Unless you’ve got arms with the length and flexibility of Mr Tickle, it’s tough to get much into a selfie shot. And that’s a problem if your vanity won’t let you get through the day without pushing dozens of video blogs upon your nearest and dearest or (more likely) internet strangers.
My answer to this would be to actually enjoy the moment a bit more, and not to feel compelled to document every single thing that happens, but unsurprising Snap — the company behind Snapchat — has a different take. It’s developed a pocket-sized camera drone called Pixy that will take off, capture some photos/videos and then fly back to you.
It’s actually quite clever, and doesn’t require any human intervention when in the air, which is certainly helpful for those of use who’ve accidentally had to get semi naked retrieving a lost drone in the past.
Just tap a button on the top of the drone and it will take off, floating, orbiting or following you around depending on the pre-set. To stop recording, users simply put their hand out, and allow the drone to land “gently” in their open palm, like a butterfly descending onto a welcoming looking leaf. If butterflies were bright yellow, 101g and with a plastic shell, anyway.
Once Pixy has safely landed, videos are wirelessly transferred into Snapchat Memories, where you can edit and add effects. Then you can share your handiwork across social media, though obviously Snap hopes your first port of call will be Snapchat.
The 16GB built-in storage can hold up to 100 videos or 1,000 photos all taken via a 12MP sensor. Less impressive sounding is the battery which Snap says will be good for five to eight flights, lasting between ten and 20 seconds each. For that reason, Snap is selling extra batteries for US$20 (~NZ$31) each, meaning that prolific filmmakers don’t have to worry about running out of juice.
So far, Pixy has only been confirmed for the USA and France, where it will cost US$230 — or around NZ$354. That feels a bit much for more arty selfies, but the company has form here. In 2017, it launched Snap Spectacles, which were essentially sunglasses with a camera built in for capturing your life as you go.
Social media rival Facebook has since taken this idea and run with it with a collaboration with Ray-Ban. In fact, given Facebook’s history of pursuing avenues that Snap might consider somewhat familiar, perhaps camera drones could end up being part of Mark Zuckerberg’s weird metaverse dreams in time…
