Por Sheila Dang
DALLAS (Reuters) – Snap will launch new features to make it easier for brands to create augmented reality shopping experiences on its Snapchat app, as well as a flying camera, the company said on Thursday at a conference to showcase new technologies.
The company announced the pocket camera called Pixy, which can fly a few meters above its user to take photos and videos before landing in the palm of the hand. The Pixy will cost $230 and will be sold in the US and France.
The company’s focus in recent years has been on augmented reality. “We believe there’s a tremendous opportunity to build tools… that are connected to what we see in front of us,” Bobby Murphy, Snap’s co-founder and chief technology officer, said in an interview.
The company is also launching a new feature called “Dress Up” on Snapchat where users can browse augmented reality shopping filters that allow them to virtually try on clothes and accessories.
Snapchat now has more than 600 million monthly users worldwide, up from 500 million last year.
