go snap

Evan Spiegel dropped the new specs hardware. Snap is my fav social media consumer company that’s been trying to transition to hardware for the last 12 years.

Evan is incredibly likeable. There were several moments that felt very Steve Jobs-ish, which didn’t feel cheap or disrespectful. If anything it felt almost wholesome. a builder that gives a shit, a team that gives a shit, and a market that wants Evan out, to maximise profit. Not to mention a competitor that literally steals everything they make.

Congratulations. Hardware is a different beast, especially on the frontier.

As I was watching the keynote I captured a few notes that I’ll share candidly.

  • This feels like an Apple keynote with a younger Steve. But wait a second. Evan isn’t that young anymore. Anyway he looks great up there
  • Thank God for real product-focused founders. We need more of this and less of slop cannons.
  • There’s actually vision and privacy…and soul.
  • I need to send this to my product friends ASAP. (literally sent to over 10 people)
  • Okay this is cool. How do I work with specs? Hardware looks fun
  • hmnn. It’s kind of strange they picked that use case.
  • I wish I’d been a fly on the wall for those internal conversations. Where’s the backup, or the other use cases they were debating showcasing? I want to see those.
  • What are the lessons from Quest and Apple Cinema and how is this thing different?
  • This product is 100p single-player mode, why are they leaning into physical board games
  • If I’m outside, ya sure, this technology is incredibly useful but it’s a me-and-a-single-player experience, which is all fine and good. When I see the dominoes example I’d much prefer to play the real-life dominos: to touch the table, the game pieces, my opponent, give him a high five, shake their hand, poke them, trash talk without any technology
  • The workplace or enterprise angle is awesome. I got to send this to Campbell.
  • Oh I’m so fired up! I love product.
  • how the heck are these glasses going to improve my basketball or golf game? Camera math isn’t adding up? How can it see my swing, my body, the shot? Do I have to use my smartphone in tandem? This doesn’t make sense. Maybe it’s more about playing a game versus learning or improving your basketball game or your golf game.

TLDR: Evan killed it. The specs look like a huge upgrade on anything else out there. Wishing them success, and slightly jealous! I know the team had a blast bringing this to life. Personally so fired up. Long product-focused builders. <3

Two weeks left in the quarter. What will you ship?