Envision has announced the Ally Solos smart glasses — a lightweight, phone-connected wearable offering AI-powered text reading, object and face recognition, and upcoming offline features. With early bird pricing at $399 and worldwide shipping, Ally Solos aims to bring advanced accessibility tools to blind, low-vision, and older users at a lower cost than previous Envision glasses.
This episode is supported by Pneuma Solutions. Creators of accessible tools like Remote Incident Manager and Scribe. Get $20 off with code dt20 at https://pneumasolutions.com/ and enter to win a free subscription at doubletaponair.com/subscribe!
Steven Scott and Shaun Preece speak with Envision co-founder Karthik Karnan about the launch of the Ally Solos glasses. These next-gen wearables feature dual HD cameras, up to 15 hours of battery life, and seamless Bluetooth pairing with smartphones to run Ally, Envision’s AI assistant. Users can ask natural questions — such as finding vegan menu items — and Ally chooses the right tool automatically.
Unlike standalone devices, Ally Solos leverage phone processing for extended battery life and reduced cost, while still supporting future offline capabilities like instant text reading and document scanning. The glasses double as Bluetooth headphones, support voice assistants like Siri or Gemini, and allow text/image export to other devices.
A free Ally plan offers core functionality, while Ally Pro ($10/month or $100/year at launch) unlocks unlimited conversations, custom “Allies,” conversation history, shortcuts, larger file imports, and upcoming live video AI. Existing Envision glasses will remain supported for years, with updates continuing. Pre-orders are open worldwide, with prices rising to $599 after the campaign.
Chapters
00:00 – Introducing Karthik and Ally Solos launch
01:00 – Specs and early bird pricing
02:11 – Why phone pairing boosts battery life
05:18 – Offline features planned for updates
07:22 – Bluetooth connectivity and assistant support
08:20 – Why Solos hardware was chosen
11:20 – Why not Meta Ray-Bans?
13:07 – Accessibility-first setup and onboarding
16:36 – Frame styles, lenses, and prescription options
18:08 – Key features: text reading, face recognition, exports
22:06 – Ally vs Envision AI app
24:05 – Ally free vs Pro subscription
27:18 – Pro features: unlimited minutes, customisation, live video AI
28:03 – Pricing and subscription offers
31:17 – Trying Ally app before buying glasses
32:30 – Support for existing Envision Glasses
39:17 – Commitment to ongoing updates
41:55 – Aira, Be My Eyes, and companion app plans
44:22 – Worldwide availability and multilingual support
45:19 – Post–early bird pricing
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About Double Tap
Hosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited.
"Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc.
56 mins