Facebook account now required to login to Oculus devices • Hacker News Board

Re: Facebook account now required to login to Oculus devices

#721

Post by jeffhiggins » Wed, Aug 19, 2020, 3:57 AM UTC

mbesto wrote: post #308

jacquesm wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a CEO of a company that is being sold you can not make any binding statements about the future of the company you will no longer own . This is really management 101 and Palmer Luckey does not strike me as an absolute beginner here, he knew how to get funded, how to execute and had a ton of people telling him this would happen. Of course he and FB had a pretty strong incentive to ensure that there wouldn't be an im…

> Palmer Luckey does not strike me as an absolute beginner here Which is why smart founders can still get away with making these statements during the acquisitions so they can continue to grow their company post close (which means their post close bonus also stays in tact) and then leave after their golden handcuffs are done (usually 2-5 years). > For me the heuristic is simple: I won't believe a word a CEO that is s…

I agree that the incentives are perfect to be as deceptive as possible.

Re: Facebook account now required to login to Oculus devices

#722

Post by chrisco255 » Wed, Aug 19, 2020, 3:57 AM UTC

ashtonkem wrote: post #594

sharkweek wrote: post #193

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My moral compass would get real wobbly if I had (insert some unfathomable number here) in my bank account following an acquisition. Probably not a great thing to confess to but I doubt I’d find myself caring what my acquirer was doing with their new real estate.

Those who say they can’t be bought are either saints (rare), or have never had a reasonable chance of being offered their price. Most humans will get very morally flexible once offered enough resources; this is precisely why we have contracts and courts, to create structural systems more capable of upholding agreements than individual humans can do alone.

It's also why we have immutable smart contracts on the blockchain. Can't be evil > don't be evil

Re: Facebook account now required to login to Oculus devices

#723

Post by Mandatum » Wed, Aug 19, 2020, 4:00 AM UTC

chrisandchips wrote: post #616

AlexandrB wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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” ...

It's also why all of the smart cookies have already left; anyone still there is waiting for a payday or waiting for a VP title. IBM don't pay quality. They pay market share.

It took 2.5 years for IBM to begin the process of gutting the consultancy they bought, for RedHat I think it'll probably take twice as long.

Re: Facebook account now required to login to Oculus devices

#724

Post by Hnrobert42 » Wed, Aug 19, 2020, 4:08 AM UTC

javajosh wrote: post #454

xg15 wrote: post #386

This is something that still completely baffles me about the "IoT"/"smart devices"/"connected devices"/"whatever you want to call it" space. If someone advertised a device as capable of doing X without it in fact being able to do X, they'd be liable for false advertising. If someone sold you a device, then took it back or destroyed it, they'd be liable for theft or destruction of property. Nevertheless, if someone se…

>Have we really given up basic consumer rights that easily? Well, yes. I don't know if you've noticed, but short-term convenience trumps all other concerns. The market can't really deal with these issues, because they are too subtle and expensive for individuals to work out for themselves. We really do need collective action, by way of regulation, similar to how we recognized as a society that workplace safety laws w…

In the US, we need collective action by way of class action lawsuits. Unfortunately, almost all terms of service now require you tp waive that right.

The change needed is a law that prevents waiving the right to class action. Such a law would be considered highly unfavorable to business and would not pass under a Republican majority/presidency. Consider who you vote for accordingly.

Re: Facebook account now required to login to Oculus devices

#725

Post by Mandatum » Wed, Aug 19, 2020, 4:11 AM UTC

xg15 wrote: post #386

This is something that still completely baffles me about the "IoT"/"smart devices"/"connected devices"/"whatever you want to call it" space. If someone advertised a device as capable of doing X without it in fact being able to do X, they'd be liable for false advertising. If someone sold you a device, then took it back or destroyed it, they'd be liable for theft or destruction of property. Nevertheless, if someone se…

In Australia after some "on the box" features were no longer applicable to the product I bought, I was able to refund the product.

This has worked for;

- Consumer devices (cloud support dropped within the lifetime of the device, features dropped likely as a cost saving measure to the manufacturer)

- Software (features removed or culled after buying)

- Smart TVs (claiming support for different platforms)

- Gaming consoles (OtherOS on PS3)

This usually hurts the retailer - they don't want to risk going after the manufacturer because they want to sell their products. I've been banned from buying from one store after returning a product and then posting about it publicly, many others returned as well when they realised it was possible - I can assume some took advantage of this fact as a "I paid full price for this 1.5 years ago, it's now worth 50% less, I can return it and buy a better model from somewhere else" endeavour.

Re: Facebook account now required to login to Oculus devices

#726

Post by Mandatum » Wed, Aug 19, 2020, 4:13 AM UTC

If you're in Australia: Refund your Oculus. If you aren't able to use the product without agreeing to new terms, conditions of licensing agreements - you are within your rights to return your product. Sorry to those who already invested in developing for this platform. Amazon is the main supplier, and they're usually very good for returns.

Re: Facebook account now required to login to Oculus devices

#727

Post by senectus1 » Wed, Aug 19, 2020, 4:14 AM UTC

vernie wrote: post #566

eugeniub wrote: post #22

Well this is horrifying. I bought a Quest for a relative. He loves it, but he doesn't have a Facebook account, and has no interest in signing up. I have a Facebook account, but I don't use it, and I certainly don't want to connect my Oculus account. I guess we'll both have to sell our Quests. That means we'll lose all of our game purchases. I came to Oculus with eyes wide open knowing it was a Facebook company, but t…

A tad hyperbolic, don't you think?

nope.

FB can not be trusted. I'd argue they should be dismantled.

Time after time they have not only expressed views that are downright alarming but they have been actively repeatedly caught out deliberately flaunting the law and fucking their customers. (not to mention their Russian connections and their part in the election tampering in the US).

Google are a naught boy compared to the actively evil FB org.

Re: Facebook account now required to login to Oculus devices

#728

Post by causality0 » Wed, Aug 19, 2020, 4:16 AM UTC

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 I'd done the same. Oculus Home is a truly atrocious piece of software and frankly I haven't touched my Rift in a year because of it.

Re: Facebook account now required to login to Oculus devices

#729

Post by senectus1 » Wed, Aug 19, 2020, 4:16 AM UTC

wlesieutre wrote: post #67

eugeniub wrote: post #22

Well this is horrifying. I bought a Quest for a relative. He loves it, but he doesn't have a Facebook account, and has no interest in signing up. I have a Facebook account, but I don't use it, and I certainly don't want to connect my Oculus account. I guess we'll both have to sell our Quests. That means we'll lose all of our game purchases. I came to Oculus with eyes wide open knowing it was a Facebook company, but t…

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?

because every action you perform within the account that signs into the FB account becomes a parcel of information you're giving to FB.

If you sign in to one of their accounts, you are functionally signing into the facebook website.

Re: Facebook account now required to login to Oculus devices

#730

Post by causality0 » Wed, Aug 19, 2020, 4:18 AM UTC

Karunamon wrote: post #381

jameshart wrote: post #344

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That sentiment is of course not, originally, attributable to kps though. Regarding people who ascribe benign intent to Facebook, it was first expressed by one M Zuckerberg. In 2004. And first reported by Business Insider in 2010.

In 2004, yes. 16 years ago. I'd hate to be judged for immature statements I made nearly two decades ago.

I'd wager Facebook does much worse things with your data now than they were doing in 2004.