Engadget's review of Meta's audio-only Ray-Ban glasses found six microphones and open-ear speakers that matched the sound quality of prior Gen 2 models, with testers reporting clearer phone calls than with AirPods Pro. Meta says the frames last up to 12 hours with mixed use or six hours of continuous audio, and the reviewer still had about 50% battery after five hours of streaming plus a one-hour call. The glasses retain most Meta AI features like live translation and navigation, but the customizable action button offers only two options compared with more on camera-equipped models.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-13
Meta has released two new camera-free Ray-Ban smart glasses models, the Clubmaster and Burbank, priced between $349 and $429 for frames alone depending on lens options. Removing the camera makes the glasses lighter (43-47 grams versus over 50 grams for camera models) and improves battery life, but they remain pricier than Meta's existing $249 camera-equipped glasses.
cnet.com
· 2026-10-13
Meta has released an audio-only version of its Ray-Ban smart glasses that drops the camera entirely, offering Bluetooth audio, calls, and a voice AI assistant in Clubmaster and Burbank frame styles. A reviewer who tested the glasses over several days reported that no one noticed them being worn, since they look like ordinary eyewear, and found setup now includes more prominent privacy disclosures about how AI voice and visual data are handled.
theverge.com
· 2026-10-13
EssilorLuxottica, the world's largest eyewear company, has released a second generation of Nuance Audio, its line of glasses built-in hearing support for adults with mild hearing loss. The update adds new frame designs and colorways, continuing the company's effort to market hearing assistance as a style-forward eyewear product rather than a visible medical device.
entrepreneur.com
· 2026-10-13
Meta confirmed it has banned advertising from TikTok's parent ByteDance in the US, Canada, Egypt, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam, extending to third-party advertisers promoting TikTok campaigns there. A Meta spokesperson said the company has no obligation to run ads for a competitor seeking to draw users away from its apps. The move follows TikTok's earlier removal of Instagram and Facebook profile links.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-09
Meta has banned advertising from TikTok parent ByteDance across its platforms in the US, Canada, Egypt, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam, effective Thursday. The policy covers ByteDance ads, paid marketing messages, and third-party ads linking to TikTok. Meta spokesperson Christopher Sgro called it a normal business practice of not promoting a competitor's app.
theverge.com
· 2026-10-09
Frederick County's school board voted 6-1 to prohibit AI tools from pre-K through 12th grade, reversing its earlier decision to let middle and high school students use Google Gemini with teacher permission. Exceptions remain for lessons teaching about AI and for accommodations for students with disabilities. The reversal comes just weeks after Gemini was introduced to older students this school year.
techspot.com
· 2026-10-09
Norway's minister of digitalization has suggested that a ban on the use of AI glasses in public spaces could be considered, though he noted that European regulations might complicate such a move. The proposal aims to address privacy and security concerns associated with wearable AI devices.
wsj.com
· 2026-10-08
Senator Bernie Sanders, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Jeff Merkley have introduced the Ban Flock Act, which would bar federal agencies from using automatic license plate readers and cut federal funding to state and local governments that deploy them. The bill would also allow Americans to sue the federal government over rights violations tied to the technology. The lawmakers cited reporting by 404 Media on Flock's camera network as a motivation for the legislation.
404media.co
· 2026-10-06
Meta's latest software updates for Ray-Ban Meta glasses introduce new functionalities, including walking navigation via AI voice commands in v128 and expanded audio controls in v129. The navigation feature allows users to receive directions without needing to check their phones, while the v129 update adds Mono Audio and Audio Balance options for improved accessibility. These updates are gradually rolling out to users worldwide.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-06
At Connect, Mark Zuckerberg introduced the Muse Charm, a small pendant device running Meta's Muse AI assistant, set to launch as soon as December this year. The announcement came amid a broader showcase of smart glasses and a new VR headset, but notably without updates to Meta's existing neural band wrist wearable.
cnet.com
· 2026-10-05
Smart ring maker Oura delayed its planned initial public offering this week, citing uncertain IPO market conditions despite signs of strong investor demand. The pullback comes as Meta, Apple, Google and OpenAI all push new AI-powered wearables—including Meta's Muse Charm and Ray-Ban glasses, OpenAI's Dots assistant, and Apple's listening-enabled Watch—into a market increasingly dogged by privacy complaints from users who say the devices can secretly record others.
cnbc.com
· 2026-10-04
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