Wetherspoons and Soho House now restrict Meta's camera glasses

Meta shipped the recording light people asked for, and British venues are still asking for the glasses off while three European governments weigh a ban.

By iDeviceAug 6, 9:43 AM CTUpdated Aug 7, 7:30 AM CT3 min read

Ask about the Meta Glasses

Can I get prescription lenses? Yes, you can. The frames can be glazed to your prescription. Through LensCrafters, or an Rx lens swap. -12.00 to +2.25.
Do the lenses tint automatically? Yes, the lenses tint themselves. They darken in sunlight on their own.
How good is the camera? It shoots on a 12MP main camera.
What does it cost? It costs $299. That is the list price.
How long does the battery last? It runs 8 hours. That is 40 hours with the extra from the case, and 8 hours at most.
Do I need a subscription? It is not clear from the official published information. Meta One Premium, $19.99 a month, is a separate paid plan for Meta AI and Meta's apps, and Meta has not said it applies to these glasses.
Does it work with my phone? Yes, it works with an iPhone or an Android phone.
How heavy is it? It weighs 53.77g to 54.76g. The weight varies by size or finish.
Will they fit my face? The nose pads adjust. Bend them to sit where you want on your nose.
Is it built for sport? No, it is not built for sport. It is an everyday frame. Nothing stops you wearing it, but it is not made to grip.
Can I take a photo without using my hands? Yes, you can say the word or press the button. A capture button on the frame, and a spoken command when your hands are full.
Does it work without my phone? No, it needs your phone.
What video can it shoot? It shoots 3K at 30fps. That is its highest setting.
How does it connect? It connects over Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6.
What chip is inside? It runs on Snapdragon AR1.
Which AI assistant does it use? It uses Meta AI. The assistant is fixed, so you cannot swap it.
What software does it run? It runs Meta Horizon OS.
Does it do AR? No, it does not do AR. Nothing is drawn over what you see.
Can I get sunglass or clear lenses? You can have either. It is sold as sunglasses and with clear lenses.
Whose frames are they? They are made with EssilorLuxottica.
How many microphones? It has 6 microphones. They handle calls, voice control and recording.
How many styles can I choose from? There are 3 frames to choose from. 26 combinations once you pick a colour and a lens.
Can people tell when it is recording? Yes, a light comes on. People around you can see when the camera is running.
Can it give me directions? Yes, it can give you directions. It gives turn-by-turn directions without you taking your phone out.
Can I livestream from it? No, you cannot livestream from it. You record first and share it afterwards.
Can it translate? Yes, it can translate.
Does it have a screen? No, it has no screen.
Can I hear it without earbuds? Yes, it has open-ear speakers that play out loud.
Can I control it with gestures? No, you cannot control it with gestures.
Can it see and answer questions about what I am looking at? Yes, it can see what you are looking at and answer about it.

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Wetherspoons has told customers they cannot use Meta's glasses to record staff or other customers without permission. Soho House says its existing ban on filming covers smart glasses, so members can be asked to take them off, and ATG Theatres will do the same during a performance. London restaurateur Jeremy King, whose venues include Simpsons in the Strand, said guests should not wear the recording glasses inside.

France, Germany and the Netherlands are each weighing a ban, and the European Data Protection Board, which coordinates privacy regulators across the EU, is due to report on smart glasses by the end of summer. Meta's glasses already blink a light while the camera runs, and the camera stops working if that light is covered or damaged. People are drilling the light out. Seattle restaurants started banning Google Glass in 2013 over the same fear.

Update, Aug 7, 7:30 AM CT: Photos taken on Meta's glasses stay on the device unless cloud storage is on, and that setting parks them on Meta's servers for 30 days, per Engadget.

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