Latest news with #Ray-Bans
Buzz Feed
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
23 Viral Amazon Products Reviewers Rated Highly
Fun fact: Amazon has an "Internet Famous" section curated with TikTok-viral products. Here are a few of the current ones so beloved by reviewers that they are *definitely* worth the hype: A sling backpack that checks all the boxes for style, functionality, and convenience. It's surprisingly spacious and has all the pockets you could dream of, and two of them are big enough for full-size water bottles. It's perfect for bringing along while traveling, hiking, and visiting theme parks. (BTW, reviewers say this fits perfectly inside lockers.) A nifty gadget called the Bug Bite Thing because the mosquitoes are out and making their presence very known. This suction tool is designed to extract the insect saliva or venom left under the skin when you're bitten or stung and provide relief from itching. An adorable pool floaty designed for your little future Olympic gold medalist so that they can learn proper swimming posture. It has four adjustable layers you can add or remove as needed to customize the float assistance and get the perfect buoyancy for your kiddo's swimming level. A three-pack of vintage-inspired polarized sunglasses because you've been guilty of misplacing, sitting on, or stretching out your other shades by wearing them like a headband a few too many times. And let's be real — doing all that to a $200 pair of Ray-Bans just isn't it. A heavy-duty Shark vacuum with a detachable canister so you can move freely from room to room, reaching tricky areas like stairs, blinds, and even those ceiling cobwebs! It boasts *impressive* suction that can easily transition from carpet and hardwood to tile and linoleum, with a built-in HEPA filter to lock in dust and allergens. Its two attachments — a wide upholstery tool and a narrow crevice one — can efficiently suck up debris before you fall victim to goldfish crumbs between your toes (a sensory nightmare). A cruelty-free Catrice "Instant Awake" Under Eye Brightener making waves for its ability to hide and brighten dark circles. Your old concealers might start to feel a bit jealous of this one's color-adapting formula, lightweight feel, and seamless blending. A pair of scrunch workout shorts the gym girlies are saying is a copy of the often sold-out Dfyne leggings — and at almost half the price. Reviewers describe the fabric as thick, stretchy, and squat-proof, with the right amount of compression. Take this as a warning, though: You'll have to pick your jaw up off the floor after seeing how good it makes your bum look. A power scrubber brush, which attaches to your drill to do all the hard scrubbing for you, saving your elbow grease for something else — like popping open a bottle of wine after a long day's work of cleaning. A mess-free, reusable Bluey aqua art pad, aka the ultimate lifesaver for parents (or fun aunts and uncles) to keep little ones entertained without the mess while on road trips, in waiting rooms, or even just a chill afternoon at home. Just fill the provided brush pen with water and let them go to town! A Bissell multipurpose portable cleaner because this little wizard is capable of handling all the messes life throws at you, from the spilled coffee stain on your car seat to the mark your potty-training pup left on your new rug. It's portable and has a large tank, which = more cleans in between refills. It's like watching a spell unfold, turning that mess into a memory. A Revlon one-step hair dryer and volumizer (with nearly 400,000 5-star ratings!!!) allowing you to dry and style your hair in one fell swoop, which means you can hit snooze a few more times in the morning and still come out looking like you just stepped out of the salon. A fast-paced game of Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza that'll have everyone laughing all day long, no matter what age. It's pretty straightforward to learn, and you're able to pack it up and play it anywhere. It's perfect for family fun *or* a new addition to drunk game night — but don't be fooled by the cute design; reviewers call it "mind-bending" for a reason! A bottle of multi-use Bio-Oil ready to tackle whatever you throw at when you're channeling your inner Gordon Ramsay and have a mishap that leaves a souvenir scar, or your skin decides to go full desert mode, leaving you wondering when you moved to the Sahara. It's loaded with the good stuff (vitamin E, chamomile, a hint of lavender oil) to improve the appearance of scars and marks and hydrate your skin. The fan-fave Nyx makeup setting spray that every makeup enthusiast should have in their arsenal. A few spritzes of this miracle elixir will lock your makeup in place, preventing it from smudging, melting, or fading away. It's perfect for those days when your foundation seems to have a mind of its own. A clear stadium bag perfectly sized to fit all your essentials: your phone, ID, credit cards, a small bottle of sunblock, and even a mini fan to keep you cool when you're dancing your heart out at all those upcoming music festivals. Kitsch's overnight heatless curls set capable of creating dreamy curls while you catch some z's. Imagine going to bed with your hair wrapped up in a super soft rod, only to wake up with curls that are nothing short of fabulous. And here's the kicker: It's all done without an ounce of heat. Levi's Cinch Baggy Jeans to solve the age-old problem with denim shopping: that ANNOYING waist gap. These have a built-in cinch band, letting you bring in the waist for a customized fit that feels tailored just for you. And they offer just the right amount of stretch, moving with you so you can enjoy both style and comfort without feeling restricted. E.l.f.'s Halo Glow Liquid Filter that not only serves as a radiant, blurring primer but also mixes seamlessly with your moisturizer or foundation for that "I woke up like this" glow. And for those days you're feeling extra, a little dab on top of your makeup makes for the most natural-looking highlight. A bottle of Paula's Choice salicylic acid liquid exfoliant useful for clearing out pores and evening your skin's texture and tone. It's gentle enough to use daily, unlike those other gritty face scrubs that feel like you're sandblasting your skin. Kinetic Sand, a delightful sensory toy that brings the beach right to your fingertips, minus the sunburn and sand in weird places. It flows through your fingers like regular sand, but here's the twist: It sticks together and holds its shape like some kind of enchanted clay. You won't have to worry about a messy cleanup, and it never dries out! Color Wow's "Raise The Root" thickening and lifting spray so you can get (and keep) instant volume and body-ody-ody during these humid summer days. It works by acting like a spring at the roots of each strand, giving your mane that extra oomph without weighing it down. A handy tri-fold mirror that hangs right on your bathroom door, giving you a 360-degree view of your gorgeous self while you snip those split ends, touch up your roots, or braid your hair. A jar of 40% urea cream if the skin on your feet is A) thick, B) rough, C) cracked, or all of the above. This cream helps slough away corns, calluses, and dry patches while bringing your ~sole~ back to life with some much-needed rehydration.
Buzz Feed
7 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Buzz Feed
37 Things To Have On Hand To Fight Warm-Weather Woes
A surprisingly effective instant foot peeling spray if you want baby-soft footsies for all the sandals you're gonna be wearing but don't have time to visit the salon for a pricey pedicure. Just spray onto clean, dry feet and rub away dead skin! For an extra peeling effect, use an exfoliating mitt! Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Anti-Frizz Serum — believe me when I say, humidity will HATE to see your hair coming with this stuff in it. This lightweight argan oil is made for all hair types and helps control frizz while adding definition to waves and curls. The best part? Your hair won't feel heavy or weighed down, which is the last thing you need as the weather heats up. Even Floridians swear by it, so you know it's the real deal. OR! Lottabody's Coconut Oil Foaming Curl Mousse when you need something that'll help your waves or curls prevail against the awful heat and humidity that awaits just outside your door. This all-in-one solution helps add volume, define curls, *and* manage frizz. Yeah, you'll want this in your bag at all times this summer. Reusable Nippies silicone pasties so you don't feel forced to wear an uncomfy bra with tops that look *and* feel better without one! These can prevent your nips from making an impromptu appearance. Ditch the bra, put these on, then peel 'em off at the end of the night — they can stay in place for up to 12 hours! A set of DEET-free handy mosquito-repelling bracelets because you wanna be armed and ready to defeat the bloodsuckers that come for you the moment you step foot outside. These essential oil-infused bracelets are individually wrapped in a resealable package and can help keep skeeters away! And a bug bite suction tool that'll help handle any pesky bites right away — this helps suck out the insect saliva or venom to help reduce or eliminate itching, redness, and swelling. It's great for mosquito bites, wasp/bee stings, and more. A three-pack of retro-inspired polarized sunglasses to diversify your accessory portfolio with some vintage flair without overspending a single pair of Ray-Bans. It never hurts to have ✨options✨ and you won't find a better bang for your buck. SweatBlock antiperspirant wipes if sweaty pits are ruining your summer vibes. Give your underarms a swipe before bed, wash them in the morning, and you could potentially enjoy up to seven (!!!) days of bliss with reduced sweat. Or some aluminum-free deodorant wipes because the heat shouldn't make you wanna hole up inside for the rest of the season. These will help keep odors at bay and leave you with a fresh coconut scent! You may find yourself sniffing your underarms just to get a whiff of yourself. A pack of waterproof blister bandages — as soon as you start to feel that god awful rubbing, slap one of these babies on. They're thick enough to prevent blisters but also contain hydrocolloid that'll help heal any existing ones. You're gonna be so thankful you packed these in your bag! Plus, this anti-blister balm so you don't spend the summer walking around in shoes that leave your ankles red and raw. It's most effective if you apply it at the start of the day to create a barrier between your skin and shoes! A vegan ingrown hair oil that may relieve the painful redness and irritation that inevitably occurs after shaving — just in time for swimsuit season. It contains skin-softening jojoba seed oil and anti-inflammatory tea tree oil so you can kiss razor burn and ingrown hairs goodbye. A cruelty-free intense-therapy lip balm if your dry, cracked lips need some sweet, sweet relief ASAP. In addition to repairing damaged skin, it also helps protect against further damage while you're out in the sun! Solar Buddies refillable roll-on sunscreen sponges for a super simple and effective way to apply SPF (no sticky mess included). It's also great for kids who *love* to do everything without help. Add sunscreen to the bottle and use the sponge to apply it! And a holy grail sunburn soother from Burt's Bees with both aloe and coconut oil to help hydrate sun-damaged skin and bid farewell to that nasty sunburn you tried but failed to prevent. Blistering and peeling? No thank you. I Dew Care dry shampoo powder that'll combat the grease fairy who seems to visit way more often during the summer. This will help revive your limp, greasy hair in a flash! It's a fine, hypoallergenic powder that absorbs oil, sweat, and dirt while adding volume to keep locks looking fresh longer. Revlon Volcanic Face Roller when you wanna reduce the unwelcome shiny, oily layer that suddenly appears *right* after you finish doing your makeup. This magical tool will absorb excess oil with just a few swipes, which is basically a summer must-have. No extra powder required! Seamless bra liners because even though it's a perfectly normal bodily function, there's nothing fun about boob sweat. These are made from a soft cotton and bamboo blend to help absorb moisture and prevent discomfort from irritating underwire. Or some 'bust dust' anti-boob-sweat powder so your bra stays dry regardless of how unbelievably extra the sun is being. This talc-fee powder contains lavender and chamomile for a soothing, sprayable solution you'll keep comin' back to. A set of game-changing colorful cooling towels that'll make blistering-hot days more bearable. You'll never want to leave home without it after you experience its ~chilling~ powers. Soak it in cold water, wring it out, and drape it around your neck for some sweet relief. Some water-resistant sunscreen reminder stickers for forgetful folks who would benefit from a gentle nudge letting 'em know it's time to reapply SPF! These change colors to confirm your sunblock is working and then again when it's time to reapply. Have ALL the fun in the sun *without* it ending in an unpleasant sunburn. Neutrogena's new Collagen Bank Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30 to accomplish two things at once: hydrate your skin *and* provide proper UV protection. Apply it in the AM and you'll be ready for the day with fewer steps in your skincare routine! It can be worn on its own or under makeup — reviewers say the lightweight formula makes it a great base primer! A moisture-wicking, high-ponytail running cap with UPF 50 protection you'll probably want to wear well beyond the summer months. You can rock your fave hairstyle while also managing your sun exposure and protecting your precious scalp. Need I say more? And! A pack of highly absorbent hat sweat liners that can help protect your fave hat from the inescapable wrath of a sweaty forehead. These liners will help absorb moisture, protect your hat, and keep sweat out of your eyes! A 3-in-1 handheld mini fan — you deserve to cool off whenever you feel like it, which I imagine will be quite often. Plus, it acts as a handy portable charger and a flashlight. It's also compact enough to fit in your pocket, so you better not leave home without it! Body Glide anti-chafing balm — let's be real, when is any kind of chafing not annoying? Swipe it on problem areas, like thighs, underarms, etc. and it'll minimize friction and rubbing. Keep this stuff on hand and you'll easily conquer this body nuisance time and time again! Tower 28 SOS Spray that'll, quite literally, ~rescue~ your irritated, sensitive skin that suffers even more on hotter days. Whether you're battling a sunburn, general dryness, or painful breakouts, this pH-balancing spray is a MUST! Bonus points: It contains no oil, alcohol, or fragrance. A pack of DressWeights to help prevent those unwanted Marilyn Monroe moments that only seem to happen at the worst possible times. These will hold your dress down so you can enjoy the summer breeze without a care in the world. A trendy Kitsch claw clip, aka a gorgeous piece of jewelry that'll actually keep hair off your neck on hot days. The durable metal design has a super strong hold that helps keep locks in place. Bonus: The rounded teeth help prevent hair damage! NYX setting spray that'lll complete your fierce makeup look with a much-needed BANG! A spritz or two of this stuff will help lock in your product with a matte finish so it lasts for hours without constant reapplying *and* without splurging on Urban Decay's version. A long-lasting summer glow without the shine? Don't mind if I do. Aerothotic flip-flops because after a long day spent in heels or flats, these are gonna feel like a breath of fresh air on your feet. Keep 'em in your bag so you can easily switch to a low-maintenance sandal with all the perks: arch support, cushy gel insoles, *and* a sweat-resistant footbed. Did somebody say summer staple?! A powdered SPF 30 sunscreen — it has a brush applicator and will be a great addition to your existing sun protection routine. It doesn't replace the liquid version but instead allows for quick and easy touchups throughout the day, especially if you'll be spending a LOT of it outside. Pop it in your bag or even your pocket and reapply as needed. Or Coola scalp and hair mist with SPF 30 for anyone who spends most of the season outside and knows the dreadful experience of a sunburned scalp. Not everyone is a hat person but this life-changing mist can help protect your scalp from a horrible fate! O'Keeffe's Lip Repair to help repair the dry, cracked, and/or chapped lips you struggle with in the summer heat. If you're already familiar with the brand's famous Working Hands cream, you know it's the real deal. Why not give your pout the same royal treatment while you sleep? A super absorbent, quick-drying microfiber beach towel designed to leave the sand where it belongs: on the beach! If you're known for screaming "Sun's out, buns out!!" as soon as the warm weather hits, be sure you pop this in your beach bag before heading out the door. And for good measure, a sand-removal bag you'll never leave home without, especially if you're headed somewhere sandy. Simply rub it on your body and watch the stubborn sand come right off! The bag contains a powder that absorbs moisture when rubbed on your body to quickly brush off any sand your towel might've missed. An inflatable beach pillow if you wanna kick back and relax without it leading to a terrible crick in your neck. Plus, the clever design helps it stay put on windy beach days *and* there's a slot to insert your own cooling gel pack so you don't overheat while lounging.
Straits Times
21-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Meta launches $513 Oakley AI glasses with 3K video recording
The display-free Oakley glasses are one component of the overall Meta AI hardware strategy. PHOTO: META Meta Platforms Inc. is going up-market with its surprise hit smart glasses, rolling out new models with Oakley that are aimed at athletes and include improved video recording. The company on June 20 launched new models based on Oakley's HSTN design, marking the company's first expansion away from Ray-Ban for its display-free glasses. Like the original models, the Oakley versions can make and take phone calls, play music, take pictures and video and use Meta's artificial intelligence to answer questions about the surrounding environment. The new versions, which start at US$399 (S$513) and go up to US$499 for a limited edition model with gold-colored accents, include about double the battery life, video-recording at 3K resolution and water resistance. 'We are increasingly seeing performance use cases with the Ray-Bans like people wearing them on roller coasters, cycling and being around water, so we're trying to lean into that,' says Mr Alex Himel, the company's vice-president in charge of wearables, in an interview. Arriving at its second glasses brand was far from a sure thing. Meta's first glasses, the Ray-Ban Stories, flopped in 2021. But its follow-up version in 2023 was a massive success, giving the social networking giant a real potential hardware stronghold in the artificial intelligence race. 'It was crazy. Popularity caught us by surprise a bit,' Mr Himel said. The Ray-Bans were 'going to be the last display-less pair of glasses. We said we'll take two swings at it, and if it doesn't work we'll go all-in on augmented reality'. Instead, beyond the latest Oakley model, the company has a multi-year road map for the display-less category and is planning a follow-up pair of Oakley glasses based on the Sphera design for later in 2025 , according to people with knowledge of the matter. That pair will be aimed at cyclists and have a centred camera. The model on June 20 has a camera positioned in the upper corner like the Ray-Ban version. The display-free glasses are one component of the overall Meta AI hardware strategy. The company is planning to introduce higher-end glasses with a display to view notifications and the camera view finder later in 202 5, Bloomberg News has reported. In 2027, it aims to roll out its first true augmented reality glasses, which will blend digital apps with the real world. Meta's form-factor has caught on, with several other technology companies working on competitors. Apple Inc. is planning to introduce its first glasses product at the end of 2026, Bloomberg News has reported. That device will operate similarly to the Meta product but better synchronise with the rest of the Apple ecosystem. Inc. also sells glasses, but their current models lack cameras. Mr Himel, who said Meta has sold millions of glasses and has a 'nice, increasing multiple' of purchases on a year-over-year basis each week, attributed the increased popularity to the Ray-Bans improving across a large number of 'small things.' He said the audio quality and microphones started to surpass standalone earbuds, while the camera and AI quality also improved. Still, Mr Himel said battery life remains the 'number one complaint' about the Ray-Ban versions. The new Oakley models can run for 8 hours on a single charge, with the charging case holding 48 hours of juice. 'You should expect a 40 per cent bump with these' he says, attributing the improvement to new battery chemistry and software optimisations – not larger battery packs. Like Ray-Ban, Oakley is owned by EssilorLuxottica SA, which calls Oakley its second most popular brand after Ray-Ban. Mr Himel said Meta will roll out new brands under the EssilorLuxottica portfolio 'as fast as we can. 'We're going to have to move very quickly because in the world of fashion, stuff moves very quickly,' he says. 'The stuff that is a hit right now might not be a year from now. We need to be fast to hit all the brands that we'd like to.' The first Oakley model, becoming available for pre-order on July 11, will be the US$499 limited edition pair. The US$399 versions – which come in grey, black, brown and clear colors – will be released in the coming months. There will be versions with clear, transition and polarised lenses. Like with the Ray-Bans, users can swap the lenses for prescription optics. The glasses will be available in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Australia, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark, according to Meta. BLOOMBERG Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Buzz Feed
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
37 Helpful Products You'll Be Very Smug You Bought At The Beginning Of Summer
A handy as heck Burt's Bees sunburn soother you'll want to stock up on if you're a "just in case" kinda human — it's made with aloe and coconut oil to hydrate skin and gently relieve pain from the sun's unforgiving rays within just a few hours. A three-pack of vintage-inspired polarized sunglasses for anyone who needs to stock up on a few "these look like Ray-Bans, but I won't cry into my Baja Blast if I accidentally leave them in the Taco Bell parking lot" pairs this year. These are especially handy because you can match the subtle prints to whatever 'fit you're wearing! A waterproof disposable camera so you can have all the nostalgia of capturing vacation memories in the '90s and all the hijinks of doing it underwater. Reviewers especially love this as an option to keep their actual cameras safe! A delightfully affordable instant foot peeling spray for anyone ready to go full YEEHAW!! on that at-home pedicure. This not only helps gently remove dead skin, but moisturizes dry and cracked heels, so you'll really get some refreshing bang for your buck. A "cold tech" cooling comforter, aka the holy grail of blankets for hot sleepers — this is designed with lightweight, breathable fabric that instantly reduces your skin temperature, helping with night sweats, hot flashes, and general overheating at night. Bonus: it's fully machine washable without losing its magic cooling powers! A pair of waterproof wireless earbuds with AirPods Pro energy — except these feature a charging case that, bless its technologically savvy heart, has an LED display letting you know exactly how much charge is left. Reviewers also love how delightfully comfortable and sweatproof these are, making them a solid, affordable option for talking on the phone and exercising. And a pair of sweatproof "floating" air conduction headphones designed to stay put by settling just over your ear instead of inside it — basically all the convenience and privacy of earbuds, without the discomfort of physically putting them in your ears. It picks up calls just as well as any other pair, and is designed so the sound isn't audible to anyone else! A DEET-free plant-based bug repellent to repel mosquitos for up to six hours *without* repelling all the humans in your general vicinity, because unlike other popular repellents, this has a lovely lemon eucalyptus smell. A delightful little tool called the "Bug Bite Thing" — it suctions on all kinds of bug bites to reduce swelling, itchiness, and redness. A delightfully affordable battery-operated patio umbrella light you can easily install without any tools, so you don't have to do wine and cheese in the darkness if the sun sets before your appetite does. A Meridian "Manscape" trimmer perfect for summer touch-ups — a lot of people don't know is an excellent razor for *anyone* shaving in sensitive areas, since it's mainly marketed toward men. If you're worried about nicks, cuts, ingrown hairs, and razor burn, particularly in your pubic area, this waterproof trimmer is about to be your new favorite gizmo. Plus Eos' Cashmere Skin Collection Shave Oil — yes, that's right, the astronomically TikTok-famous Eos "cashmere" body lotion now comes in shave oil form, just in time for potential summer shaving shenanigans. Reviewers are notably impressed by how close of a shave they can get with this, particularly in sensitive areas, helping spare you from razor burn and ingrown hairs. A teensy undetectable laptop mouse jiggler you can slide into the USB to keep your computer active on Teams, Slack, and all those other various technological overlords that keep track of you so you can take some moments to yourself in the sunshine when you need it. ☀️😎 A Yonanas fruit soft serve maker that magics any frozen fruit into an ice cream or sorbet texture so you can have a yummy frozen treat made to your *precise* favorite fruit combos. A lot of folks with dietary restrictions swear by this to get their ice cream kicks! Jergens Natural Glow Firming Self Tanner Body Lotion to give you a gradually-building, vacation-worthy ~sunkissed glow~ over the course of just a few days. Not only is this easy peasy to apply compared to other finickier, streaking lotions, but it's formulated with collagen and elastin to help your skin appear firmer *and* glowier. Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Anti-Frizz Serum, aka humidity's WORST ENEMY. 😈 This super lightweight argan oil solution is designed for all hair types to help manage frizz and define waves and curls without weighing them down, and will be the MVP in your hair arsenal in the warmer temps — especially considering how costly competitive serums are! A waterproof, sandproof, super lightweight JBL Flip 6 speaker so you can impress your friends not just with your excellent playlist curation skills, but the ridiculous sound quality that comes out of this tiny gizmo. It's so portable that you can easily tuck it into a tote bag on your way to a beach or pool hang, and waterproof that reviewers even keep it in the shower! E.l.f.'s Squeeze Me More Lip Balm Duo with some real "Laneige, but make it cheap" energy. This mango and watermelon duo is actually the oh-so-tropical remix of the brand's wildly beloved Squeeze Me More Lip Balm that came out last year, so reviewers are already obsessed with how lightweight, hydrating, and deeelicious these go-to balms are. A fast-acting, refillable plug-in fly trap for flies, fruit flies, moths, and gnats that works up to 400 feet by using a light to lure them. The best part?? The "trap" part is on the back, so you don't have to behold a little bug graveyard in your kitchen when you flick on the lights in the morning. And an investment-worthy high-voltage outdoor bug zapper to stop uninvited guests from joining you during dinner on the patio — this gizmo instantly stops mosquitoes, gnats, flies, and moths in their tracks. Mixsoon Bean SPF 50 Sunscreen with an ~airy~ texture, making this K-beauty staple perfect for anyone who loves a good SPF but hates the icky sticky feeling of it. This feather-light, hydrating sunscreen plays so well with makeup that it's about to become the primer of your ✨dreams✨. PLUS an SPF 50 Airy Sunstick Smoothing Bar, a K-beauty staple with a curved balm stick style that makes it super easy to apply, and a non-sticky, white cast-free formula that plays ABSURDLY well with makeup. If you're looking for a lightweight "soft matte" sunscreen to protect your skin, this is your new BFF. A portable Chill-O-Matic Instant Beverage Cooler, aka every finicky cold bevvy drinker's DREAM. This gadget can take a 12-ounce can of seltzer, soda, or beer at room temperature and make it ice cold in just one minute. A lot of people who complain that their fridge doesn't make drinks "cold enough" also swear by this for an extra icy kick. A 360-degree portable neck fan that puts all the other versions of it to shame — this one is designed with a comfier non-slip silicone neck grip and bladeless fans, so you don't have to worry about your hair getting caught in them. An affordable, Lululemon-esque longline sports bra just as comfy, supportive, and versatile as the real thing that reviewers love it both for outdoor workouts, gym use, *and* errand running. This is designed to be supportive without being too compressive, with lightweight fabric that keeps you breezy in the heat. And a pair of high-waisted running shorts with a comfy scrunch-elastic waistband reviewers also compare to the Lululemon version. These are lightweight, quick-dry, and come in so many adorable colors that your butt might just want them on rotation until laundry day. A ~beverage fridge~ because at this point, bevvy culture has become so pronounced that it's disrespectful to put your beloved Diet Cokes, Spindrift, and various hard seltzers of choice in the fridge with the rest of your food. This chic cooler holds 115 cans (!!) so you never run out of space to live that bevvy life. A blister-preventing foot balm that basically magics an extra layer between your skin and your shoe, so you can break in and wear your favorite summer flats, heels, and sandals without worrying about getting big ole blisters on your feet. An air purifier with a true HEPA filter *and* a UV light sanitizer that did not come here to play, particularly not in the summer — reviewers swear by this for dealing with smoke from wildfires to high pollen counts to seasonal allergies, but this reusable filter also traps dust, odors, and pet dander to help you breathe easier. A pack of unscented SweatBlock wipes that work for up to *seven days* after application — perfect for those of us whose underarms are a little, uh, enthusiastic, to say the least. Reviewers especially swear by this for events that might bring on nervous sweating! A 360-degree rotatable electric car fan for the backseat that's handy whether or not your car has a functional AC — if you live in an area where your car scorches in the summer, you know full well that you'll take ANY KIND OF AIR YOU CAN GET. Parents especially swear by this to keep kiddos in rear-facing car seats cool! And a two-pack of car cooling cushions that plug right into your car's adapter to *instantly* circulate air and cool off the interior. No more showing up to the function SWEATING OUT OF EVERY PORE IN YOUR BODY!! Hallelujah. A weatherproof outdoor Wi-Fi extender you can easily mount on a pole or wall so "work from home" becomes "work from the backyard with an ice-cold Diet Coke in hand." Being one with nature still counts even if you're scrolling Reddit. And an outdoor power strip stake designed to blend into the landscape, so you can plug in all your fun backyard tech for the summer without sacrificing the ~~aesthetic~~. This features a nine-foot-long cord and can power up to six things at a time, so it's no slouch! A two-way "walkie-talkie" radio with a 16-mile radius, making it easy to go on summer hiking and camping trips without losing track of your fellow humans if one of you is like, "Oh, wow! A bird!!" (Guilty as charged.) Parents also swear by them for keeping in touch with kids too young for phones if they're out walking the dog or playing with friends! Sol de Janeiro's aluminum-free "Rio Deo" refillable deodorant — because yes, that yummy sunshine pistachio caramel "can't put my finger on it, but I'm obSESSED" smell from their cult-favorite skin-firming Bum Bum Cream is now available for your armpits. Everyone raise a glass to celebrate (REAL high, so we can all get a whiff of summer ☀️☀️😋). A Lululemon-esque adjustable mini belted pack (aka ~fanny pack~) you can wear around your waist or shoulder for a lightweight bag alternative that you won't lose, since it is literally attached to you. A lot of reviewers mention how genuinely *stunned* they are by how much this little bag can secretly carry.
Los Angeles Times
20-06-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Meta launches $399 Oakley AI Glasses with 3K video recording
Meta Platforms Inc. is going up-market with its surprise hit smart glasses, rolling out new models with Oakley that are aimed at athletes and include improved video recording. The company on Friday launched new models based on Oakley's HSTN design, marking the company's first expansion away from Ray-Ban for its display-free glasses. Like the original models, the Oakley versions can make and take phone calls, play music, take pictures and video and use Meta's artificial intelligence to answer questions about the surrounding environment. The new versions, which start at $399 and go up to $499 for a limited edition model with gold-colored accents, include about double the battery life, video-recording at 3K resolution and water resistance. 'We are increasingly seeing performance use cases with the Ray-Bans like people wearing them on roller coasters, cycling and being around water, so we're trying to lean into that,' says Alex Himel, the company's vice president in charge of wearables, in an interview. Arriving at its second glasses brand was far from a sure thing. Meta's first glasses, the Ray-Ban Stories, flopped in 2021. But its follow-up version in 2023 was a massive success, giving the social networking giant a real potential hardware stronghold in the artificial intelligence race. 'It was crazy. Popularity caught us by surprise a bit,' Himel said. The Ray-Bans were 'going to be the last display-less pair of glasses. We said we'll take two swings at it, and if it doesn't work we'll go all-in on augmented reality.' Instead, beyond the latest Oakley model, the company has a multi-year road map for the display-less category and is planning a follow-up pair of Oakley glasses based on the Sphera design for later this year, according to people with knowledge of the matter. That pair will be aimed at cyclists and have a centered camera. Friday's model has a camera positioned in the upper corner like the Ray-Ban version. The display-free glasses are one component of the overall Meta AI hardware strategy. The company is planning to introduce higher-end glasses with a display to view notifications and the camera view finder later this year, Bloomberg News has reported. In 2027, it aims to roll out its first true augmented reality glasses, which will blend digital apps with the real world. Meta's form-factor has caught on, with several other technology companies working on competitors. Apple Inc. is planning to introduce its first glasses product at the end of 2026, Bloomberg News has reported. That device will operate similarly to the Meta product but better synchronize with the rest of the Apple ecosystem. Inc. also sells glasses, but their current models lack cameras. Himel, who said Meta has sold millions of glasses and has a 'nice, increasing multiple' of purchases on a year-over-year basis each week, attributed the increased popularity to the Ray-Bans improving across a large number of 'small things.' He said the audio quality and microphones started to surpass standalone earbuds, while the camera and AI quality also improved. Still, Himel said battery life remains the 'number one complaint' about the Ray-Ban versions. The new Oakley models can run for 8 hours on a single charge, with the charging case holding 48 hours of juice. 'You should expect a 40% bump with these' he says, attributing the improvement to new battery chemistry and software optimizations — not larger battery packs. Like Ray-Ban, Oakley is owned by EssilorLuxottica SA, which calls Oakley its second most popular brand after Ray-Ban. Himel said Meta will roll out new brands under the EssilorLuxottica portfolio 'as fast as we can. 'We're going to have to move very quickly because in the world of fashion, stuff moves very quickly,' he says. 'The stuff that is a hit right now might not be a year from now. We need to be fast to hit all the brands that we'd like to.' The first Oakley model, becoming available for pre-order on July 11, will be the $499 limited edition pair. The $399 versions — which come in grey, black, brown and clear colors — will be released in the coming months. There will be versions with clear, transition and polarized lenses. Like with the Ray-Bans, users can swap the lenses for prescription optics. The glasses will be available in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Australia, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark, according to Meta. (Updated with availability of new smart glasses in several countries. A previous version corrected the name of Meta executive Alex Himel.) Gurman writes for Bloomberg.
