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Mandatory Socialization: Facebook Accounts To be Required for Oculus Headsets
Signaling the end to any remaining degrees of separation between Facebook and its VR headset division, Oculus, today the social media company announced that it will be further integrating the two services. Coming this fall, the company will begin sunsetting stand-alone Oculus accounts as part of an effort to transition the entire Oculus ecosystem over to Facebook. This will start in October, when all new Oculus accounts and devices will have to sign up for a Facebook account, while support for existing stand-alone accounts will be retired entirely at the start of 2023.
Previously: Facebook to Buy Rift Maker Oculus VR for $2bn
Facebook/Oculus Ordered to pay $500 Million to ZeniMax
Founder of Oculus VR, Palmer Luckey, Departs Facebook
Facebook Announces Oculus Go for $200
Facebook's Zuckerberg Wants to Get One Billion People in VR
Facebook Launches Oculus Go, a $200 Standalone VR Headset
Oculus Co-Founder Says there is No Market for VR Gaming
John Carmack Steps Down at Oculus to Pursue AI Passion Project
Facebook is Developing its Own OS to Reduce Dependence on Android
(Score: 4, Insightful) by MostCynical on Wednesday August 19 2020, @10:15AM (5 children)
just wait until you can only rent medical implants.. ..
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 19 2020, @10:57AM (1 child)
They'll start with the bedroom toys...
(Score: 3, Funny) by SomeGuy on Wednesday August 19 2020, @11:31AM
No, those will force you to have a Twitter account.
(Score: 2) by looorg on Wednesday August 19 2020, @12:22PM
They already do, sort of, as in they tend to take most of them out of you when you die so you don't get to hang on to them in the afterlife. They just, so far, doesn't allow for you to have a refurbished device installed -- but I'm sure there is some booming market for that someplace to far away from western regulations or in the future.
That said sure it's somewhat far from you paying them per month to keep your pacemaker or whatnot. But perhaps that would be something, deciding if you want to live for another month or not. Just a very cruel choice.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 19 2020, @02:06PM (1 child)
repo men [imdb.com]
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 19 2020, @06:39PM
Wow, same concept as: Repo! The Genetic Opera [imdb.com]
(Score: 5, Informative) by Webweasel on Wednesday August 19 2020, @11:35AM (5 children)
They didn't keep up support for the DK2.
I really enjoyed mine, but Windows 10 came along and facebook were 'Fuck you were dropping support'
Still I had bought mine before Facebook bought them. Now I have an expensive paperweight.
It was only good for Elite Dangerous anyway.
Priyom.org Number stations, Russian Military radio. "You are a bad, bad man. Do you have any other virtues?"-Runaway1956
(Score: 3, Touché) by FatPhil on Wednesday August 19 2020, @01:02PM
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 4, Interesting) by acid andy on Wednesday August 19 2020, @03:14PM (3 children)
You might find you can get it working with any games that support SteamVR via OSVR or the newer OpenXR / Monado [freedesktop.org].
And any game that demands a Farcebook login itself can get just fucked as far as I'm concerned.
If a cat has kittens, does a rat have rittens, a bat bittens and a mat mittens?
(Score: 2) by Webweasel on Wednesday August 19 2020, @04:49PM (2 children)
Only if I downgraded to windows 8. No drivers for win10.
The horror! The horror!
Priyom.org Number stations, Russian Military radio. "You are a bad, bad man. Do you have any other virtues?"-Runaway1956
(Score: 1) by anubi on Thursday August 20 2020, @12:23AM (1 child)
Hey, don't feel too bad...
My favorite electronic schematic capture program of all time, Futurenet Dash 2, runs under DOS!
And I still support what I did over 30 Years ago, and see supporting it for the rest of my life.
Granted I will use EAGLE 4 and 6 if PCB is involved.
But for simple wiring capture, pin lists, net lists, parts lists, it's Futurenet. The whole shebang, program files, libraries, data files, schematics.... Still fits on an old school 1.44 MB floppy!
There are fads that come and go... and others that are like the old estwing hammer I inherited from grandpa.
Some things work forever.
Some things are are designed for obsolence before they were even marketed.
Just like companies. Some go on for generations.
Others are shooting stars. Brilliant as long as their investors hold out, ( ionizable mass needed to maintain the display and altitude and velocity needed to maintain the colorful display).
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 1) by anubi on Thursday August 20 2020, @12:38AM
Oh, Incidentally, please do not come to me about supporting a later version of DASH. They went DRM. The later versions are unsupportable.
Do it over in another "modern" system that won't work in five years. You've missed the window of opportunity for stuff that works forever.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 19 2020, @12:57PM (1 child)
In 2045, people seek to escape from reality through the virtual reality entertainment universe called the Oculus
(Score: 4, Interesting) by takyon on Wednesday August 19 2020, @01:52PM
That's like escaping Facebook by going to Instagram.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 19 2020, @01:32PM (2 children)
Meant to delete it a while ago when I discovered the driver was constantly sending telemetry to some facebook server even when the oculus program was not running. Should have expected something like that from facebook.
Deleting the account was fairly simple. The button is located at the bottom of the privacy options on the oculus website if anyone else is looking for it.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 19 2020, @01:52PM (1 child)
You say that like you actually believe that button does anything.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 19 2020, @06:43PM
But it does. It blocks you from accessing the data they collected on you on their server.
(Score: 5, Touché) by DannyB on Wednesday August 19 2020, @02:11PM (15 children)
Not only for Oculus headsets. Social Media should required to buy Monitors, Keyboards and Op Tickle Mice.
All TVs are Smart TVs. How about centralizing all of the streaming services account activation with social media?
Next, social media should be required in order to obtain an activation code for newly purchased light bulbs. (Bulbs within a singe building should require a centralized hub to control their authorization to be used and ensure ongoing licensing fees have been paid.)
This brings us to household appliances.
I hope IPv6 will provide a large enough address space for the multiple servers within each light bulb. (One for on/off service, and a separate secure one to ensure ongoing licensing fees are paid. Or to ensure you have paid for optional extras such as dimming.)
The RIAA is going to realize that all speakers make sounds. The best place to control things is at the point where audio sound is produced. Legislators will be educated to understand the nature of the problem and how to control it. Speakers should need social media accounts to centralize authentication and authorization. Separately for left and right channels.
We could nationalize social media . . . to make it better!
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 3, Funny) by kazzie on Wednesday August 19 2020, @05:08PM
Stop tickling my op!
(Score: 2) by everdred on Wednesday August 19 2020, @05:10PM (11 children)
Score: -1, Cursed
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday August 19 2020, @05:20PM (10 children)
<no-sarcasm>
Seriously. That.
Imagine the entire world population being required to have some form of social media account. A life where it has gradually become inescapable. Everyone owns something that requires a social media account.
Governments will love it. Imagine the top down control it would provide for
AmericaChina. Not only would people experience social shaming, but all their devices and goodies could be deactivated.</no-sarcasm>
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 4, Informative) by DannyB on Wednesday August 19 2020, @05:23PM (8 children)
<no-sarcasm>
One more thought. It's not really government control. It's private industry. One more reason government would love it. They can claim to the citizens that government isn't doing this, yet being able to twist the arms of private industry to punish people.
There is also the micro tracking of people's activities, even within their own homes, cars and private spaces.
</no-sarcasm>
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 19 2020, @06:44PM (1 child)
I no longer wish to subscribe to your newsletter.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday August 20 2020, @01:50PM
Please fill in your email and personal information in the following form. You will be notified if we ever consider offering an option to unsubscribe. For statistical reasons only, you can expect a visit from our survey takers, in the middle of the night breaking down your doors.
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 2) by PiMuNu on Thursday August 20 2020, @01:12PM (5 children)
Why bother to include the government? No new legislation is needed to create this dystopia in most nations.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday August 20 2020, @01:52PM (4 children)
The beauty is no legislation is needed. Government has deniability. Government and industry would collude to create the dystopia. Possibly the big internet players would be nationalized for the common good of all comrades.
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 2) by PiMuNu on Thursday August 20 2020, @03:02PM (3 children)
> Government and industry would collude to create the dystopia
> nationalized
You miss my point, it is quite important. Government does not need to collude so a "Small Government" approach will yield the dystopia.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday August 20 2020, @04:45PM (2 children)
I think I get it. Government can be hands off. Let the dystopia happen.
I just don't think that government can resist trying to get in on the action of a dystopia once it happens. Especially the "small government" crowd. And especially a permanent global dystopia. That would just be too good to be true.
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 2) by PiMuNu on Thursday August 20 2020, @05:07PM (1 child)
> Especially the "small government" crowd.
That's the point - if one were to support the "small government" politic, then you end up in the dystopia.
"Interventionalist government" is one of the few ways out of the dystopia.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 20 2020, @06:06PM
How in the hell does that work?
The way I see it, interventionist governments are how we got into this mess globally. Regulatory capture to is too strong for any kind of "internal" intervention.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 19 2020, @11:38PM
Imagine?
This is life in China.
Fan Bingbing had a social score of zero. Her bank accounts were drained.
No need to imagine.
(Score: 1) by anubi on Thursday August 20 2020, @12:55AM (1 child)
I am mad enough about many phones not supporting Miracast, which is a simple peer-to-peer streaming protocol, Also known as "wireless hdmi", which allows video streams over a local link, private, not involving Google or the internet in any way.
It's problem is you could watch a downloaded movie on your phone, displayed on a big screen, and no one could bill you for that. They couldn't even know it happened.. Nor could they enforce you store your stuff in the cloud.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 20 2020, @06:10PM
That has been standard for years? I haven't seen a phone without it for a while.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 19 2020, @03:20PM (1 child)
So what happens if you get banned from Facebook? Do you get a refund?
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday August 20 2020, @01:54PM
If you get banned from Facebook, did you ever really exist? While no records will exist, some defective individuals in need of government retraining, will claim to recall that you once did exist.
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Grishnakh on Wednesday August 19 2020, @03:46PM (1 child)
Oculus is owned by Facebook. Why wouldn't they do this? Buying something from a Facebook-owned company and then expecting to not need a Facebook account to use it would be extremely naive.
As for the people who bought these things before FB bought the company, well, that's what you get for being an early adopter.
(Score: 2) by kazzie on Wednesday August 19 2020, @05:09PM
I ask from ignorance, but does Instagram require you to have a Facebook account?
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Wednesday August 19 2020, @04:22PM
Ahhh.., silly me, I was under the impression that this was already mandatory. Apparently, it was more of a, do extra work, so you don't have to use a facebook account sort of thing. Though, the Oculus Quest, requires a mobile device to setup and use. Some "standalone" device, that is.
But, yeah, I was super excited about Oculus back when they were first getting going, then Facebook acquired them. My excitement for Oculus turned into, appreciation that they got the ball rolling, but thankful that others picked up the ball. I've been enjoying my HTC Vive for a while now. Probably going to see about getting a Valve Index or something at some point, but the 1st gen consumer Vive is "good enough" for now.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 5, Insightful) by EvilSS on Wednesday August 19 2020, @04:45PM (1 child)
"OK, we don't believe you but OK."
2015: "Hey, remember that thing we said we wouldn't do?" - Facebook
"Yes, we remember."
"Oh. Well we still aren't doing it." - Facebook
2016: "Hey, remember that thing we said we wouldn't do?" - Facebook
"Yes, we remember."
"Ah. Well we still aren't doing it." - Facebook
2017: "Hey, remember that thing we said we wouldn't do?" - Facebook
"Yes, we remember."
"Really?. Well we still aren't doing it then." - Facebook
2018: "Hey, remember that thing we said we wouldn't do?" - Facebook
"Yes, we remember."
"Seriously, you still remember that? Fine we still aren't doing it." - Facebook
2019: "Hey, remember that thing we said we wouldn't do?" - Facebook
"Yes, we remember."
"OMG can't you all just get dementia already!?. Argh! Well we still aren't doing it I guess." - Facebook
2020: "Hey, remember that thing we said we wouldn't do?" - Facebook
"Yes, we remember."
"Well fuck you, we're doing it anyway." - Facebook
Also from Palmer Lucky this week: "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 would continue to be the case for a variety of reasons. In hindsight, the downvotes (on Reddit) from people with more real-world experience than me were definitely justified."
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 20 2020, @01:26PM
This reminds me of a lot of TV show writers who think that the viewers will forget some plot point they don't want to address if they ignore it long enough.
It never, ever works, as is evidenced by people who watch Pokemon who still ask about the GS Ball (which vanished about 20 years ago).