HTC Vive Eagle: $499 smart glasses with a privacy-first pitch

HTC is selling its $499 Vive Eagle smart glasses in the US with cameras, frame speakers and an AI assistant powered by ChatGPT or Gemini. Recording stops if the indicator light is covered or someone asks to stop, and captured video is encrypted on the glasses rather than uploaded. Battery life is 4.5 hours of music playback or 36 hours standby, and AI Plus costs $2.50 a month after two free years.

• Vive Eagle costs $499; the Power Boost clip-on battery is $49
• 4.5 hours of continuous music playback and 36 hours on standby
• Recording stops when the indicator light is covered or bystanders ask
• AI Plus is free for two years, then $2.50 per month