I can't think of a more ceremonious way to kill a brand to hold an event announcing that the entire company was pivoting to do what that small piece of it did before, and that to monumentalize that change you were renaming the company...
It's... literally a ceremony... and not a small one.
The speech Zuckerberg gave onstage with pomp and ceremony said, "Our apps and our brands — they’re not changing." Contrary to this claim, the Oculus brand was killed offstage in another executive's Facebook post. I'd say that was unceremonious.
Zuck said nothing changes brand wise - but Oculus name is dead and he did actually hide that fact. But in the grand scheme of things Oculus is pretty unknown, so that was probably part of the consideration to let it go quietly.
“Meta Unceremoniously Kills Off Oculus Brand” - Meta: The New Meta. Facebook pretending to be self-aware is the new meta. No that’s old-meta. What’s the take? Hmm. Pick a New Name: The Easiest Meta. Introduce Meta to the popular discourse. Let the masses use it freely. Embrace the freedom of missed interpretation. It’s not Fake, it’s Meta. It’s not Facebook, it’s Meta. You wouldn’t understand, it’s too meta. How cool would it be if we just called it Meta? Metacognition. Meta-engineering. Meta-reality: it’s the business we’re already in! Have you seen the new Meta branding? It’s like the universe, but meta, and now we own it. It was so simple! The new meta, endlessly cyclical, and quite a long way from advice dog. Rush B. Trust Me.
I’d say that it’s less about choosing “Meta” as a name, and more the realization that Facebook isn’t just the name of the company, it’s the name of a single product the company makes. I’m really unsurprised by the name change.
Think of what it would be like if Microsoft were called “Windows”, or Apple were called “Mac”. Facebook has realized that their main product does not appeal to everyone, and attaching the “Facebook” name to everything they do is not a great way forward. That’s why the Facebook name didn’t take over the Instagram or WhatsApp brands.
Back at Sun it was Java. I wonder whether it is a great vision that will propel FB even further up, or a start of a renaming orgy and detached from reality megaprojects in a company overtaken by mid-management types and marking transitioning of FB from an ever expanding superstar into a large undead incumbent.
I don't understand this move. As much as Facebook has tarnished the Oculus brand, it still had positive attachment among longtime VR users and enthusiasts. For me the 'Meta' brand is linked more strongly with Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg, in an overwhelmingly negative sense, than with Oculus or VR.
Mainly, I think this is a push from a company who's idea pool has desiccated.
What is the end goal to have people in a headset talking to each other? That will happen irregardless of whatever platform it exists on, and unless FB is giving away unlocked headsets perpetually, I don't think people will pick their "Metaverse" over any other.
They might have an edge if they started as a peripherals company.
Crossing the chasm, at some level, means abandoning the early adopters. By the time the product achieves mainstream success they will have moved on to the next thing anyway.
As much as I dislike facebook, dropping the Oculus brand is probably a good move for the bet they're making.
Oculus is too associated with gaming. Facebook wants VR for telepresence, they don't want the gamers market, they want the facebook market.
I think VR sucks and I hate it, but if Zuck convinces my mum to strap on a headset, there won't be much I can do about it. And he has powerful means to convince people...
Facebook is still going to be called Facebook, this is just renaming the parent company to more accurately reflect its portfolio - Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, Occulus.
Most Facebook users will never even know about this renaming.
This is really weird!! Oculus has a great branding. My only theory is that they want to make it tighter to Meta so as not to get into any antitrust issues. But even then it doesn't make any sense to me...
Is there any company that's even close to Oculus in the VR space? I know HTC's Vive and Valve's Index could compete with the Rift, but they didn't have the Oculus app ecosystem. Samsung's standalone died, same with Google. Is there anything equivalent to the Quest 2?
[+] [-] gpm|4 years ago|reply
It's... literally a ceremony... and not a small one.
[+] [-] neartheplain|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] kerng|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] nseggs|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] klodolph|4 years ago|reply
Think of what it would be like if Microsoft were called “Windows”, or Apple were called “Mac”. Facebook has realized that their main product does not appeal to everyone, and attaching the “Facebook” name to everything they do is not a great way forward. That’s why the Facebook name didn’t take over the Instagram or WhatsApp brands.
[+] [-] corinroyal|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] trhway|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] tartoran|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] neartheplain|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] hbosch|4 years ago|reply
This segment of users is probably not what "Meta" is concerned with.
[+] [-] omgitsabird|4 years ago|reply
Mainly, I think this is a push from a company who's idea pool has desiccated.
What is the end goal to have people in a headset talking to each other? That will happen irregardless of whatever platform it exists on, and unless FB is giving away unlocked headsets perpetually, I don't think people will pick their "Metaverse" over any other.
They might have an edge if they started as a peripherals company.
[+] [-] FranksTV|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] d--b|4 years ago|reply
Oculus is too associated with gaming. Facebook wants VR for telepresence, they don't want the gamers market, they want the facebook market.
I think VR sucks and I hate it, but if Zuck convinces my mum to strap on a headset, there won't be much I can do about it. And he has powerful means to convince people...
[+] [-] glanzwulf|4 years ago|reply
Just got my Quest 2 a few weeks ago and I'm loving the shit out of it. (I still have some issues with it that I'm overlooking of course)
[+] [-] endofreach|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] baby|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Shorel|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] cptskippy|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] SkyMarshal|4 years ago|reply
Most Facebook users will never even know about this renaming.
[+] [-] baby|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] azth|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] RealityVoid|4 years ago|reply
I posted the video somewhere else in the thread and I think there is an not-so-active submission of the video on HN here:
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29032872
But the man is sharp and straight to the point and I just love listening to his insight.
[+] [-] metalliqaz|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] s5300|4 years ago|reply
I have lost a lot of respect for Carmack with how nonchalant he's been towards working with somebody as dubious as Zuckerberg
[+] [-] fermentation|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jazzyjackson|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] glandium|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] piggybox|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] metalliqaz|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] RealityVoid|4 years ago|reply
1) much cheaper price
2) portability
3) seamless onboarding experience
I love my index but there is no way that it can currently beat oculus because of these things.
Also, Oculus is well aware of these features. At least Carmack is.
The highlight of connect for me was the Carmack keynote. I suggest all techies watch it:
https://youtu.be/BnSUk0je6oo
[+] [-] bobbyi|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dvh|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] charsi|4 years ago|reply