October often marks the high-point of announcements regarding new product releases of the biggest smartphone manufacturers. Interestingly enough, such an announcement, with respect to Google’s latest product showcase, highlights not new core features, but instead an upcoming ‘Quick Tap To Snap’ function for its newest Pixel devices – the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. The new pixel phones will enable users to take a photo or video in Snapchat directly from their lock screens.
The function seems to be built-in if you have Snapchat installed and is used via double-tapping the back of the Pixel.
Snapchat explains:
“For the first time ever, we’re making the Snapchat Camera accessible directly from a phone lock screen. By tapping the back of your phone, you can create Snaps and play with Lenses directly from the lock screen, without having to unlock your phone. Once a Snap is ready to share, log in to your phone’s lock screen to directly unlock the full app experience.”
While you you still have to log in on your device to upload and send your snaps, that’s a negligible trade off given the significant value of Snapchat. What this highlights is the potential for more streamlined content creation and the fact that Snapchat also benefits from strong partnerships with both Google and Apple. In turn, Google can leverage Snapchat’s dominance within the AR field.
Snapchat explains:
“We’re also teaming up with Google to launch exclusive augmented reality Lenses, as well as support for some of Google’s Pixel features, like Ultra Wide Angle and live translation, within Snapchat’s camera and chat on Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. You can take wide angle Snaps and also talk to your friends in more than 10 languages, and translate conversations in real-time.”
Such a partnership offers more than purely added marketability, but also underlines Snapchat’s growing presence as a key AR provider. Now linked to two of the biggest OS developers in the world, Snapchat is in a favorable position to spearhead the next stage of AR connection, with AR glasses optimized to be more mobile-enabled to gain access to full functionality.
The Wrap
The main takeaway here is the fact that AR is slowly becoming a prominent feature that’s mostly associated with mobile devices; at least for now. AR wearables stand to be the next biggest connectivity tools, with more functions available if tethered to a mobile device. iOS and Android powered devices are able to integrate with most AR wearables, spelling a brighter future for Snapchat if it can manage to further solidify its connection with both companies.
Given the technological prowess of both Google and Apple, the Pixel Phone 6 could very well serve as the pivotal moment in AR advancement, providing a benchmark of sorts in gauging the potential of smart phones as lead elements in developing the next-generation of digital connection.
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