Snapchat’s parent company is launching Pixy, an automated drone that records photos and videos on smartphones for sharing.
“One more little thing…”. It is with this famous expression inherited from Steve Jobs that Evan Spiegel, boss of Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, introduced
than at Snap Partner Summit 2022, event where Snapchat brand news is announced, that the existence of this fully automatic drone dubbed Pixy was revealed. The American company is accustomed to announcement effects, which launched the first connected glasses, the Spectacles, ten years before the launch of the Ray Ban Stories from Meta (Facebook). “We wanted to create a product that was fun and easy to access so that people would feel comfortable with it. It took us quite a few years of research,” confessed Evan Spiegel, CEO of Snapchat.
The idea of creating this quadricopter (recreational drone) is therefore to facilitate aerial photography, whether photos or videos with a compact device, easy to use, which requires no learning and which is piloted without license. It fits in the palm of the hand from where it flies away to return to land automatically as soon as its flight is over. Pixy defines itself as “the friendly camera that flies by your side”.
Wanting to be handy and intuitive, this funny drone flies hovering to “choose the perfect angle to take your picture with your loved ones”, but also in 360° rotating flight. Perfect for all occasions, it slips into a handbag, a backpack and its handling is so easy that no one will resist. Snapchat expects its users to share their videos or photos without moderation. Whether or not they apply filters and special effects doesn’t matter as long as photos and videos are shared and seen by as many Snapchatters as possible.
What is the Pixy drone used for?
Pixy is simply used to photograph and film the highlights of its owner’s life. It is used to make group selfies and it can also fly high enough to capture the landscapes of the surroundings. Capable of rotating 360°, it sees what the human eye cannot see. Ideal for filming a progression on a glacier, a journey on a path with cliffs or skateboard courses. The device moves in four ways: hovering (selfies), taking height, tracking individuals for a maximum of 60 seconds or orbit (360° rotation within a radius of 4.5 m). Creating custom flight paths or programming a manual landing is also possible, but just takes a bit more skill.
Four flight modes are predefined. You have to choose the one that suits you when you let go of the device, by turning a wheel where pictograms are written, a bit like that of the shooting modes on a camera. An indicator light warns that Pixy is working. A single pressure of the hand is enough to make it fly away. The drone takes off and returns to land on the same hand once the automatic flight is finished. The recording of photos or videos on the associated smartphone is just as automatic as its launch and is carried out by Bluetooth. Photos and videos are stored by default in the memory associated with the Snapchat app. It is then up to the user to share them or simply watch them.
What are the characteristics of Pixy?
A mini-format for this lightweight yellow plastic mini drone (101 grams) that really fits in the palm of the hand with its minimalist dimensions: 13 x 10 x 17 cm. Rechargeable and replaceable, its batteries offer the possibility of making three to eleven flights depending on the type of settings selected. A full recharge is completed (via USB-C) in around 40 minutes, but 80% capacity is recovered in just 20 minutes. The device can capture 12 Megapixel images (4000 x 3000 pixels) and record 2.7K videos (2704 x 1520 pixels) at the maximum frame rate of 30 frames per second. The 16 GB built-in memory is sufficient to store up to 100 videos or 1000 photos, the idea not being to keep these videos but to share them on social networks and obviously on Snapchat as a priority.
The device is not waterproof. It is therefore not suitable for use over the sea or lake or for use in stormy or rainy weather. Its lightness also prevents it from being used if there is wind, even a simple breeze. In its instructions for use, the manufacturer specifies that it is better to avoid throwing it above water surfaces, because the reflection of light can cause crashes. If you are a kitesurfer or a surfer, it is better to use another type of device to film your exploits!
Finally, note that its connectivity is via Bluetooth or WiFi. It manages the 802.11 b, g, n, ac standards and the 5 GHz band (reserved for indoor flights). Pixy is compatible withiPhone from model 7 (minimum version iOS 14), as well as with Android smartphones (minimum version 8.0).
Where to buy Pixy?
The Pixy drone is available for pre-order with delivery within three months maximum on the dedicated website. First price ? The basic package costs 249.99 euros (excluding delivery costs) and includes the drone, a battery, a USB-C charging cable, a bumper and a carrying strap. The 279.99 euro pack (excluding delivery) includes a dual battery charger, two batteries and a USB-C charging station. Accessories can be purchased separately: it costs 24.99 euros for an additional battery and 59.99 euros for two rechargeable batteries with USB-C charging station (excluding delivery). Please note: Snap gives no indication of its stock of Pixy. Pre-ordering doesn’t mean you’ll get one. The company simply reports that the drone will be released “while supplies last.” Although class C0 according to European regulations, this drone does not need to be declared, however its owner must register it on Alpha Tango website and affix an operator number to the device. Current regulations apply (no use in town, especially in Paris), overflight prohibited on certain sites, no use near airports.
