Oakley EVZero Range vs. Smith Optics Attack Max sunglass review

One could be forgiven for thinking the Smith Optics Attack Max and Oakley EVZero Range were penned by the same designer. Although they’ve obviously not identical, both use a frameless design and a large-format lens with a raised center for maximum coverage. And just as Oakley does with its Prizm lens technology, Smith Optics claims its ChromaPop lens tints provide better color clarity and detail definition than a more conventional lens.
                                           

On the bike, both provide similarly expansive fields of view, along with superb protection from flying debris, wind, and rain. I could barely see the edges of the lens on either set, and even at 80km/h, my eyes didn’t water from wind irritation. Both sunglasses are fantastically lightweight — 32g for the Attack Max, the EVZero Range even lighter at just 23g — and combined with the similarly gentle fit on my relatively narrow head, it doesn’t take long to forget that you’re wearing them at all.

But there’s no getting around the fact that Oakley only offers the road cycling-specific Prizm lens in a single version, and as good as it is most of the time, the 20% light transmission rating isn’t going to work all the time. Here in the high-altitude sunshine of the Colorado Rockies, for example, Prizm sometimes just isn’t as dark as I’d like. There’s still the same awesome level of contrast, but almost too much of it — sort of like a top-shelf sound system that’s turned up a little too loud.

Oakley may offer the EVZero in versions to suit nearly any lighting condition (and don’t forget those five different lens shapes), but the lenses can’t be swapped after the fact since the temples are permanently fixed in place. The Attack Max, on the other hand, has a clever magnetic clasp setup that still allows for a frameless design, but also the ability to change lenses at will. The standard ChromaPop Sun Red Mirror lens of my test set is noticeably better in bright sunlight with its darker 15% transmission rating, and Smith Optics further hammers the point home by also including a ChromaPop Contrast Rose lens with a much lighter 48% tint that works well in lower-light conditions.

State Optical takes aim at Warby Parker with Chicago-branded glasses made in the USA

A Chicago start-up wants to ride the trendy eye-wear movement — with luxury spectacles designed and assembled in the U.S.A.
                                           

State Optical, co-founded by Scott Shapiro, Jerry Wolowicz, Marc Franchi and Jason Stanley, launched in early 2016 to tap into what they saw as a growing demand for domestic products.

Smartly dressed with a pair of his own State frames in gray, Shapiro said the company set up in Chicago to tell an authentic brand story. The brand heavily promotes the city's iconography, and features the Chicago skyline on its presentation boxes.

Indeed, frame designs are all named after streets in Chicago, such as Armitage and Ravenswood. Each frame has 21 precision drilled holes set in the temples, a homage to Illinois being the 21st state of America.

While some of the materials are still sourced from overseas (Italian acetate and hinges from Germany), all the manufacturing is done in the U.S.

According to Shapiro, that created some difficulties: Many American craftsmen had not seen a frame being made before. "Fundamentally it's going to be more difficult and expensive to manufacture in the U.S.," said Shapiro. "The cost of labor is higher even now between the U.S. and China."

Still, Shapiro insisted domestic manufacturing gives State an advantage in the quality of its eyewear. By producing the frames in the U.S., Shapiro said, the company can spot quality or production issues and correct them early.

Snap fails to sell its overhyped ‘Spectacles’ video glasses

In news that surprises few people outside the company, Snap Inc. has been unable to sell its “Spectacles” video glasses, and it’s stuck with hundreds of thousands of unsold units, according to a report published Monday.
                                                   

The Information delivered the news, citing “two people close to the company” as saying that the company, formerly known as Snapchat, had “grossly overestimated demand,” and was sitting on “hundreds of thousands of unsold units sitting in warehouses, either fully assembled or in parts.”

Where the report gets interesting is that Snap itself claimed nearly three weeks ago that the product had “exceeded expectations” in selling 150,000 units. It said it was working on a second generation of Spectacles that could incorporate augmented reality technology.

Despite such apologists, such as a reviewer at USA Today — who actually said, “The video is sketchy, but so what?” — problems with the glasses emerged not long after they were launched. Along with being reportedly terrible in low light, the glasses were also said to fail at nearly every other aspect they were designed for, including smartphone syncing, battery life and video quality.

But perhaps the most important and often overlooked part of the product by tech reviewers was the most obvious one: Wearing them makes you look like … well, let’s just say that they’re the worst-looking thing you could put on your face since Google Glass.

The company went public in February on a reduced valuation, disclosing in its initial public offering prospectus that it may never be profitable. Squandering millions on ugly, dysfunctional video glasses liked by no one outside Los Angeles, if anywhere, appears to make that assertion look like more of a promise.

These concept smart glasses let you control your phone by scratching your nose

Using a phone or smartwatch when you’re supposed to be talking to someone has become an accepted rudeness in the 21st century. So, a group of researchers have a possible solution to this minor societal ill: prototype smart glasses that let you control a computer just by rubbing your nose. Yes, you can reject a call, pause a video, or skip a song, simply by scratching your schnoz.
                                               

They aren’t (sadly) available to buy right now, or we’d all be wandering the streets, pawing at our noses like coked-up advertising execs. The glasses were designed as an experiment by researchers from South Korea’s KAIST University, the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and Georgia Tech in the US, to create a way to “control a wearable computer without calling attention to the user in public.”

The specs work thanks to a trio of electrooculography (or EOG) sensors embedded in the bridge and nosepads of the frame, which measure the electric potential of the surrounding flesh. These types of sensors are usually used to record eye activity for doctors, but have also found their way into the film industry as a method of re-creating realistic eye movements in CGI.

The system — delightfully dubbed ItchyNose — could be used to minimize social awkwardness when using wearable computers, says researcher Hui-Shyong Yeo. He has in mind the sort of device that might be worn directly in front of the eyes. Indeed, Google Glass had a similar-ish control system, using swipes down the side of the frame as an input.

How to look at the eclipse without damaging your eyes

This afternoon, millions of Americans will head outside to witness the total solar eclipse cutting across our country. Luckily, most people who have planned for this event have likely taken the necessary precautions by purchasing a pair of legitimate eclipse sunglasses. By doing so—and by wearing them properly—they’ve given themselves the best chance at avoiding a dangerous side effect to eclipse viewing: solar retinopathy.
                                               

           
This solar eclipse is pretty special, but that does not make it OK to look directly at the sun. No, not even this once. Never stare directly at the sun, even for the 2-3 minutes the moon is, for the most part, blocking it.

How is the sun so damaging? Well, we see images because photoreceptors, cells also known as rods and cones located at the back of the retina, convert the light into electrical impulses that the brain uses to determine the image we see. But when strong light, like the sun’s rays, hits our eyes, a series of chemical reactions occur that damage and often destroy these rods and cones. When this happens, which is known as solar retinopathy, our eyesight becomes blurry. Sometimes, if the damage is too great in one area, our vision can be completely impaired.

Along with your pupils shrinking, your eyes also have another defensive mechanism. When we look at something bright, we tend to blink our eyes, something known as the corneal or blink reflex. This also prevents us from staring at anything too damagingly bright. But during a solar eclipse, before it has reached totality, the moon is still partially blocking the sun. That means it’s blocking some of that intense light, and it’s a lot easier for us to look up at the sun without blinking. But that doesn’t mean you should. Even that tiny sliver of sunlight is too intense for our sensitive photoreceptors.
So if you do want to watch the eclipse with your own two eyes, wearing those special sunglasses is crucial as they block the sun’s rays enough, allowing you to see the eclipse and not burn your eyes out.

HOW TO NAIL THIS SEASONS LATEST SUNGLASSES TREND

Bigger is often seen as better, and the only way, when it comes to sunglasses but now a newer, smaller trend is turning heads on the streets and the runways  – and it is all too familiar. Cast your mind to the world of science-fiction and The Matrix, more specifically – Neo. His skinny-frame sunglasses are making a big splash in the fashion world.
                                               

The super-slim sunglasses were first spotted at Akris’ Spring/Summer show in 2016, and they soon became adored by street-style stars worldwide. Once Kendall Jenner was spotted donning Balenciaga’s take on Neo’s frames, it didn’t take long for other industry heads and celebs a like to start sporting the trend. How sun-smart they are is debatable, but slip, slop and slap with a hat and you can be flaunting the latest sunglasses trend.

Need some more inspo? Here’s our favourite pair and the well-known faces who make us adore the trend.

Sunglasses company District Vision has developed two new sunglasses styles specifically for athletes.

The two styles, Yukari Windshield and Nako Multisport, were put through a rigorous testing period that took into account different athletes’ eyewear requirements.

The result is two frames that will not only keep your eyes protected from things like wind, dust and UV rays, but will actually improve your training. The Windshield is designed with an extra-wide lens to enhance your peripheral vision, while the rounded top of the Nako Multisport extends the wearer’s upper field of view.

What’s more, they also look good. The sunglasses range from $199 to $219 and are available via District Vision’s store.

In other news, ASICS’s #IMoveLondon campaign reveals the secret to a healthy body and mind.

Kering Explains "Made In Italy" Mix-Up

KERING has denied any wrongdoing in the current case being brought against its Eyewear division by sunglasses boutique Selima Optique, which has accused the conglomerate of falsely labelling sunglasses with the prestigious “Made in Italy” stamp, when they have been - either in part, or wholly - made elsewhere.
                                               

A spokesperson today attributed the incident to a mistake made in its Veneto factory where all its luxury eyewear is made and where all its stamping is done. Eyewear from its Puma label (which is made in China and sometimes in Japan) was brought to the factory to be stamped "Made In China". While this was taking place, 19 pairs of sunglasses from Kering's luxury portfolio got mixed up and were stamped twice: Once "Made In China" and once "Made In Italy". These pairs were then sent to two wholesalers; 18 pairs to one (which the spokesperson declined to reveal) and one pair to Selima Optique. When the mistake was realised, Kering contacted both wholesalers, said the spokesperson, after which the one with the bulk of the stock is said to have understood, but Selima Optique chose to take legal action.

An official statement from the label said "Kering Eyewear denies all allegations made by Selima Optique, Inc. Kering Eyewear luxury products are made in Italy and are labelled in compliance with all applicable law."

Fashion and beauty trends from the late ’90s and early aughts are incredibly on trend right now, and we’re loving it. (Remember those halter tops that your mom wouldn’t let you wear back in the day? Well take that mom, we’re grown-ups now and we can halter top if we want to!)

Slip dresses, jellies, chokers, and metallic lip glosses were only the beginning. Bandanas, tube tops, and mini backpacks are back, and in case you haven’t noticed, the Lil’ Kim aesthetic is alive and well. Colorful hair? Pasties? Logo’d everything? Yeah, that sounds like the Queen Bee.

Microsoft is working on true holographic glasses

Microsoft has unveiled an augmented reality prototype which features true holographic capabilities.
                                             

The company is developing a device which uses laser light interference to display phase-only holograms.

The researchers are using a combination of GPU-accelerated algorithms and eye tracking to create a hologram display with a generation rate of 90Hz-260Hz.

Using real-time eye tracking, the prototype – which is shaped like a pair of glasses – can match image focus to eye focus, rendering areas of the hologram which the user’s eye is focussing on while blurring out unfocused areas.

The prototype also features vision correction, which can correct near and far-sightedness in addition to more complex problems such as astigmatism.

Microsoft said the form factor and displays of the prototype glasses were promising, but the computing is currently done using external drivers. This means significant challenges remain in creating a standalone, lightweight holographic device.

The paper comes a few weeks after Facebook talked about building AR glasses. Snap, which sells camera sunglasses for its Snapchat messaging app, has introduced AR software features, although it has not yet indicated it's working on proper AR glasses. Apple is also thought to be developing AR technology.

As a research endeavor, this new Microsoft hardware might not ever be mass-produced, although it does indicate some people inside the company are interested in exploring different shapes and sizes for its holographic technology.

Several Pairs Of ‘90s Sunglasses To Wear

It seems as though the days of oversized bug-eye sunglasses are behind us. Just scroll through Instagram and you'll begin to notice a trend — celebs are rocking smaller, nineties-inspired sunglasses, instead of the large shades of years past.

This isn't exactly surprising to me considering almost every trend from the nineties has made a triumphant return to the fashion zeitgeist over the last few years. There three basic characteristics that define this new wave of nineties-inspired sunglasses: They're small, they frequently feature colored lenses and they often have thick frames.

Just take the sunglasses worn by Bella Hadid and Gigi Hadid recently. Bella rocked a pair of small oval Roberi & Fraud sunglasses while in Paris on Wednesday, and Gigi caught everyone's attention when she stepped out wearing small, red, cat-eye sunglasses while in New York City earlier this month. Kendall Jenner has also been spotted wearing small black oval sunglasses, which really rounds out the fashion model trifecta.

Perhaps one of the biggest proponents of the nineties sunglass trend is Selena Gomez, who has rocked several nineties-inspired sunnies for a variety of occasions. She's rocked an oval pair with red lenses, a slightly rectangular pair with ombre purple lenses, and a small black oval pair. Gomez is the queen of nineties sunnies.

Whether you opt for retro forms or more futuristic designs, colour is key to making your sunglasses stand out this spring.

This is the moment a cheeky octopus made off with a woman's £100 sunglasses after she dropped them in a rock pool.
Emma Solomon was walking at the north end of One Mile Beach in New South Wales, Australia on April 20 when she spotted the octopus and put her Ray-Bans in the pool to point the animal out.
The octopus took a liking to the shades and swiftly attached himself to one of the arms.

Tzukuri launches unlosable glasses

When Allen Liao was still at university he borrowed a friend's expensive sunglasses and lost them.

"He wasn't very happy with me so that's how it all started," Liao says.

The 23-year-old dropped out of uni to start developing Tzukuri, a line of "unlosable" glasses which went on sale this week.

Tzukuri integrates hand-crafted glasses with Bluetooth technology.  The glasses are connected to an iOS app, which notifies the owner if they are left behind, records the last GPS location and shows proximity when searching for them indoors.

Manufacturing

The range is manufactured in Sydney from cellulose acetate which is a 100 per cent renewable and recyclable natural biopolymer manufactured from cotton and wood pulp.

Tzukuri creates both glasses and sunglasses priced at $485 including prescription lenses. They are available online and from a pop-up at Sydney's Old Clare Hotel which opened this week.

"If you look at technology like your phone, it is made from lots of different components," Liao says. "But when you make a pair of glasses you only have three pieces to work with. We invented a new process to seal the electronics inside one piece of material which allows us to make a very light pair of glasses."

The reality 

Liao says he's nervous now his vision has become a reality.

"You've got to be nervous, you just don't know what people will expect," he says.

The signs are good so far, with Tzukuri breaking even the first day it started trading. Liao has plans to open three pop-up stores in the next six months and is aiming to sell 13,000 pairs of glasses in Australia, bringing in over $6 million in revenue.

If his plans for international expansion come off there are more commercial opportunities.

"We are looking first at New Zealand and Asia-Pacific and then looking very closely at the United States and Europe," Liao says.

But the process of developing Tzukuri has not been without its challenges for Liao. His initial co-founder left the business and went back to finish his university course.

These "Smart Glasses" Adjust To Your Vision Automatically

The glasses' liquid lenses change shape according to the distance of objects, making reading glasses and bifocals unnecessary.
                         

By age 45, most of us will need glasses at least for reading. That’s because our eyes’ ability to accommodate—to change focus to see objects at different distances—degrades with age. In young eyes, the eyeball’s crystalline lens changes shape easily, allowing this accommodation. But as we get older, this lens stiffens. Objects in close range suddenly look blurry. Hence the “readers” most middle-aged adults begin wearing on a chain or tucking in a handbag, or the bifocals worn by those who already had vision problems.

But the days of popping reading glasses on and off or constantly shifting your gaze through bifocals may be numbered. Researchers at the University of Utah have developed “smart glasses” with liquid lenses that can automatically adjust their focus.

Regular prescription glasses, Mastrangelo explains, don’t fix the eyes’ accommodation problems. They simply shift the range of what’s in focus rather than expanding it. So if you put on a pair of reading glasses, the once-blurry page a foot from your eyes will be clear, but objects on the other side of the room will suddenly be blurry. The reverse is true of people who need glasses only for seeing far distances.

Though the glasses have not yet been formally tested, Mastrangelo and other members of his lab have tried them out. The current prototype is, to put it gently, bulky (think a clear version of Doc’s goggles in Back to the Future). Formal wearer tests are in the works.

Some adjustments will need to be made before the glasses could be ready for the market, Mastrangelo says. They need to reduce the weight and thickness of the eyepieces and make the electronic subsystems smaller. They also need “much improved” styling. Mastrangelo expects to overcome these issues and have a product on shelves within two to three years.

Cancer warning for children who don’t wear sunglasses

PARENTS are being urged to put sunglasses on their children whenever they are outside to protect them from eye cancer.
             

The Australian Medical Association is leading the renewed push, issuing a plea to parents that whenever they wear sunglasses their children should too.

Cancer Council figures show eye cancer killed 21 Queenslanders in 2013 and 81 people were diagnosed with the disease.

AMA vice president Tony Bartone said it’s not only bright sunny days that are problematic.

“They should be worn whenever you are outside during the day,” he said.

“We have already seen very hot weather this summer, and we must take every precaution to reduce the risk of skin cancer by protecting ourselves from overexposure to UV radiation.”

The Cancer Council recommends covering up and wearing sunscreen whenever the UV index is three or above, but CCQ spokeswoman Katie Clift said our eyes required even greater protection.

“Damage to the eye can occur regardless of the UV index level, so it’s essential that Queenslanders wear wraparound sunglasses at all times when outside during daylight hours,” she said.

“Be sure to reduce exposure of the eye to UV radiation as much as possible, ensure your sunglasses meet the Australian/New Zealand standard, and wear a broadbrimmed hat.”

Ms Clift said 20 per cent of cataracts were believed to be caused by UV radiation exposure to the eye.