They’re here! Snapchat’s mysterious vending machine, the “Snapbot,” finally made an appearance in Seattle this week. The machines are the only places where people can buy the company’s Spectacles, glasses with a built-in camera that can record snapchats straight from your face.
GeekWire reporter Kurt Schlosser visited the machine in lower Queen Anne, braving cold and rain to grab an official office pair and interview locals swarming to the area. He returned just in time for this week’s episode of GearedUp, our weekly gadget podcast, and is here to tell us what all the craze is about.
Plus, we take a look at the new favorite accessory of GeekWire editor Todd Bishop. Nope, not smart glasses: a smart bike helmet from Seattle startup Coros.
The safety gear lets riders listen to music or other audio through bone induction pads on the helmet strap, leaving their ears free to monitor the road.
In other audio news, we take a look at BeatsX, a long-delayed product from the Apple-owned audio company. The Xs are a pair of wireless earbuds that connect to devices via BlueTooth, but unlike Apple’s Airpods they are also connected to each other.
The hope is they will be harder to lose, and more convenient, than the AirPods. At $150, the BeatsX earphones are also slightly less expensive.
Listen to the podcast above, or download it as an MP3 here.
