WTF is Facebook doing?

[Boges]

No, a new gadget doesn't have to replace everything a previous device does to catch on. For example tablets are less useful than laptops at many tasks, but better at others. If smart glasses and watches are more convenient for some common tasks they may still become widely used.

I agree. I still may end up getting a smartwatch. I'm still not convinced Glassed or VR are things that I'd be interested in. But we'll see I suppose.

Remember when the Wii was supposed to revolutionize gaming? That didn't last did it?

Edited March 26, 2014 by Boges

[guyser]

Can't do selfies with glasses!

Ya think huh?

Did they do away with all the mirrors ?

[The_Squid]

I don't have a Facebook page.... am I the only one?

[guyser]

I don't have a Facebook page.... am I the only one?

Nope

Me neither

[Boges]

Ya think huh?

Did they do away with all the mirrors ?

I guess those type of selfies, but not the trendy Ellen from the Oscars selfies. I guess you could just take the glasses off. Obviously I'm being a bit cheeky here.

[Moonlight Graham]

Not well suited for discrete texts while in a meeting or other social event. Smart phones are still better.

With a virtual keyboard that is projected in front of you in your vision by the glasses, it can be any size you wanted. You're probably imagining something kinda like out of Minority Report or the Xbox One Kinect, where you have to stretch your arms out in front of your face and use big gestures, but there's no reason with a Google Glass-like product why you couldn't have a virtual keyboard seen by your eyes as a small smartphone-sized keyboard projected onto ie: the palm of your hand.

On a different note, they (ie: Samsung) also have flexible displays now that are paper-thin that you can bend & fold etc. and that produce their own light so they can be that thin.

[eyeball]

I don't have a Facebook page.... am I the only one?

Nope. Count me out too thanks.

[Boges]

The age of the person that regularly uses Facebook has grown older and older. The hip kids are using Twitter. Of course many observers see Twitter as a cesspool of hatred. See James Reimer's wife.

Facebook appears to be buying up companies in hopes to keep them relevant. (Instagram, Whatsapp, Occulus etc)

[Mighty AC]

Almost everybody uses Facebook. They have over 1.3 billion unique, active monthly users. That number only includes users that log in to their account at least once per month. It amazes me that they went from a basic single university profile site to over a billion users in 10 years. Anyway, I suspect they bought companies like Instagram and Whatsapp because they were amassing a large user base. The purchases did give them some new technology to use and incorporate but mainly they erased a social media rival. They don't want to end up like My Space.

[BubberMiley]

Of course many observers see Twitter as a cesspool of hatred.

They should get Charles Anthony to randomly suspend people from twitter if he doesn't like their tone. That would quiet things down significantly.

[The_Squid]

Nope. Count me out too thanks.

Maybe we should start some sort of group... We could meet online and post things, chat and talk about not being on Facebook..... If only there was some sort of social networking site we could do this on....

[GostHacked]

The Occulus had so much potential, until this happened. Everything Facebook touches, turns to crap. I don't have a facebook account either and never will.

I was interested in the device for the use of some games, but now, I wont even touch it. Even 'Notch' who developed Minecraft pulled out of the deal to have Occulus support for the game. If Steam ends up pulling support for the device then you know it was not the device but this deal that killed it. A shame really as it is very interesting and slick technology.

[AngusThermopyle]

I agree GostHacked. This was something I was really looking forward to. Many times during the recent history of computing gaming has been the force that has driven tech innovation and development. For instance the transition from 2D to 3D graphics was largely a result of gaming. Oculus was just the tip of the iceberg so to speak. The potential uses of VR are astounding when you think about it, from science to medicine to architecture and on and on. Fortunately there are other players in this game and it is game far to big to abandon. Still early days as of now. I think we'll have to sit tight and see what develops. For those who think VR is just a passing fad I would suggest you think a little harder about the possible implications of this technology. It shouldn't take too long to come up with a list of possibilities.

[eyeball]

Maybe we should start some sort of group... We could meet online and post things, chat and talk about not being on Facebook..... If only there was some sort of social networking site we could do this on....

No thanks I already waste enough time...um doing...ah, never mind.

[cybercoma]

At first I was not too happy about Facebook buying this out, but then I started to imagine what it would be like if Skype were done in virtual reality. I think VR has some incredible potential as a new way to communicate with others over broad distances, but feel like you're in the same room together. I don't know what Facebook will end up doing with it. For all I know, Facebook could completely drop the ball. However, just the idea of taking VR into the domain of communications is very interesting.

[AngusThermopyle]

Yes, it does have the potential to revolutionize communication. Also the possibilities for its use in education are vast. This technology has the potential to be a major game changer in a great many area's.

[GostHacked]

At first I was not too happy about Facebook buying this out, but then I started to imagine what it would be like if Skype were done in virtual reality. I think VR has some incredible potential as a new way to communicate with others over broad distances, but feel like you're in the same room together. I don't know what Facebook will end up doing with it. For all I know, Facebook could completely drop the ball. However, just the idea of taking VR into the domain of communications is very interesting.

I am just wondering if one will be forced to sign up for Facebook in order to use the device. That would be a deal breaker for me. I loathe Facebook. They have been a shame of a company. Trying to say they value your privacy. But the value is selling your information to advertisers. The more you use Facebook, the more money they make off you. I'd start demanding a cut.

[TimG]

I am just wondering if one will be forced to sign up for Facebook in order to use the device. That would be a deal breaker for me. I loathe Facebook.

A deal breaker for me too. I don't mind when a company collects data about my interactions with them (steam, amazon, apple etc), however, I want nothing to with a site that tries to collect data about my interactions with multiple businesses.

https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/8122907136/hF26E5B7C/

Edited March 29, 2014 by TimG

[GostHacked]

A deal breaker for me too. I don't mind when a company collects data about my interactions with them (steam, amazon, apple etc), however, I want nothing to with a site that tries to collect data about my interactions with multiple businesses.

https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/8122907136/hF26E5B7C/

I use Steam myself and it has become a fantastic service. They have had hacking issues, but they deal with it right away and let their customers know about it. Never has gaming been more easy. Shop, click, buy, download, play. They also let you know what information they are gathering and why.

Facebook's rap sheet is very extensive.

[AngusThermopyle]

Steam is great. When it first hit the scene I wasn't too sure about it but now its had time to mature I find it to be a great service. Now with big picture mode it even caters to couch gamers as well. Its actually been an important factor in the decision a couple of my friends have made to give up console gaming and build new gaming PC's. You just cant beat the Steam sale prices either.

[GostHacked]

Steam is great. When it first hit the scene I wasn't too sure about it but now its had time to mature I find it to be a great service. Now with big picture mode it even caters to couch gamers as well. Its actually been an important factor in the decision a couple of my friends have made to give up console gaming and build new gaming PC's. You just cant beat the Steam sale prices either.

It had it's issues in the early days for sure. But they were the first and only service like that when it came with Half-Life 2 (still a most fantastic game). Now they have become a powerhouse. And the really nice thing is that small independent game develop studios have been able to distribute their game through Steam. A huge market for them to tap into, while being inexpensive to the game studio. I've picked up a few of them and was quite pleased. Mainly because they don't fit the traditional game genres.

Fez is a great example of a game from a indie studio. A item collecting puzzle coordination game with a weird 2d, 3d combo.

Game for Windows Live was and still is a total abomination. I do have to use it for a couple games, but I tolerate that only because the games are really good.

But I don't know what Facebook's intentions are with Occulous. And the consensus seems to be the same. Most of the people I know that game will now not touch the Occulous because of this Facebook deal. A total shame.

[Boges]

Oculus was just a start up though. They had no real practical uses for the headset, yet.

I can assume Facebook is thinking VR can be a new way to do social media.

It'll force people to live their live in the basement living a second life. Why not just try and develop something like Inception or the Matrix. Now that's immersive.