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Facebook account now required to login to Oculus devices

oculus.com

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Re: Facebook account now required to login to Oculus devices

#611

Post by valvar »

mdorazio wrote: post #558
latenightcoding wrote: post #479

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It baffles me too. My Samsung smart tv started showing me ads in the control panel/home screen. I paid full price for it, why am I seeing ads. I wish I could return it, but the snakes waited until the return period was over.

In the case of the smart tv it's actually because you didn't really pay the full price of the tv. The manufacturer counts on the revenue from those ads to boost the tv profit margin to an acceptable level, otherwise they would have to charge you more for the tv initially. If you don't believe me, look up the price of a "commercial display" comparable to your tv. And before anyone asks, the majority of customers would…

Commercial displays are not more expensive because they don't have ads - that's an absurd suggestion. They are more expensive because they have higher requirements. They need to be running for at least 8 hours per day without issues, but often 24/7, as opposed to the usual 4-6. That's the main difference.

Re: Facebook account now required to login to Oculus devices

#612

Post by gopiandcode »

cortesoft wrote: post #587
TT3351 wrote: post #478

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually you can't, because Facebook will lock your account for inauthentic behavior. Try making a fake account, and see how long you can hold on to it without being extorted for personal, identifiable information.

I set up a fake Facebook profile 10 years ago, because I needed a profile with no friends that I could use for testing some stuff at work. It is still alive and kicking; Facebook keeps sending it emails suggesting friends.

We can spend all day arguing anecdotes. As a counterpoint, I've never used Facebook, but once tried setting up an account to participate in a group event organized by some friends - by the next day, before I could even use the account, Facebook had locked my account, and wanted a photo of my ID to let me access the account. Needless to say, I abandoned the account.

Re: Facebook account now required to login to Oculus devices

#614

Post by avarun »

saxonww wrote: post #560
wlesieutre wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you make a Facebook account and never touch the Facebook aspect of it, is there any material difference between that and an Oculus account?

A better question: why does a VR headset require an account at all? Should my monitor require an account? Should my keyboard? It's a peripheral, not a platform.

Not sure if you know what device you're talking about. The Oculus Quest is very much a platform, not a "peripheral". There's no device that the Quest connects to to be used as a peripheral. It's a completely stand alone computing device that serves as a platform for third party software, the same as your phone which requires an account.

Re: Facebook account now required to login to Oculus devices

#616

Post by chrisandchips »

AlexandrB wrote: post #30
atarian wrote: post #13

Palmer Luckey, the original creator had this to say over on /r/oculus: I am already getting heat from users and media outlets who say this policy change proves I was lying when I consistently said this wouldn't happen, or at least that it was a guarantee I wasn't in a position to make. I want to make clear that those promises were approved by Facebook in that moment and on an ongoing basis, and I really believed it w…

Exhibit n + 1 on why when you're acquired you're not in a position to promise anything to anyone despite any assurances from the acquirer. Or, from the consumer's side, why those promises should carry no weight.

This is why I was quite sad when IBM announced that RedHat would be continuing with “business as usual” ...

Re: Facebook account now required to login to Oculus devices

#617

Post by 8bitchemistry »

saxonww wrote: post #560
wlesieutre wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you make a Facebook account and never touch the Facebook aspect of it, is there any material difference between that and an Oculus account?

A better question: why does a VR headset require an account at all? Should my monitor require an account? Should my keyboard? It's a peripheral, not a platform.

Unfortunately things have been moving this way, even for peripherals such as mice:

https://insider.razer.com/index.php?threads/i-need-an-accoun...

Re: Facebook account now required to login to Oculus devices

#618

Post by chrisandchips »

sitkack wrote: post #472
NikolaNovak wrote: post #250

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know Palmer and until 5 minutes didn't know his name. I don't dislike him, I'm sure he's a nice guy and great person, and I think the product and achievement is impressive. But: I respect him for eating humble pie now. I absolutely do not respect yet alone absolve him of not doing so originally . Why would one? There's nothing NEW that came to the table: Facebook can do what they want now, and crucially that…

Harshing on Palmer might feel like the right thing for folks, but they should be harshing on Facebook right now. Palmer has little to no agency and by focusing on the scapegoat, we ignore the avenues for change that are available right now. Ultimately, energy spent on Palmer distracts from getting Facebook to modify its behavior.

I agree. Ultimately it was Facebooks decision to enact this policy. Why do people gravitate towards blaming him ? Is it just because they feel he’s lied to them and should be held accountable even though he may have only been naive ?

Its funny how in situations like this one, where one person facilitates another’s wrongdoing, they (Palmer) are put under the spotlight more so than the bad actor (Facebook)

Re: Facebook account now required to login to Oculus devices

#619

Post by fomine3 »

mrguyorama wrote: post #329
gambler wrote: post #270

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No. This development was trivially predictable right when Facebook acquired Oculus. Which is why I bought Vive instead. You don't need to be a genius to see stuff like this ahead of time. All you have to do is refuse to be gaslit and be honest about the high-level drivers of corporate decision-making.

I also spent an extra $100 to buy a Vive instead of a Rift. I didn't predict this exact action but I didn't trust Facebook to keep their fingers off of it

I wish there are viable alternatives for Quest.

Re: Facebook account now required to login to Oculus devices

#620

Post by 3pt14159 »

If you want to make promises to a community about what will happen to your company after its acquired, tie them to a contract. "If you make Facebook login required for Oculus within the next 20 years you owe me personally an additional $10B." Then you can tell everyone about the line item in the contract and vow to donate half of it to the EFF or rescue.org or whatever floats your boat. Don't make promises your ass can't cash.
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