By: Nick Gambino
Snapchat is nothing if not fun and irreverent. With their introduction of lens filters, users are going nuts with squeaky-voiced videos and bug eyes that look like something out of a Pixar film. Now with their newest update, World Lenses, our surroundings are getting a little facelift as well.
“World Lenses will help Snapchatters decorate the world around them in even more fun and creative ways,” Snapchat said to TechCrunch.
The social media/messaging app is looking to jump on the augmented reality bandwagon with the World Lenses feature. Until now we’ve only had the luxury of adding selfie lens filters where you can overlay graphics on your photo or video. This can include dog ears, weird hats, heart eyes or the classic rainbow vomit.
These graphics can now be added to other objects in your photo to make the world look a bit wild. Alright, let’s be honest. It’s basically adding an acid trip to the whole captured moment.
If you’d like to see a sleeping cloud wake up and starting puking rainbows, you’ve got it. It’s as simple as a couple of taps. If you’d like to see it snow in the middle of summer, well it can do that too. They should call it the “Tripping Balls Lens.”
This feature is most likely being launched in preparation for the release of Snapchat’s Spectacles sunglasses. Spectacles is a $130 pair of sunglasses that will allow you to record videos up to 10 seconds in length while you’re wearing them. They sync up to your phone to allow you to then post that video on the app.
With the new update there’s a “Pair Spectacles” option in settings. So it’s a pretty safe bet that you’ll be able to use the World Lenses feature while wearing your glasses. Yikes, that sounds like a headache waiting to happen.
The new World Lenses feature is located next to the other Selfie Lenses after you update the app.
What do you think of the new World Lenses feature in Snapchat? Sound off in the comments below!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nick Gambino is a regular script writer and tech beat reporter for NewsWatch. He lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and daughter.
