sun, Sep 25, 2016, 2:27 AM UTC

TAForObvReasons wrote: post #264

yolesaber wrote: post #222

Earlier quoted context omitted.

LMAO right? These are literally shitty-looking sunglasses with a ten second loop camera on them that's only usable with Snapchat. These will be handed out at fancy NYC/LA/SF parties where people will play with them for a minute or so before putting them back down and going on their phones.

Try to understand the essence of the problem and the whole thing makes perfect sense. Problem: many spontaneous moments are missed because the phone is not immediately accessible. The phone is in the pocket and it takes seconds to dig out the phone and switch to the camera app, and by that time I missed the moment. Solution: put a camera at line of sight. Make it super simple to capture. When you phrase it as a camer…

Problem: many spontaneous moments are missed because people feel compelled to "share" them.

Solution: enjoy the spontaneous moment.

Re: Snapchat Releases First Hardware Product, Spectacles

#310

Post by fma » Sun, Sep 25, 2016, 2:29 AM UTC

sloanesturz wrote: post #51

sheer_horror wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If Snapchat is able to sell this product to only 5% of their 150M userbase that's 7.5M * $130 = 1B in revenue. Then they diversify their future product line somehow and keep selling to the other 95% of their users. Forget a re-monetization strategy for ads - ads make a product worse and it is refreshing that there may be another way for VC-backed companies to monetize.

How much of their userbase of 13-30 year olds wants to plunk down $130 for a toy? Less than 5%, I'd guess.

Quadcopters, 'hover boards' are a good example. Lots of people age 13-30 buying them, and that's people can't save money. Buying stuff they don't need and would not use - only to look cool.