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Hello Meta! Thanks for Bringing Attention to the Metaverse.

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Hello Meta! Thanks for Bringing Attention to the Metaverse.

Metastudies
Oct 31, 2021
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Hello Meta! Thanks for Bringing Attention to the Metaverse.

metalives.substack.com

Dear Avatars,

Those who don't live under a rock should already know that Facebook is now called »Meta«...

Twitter avatar for @Meta
Meta @Meta
Announcing @Meta — the Facebook company’s new name. Meta is helping to build the metaverse, a place where we’ll play and connect in 3D. Welcome to the next chapter of social connection.
6:45 PM ∙ Oct 28, 2021
34,867Likes11,743Retweets

The rumor of the last few weeks has come true, even if some had bet on »Oasis« rather than, say, »Meta« or »Metaverse« as the name.

The new brand is incredibly well thought out: the infinity sign, which presents itself three-dimensionally as a headset and can be read as »M« at the same time. Hats off! Very good work.

Does anyone know who developed it? Was it an agency or Facebook itself? - At least it's probably not a copy, even if the likeness to German M-sense is really funny - and could cost Meta some bucks:

Twitter avatar for @msense_app
M-sense Migräne @msense_app
We are very honoured that @facebook felt inspired by the logo of our migraine app - maybe they’ll get inspired by our data privacy procedures as well 👀 🤓 #dataprivacy #meta #facebook
Image
3:40 PM ∙ Oct 29, 2021
50,358Likes10,771Retweets

Since the announcement of Meta by Mark Zuckerberg at Facebook Connect, the global media machinery has been electrified:

Twitter avatar for @Meta
Meta @Meta
No one makes jumping around the metaverse look easier than @KhabyLame instagram.com/p/CVqSKgoAPDB/
5:26 PM ∙ Oct 30, 2021
28,558Likes5,132Retweets

The Metaverse in the Media

By now, every tech medium, every business medium, the general media, but even every sports, women's and gaming magazine should have reported on Meta. At least online. The print editions are likely to continue next week(s).

Google Trends for "Metaverse" has long since exploded. And if you look at the long-term trend since 2004, you see that really nothing in the last decades (!) has attracted so much attention.

And therein lies the first, important message: "The Metaverse" should be grateful to Mark Zuckerberg, should be grateful to Facebook and now to Meta. For an enormous amount of attention for a topic that we all love and push forward in various ways.

And this has to be said, even if the risks of Meta's total entry into the Metaverse market is quite obvious. (Remember, Facebook had already bought Oculus in 2014!) - Nevertheless, one should first read Zuckerberg's interview at The Verge...

Twitter avatar for @Metaverse
Metaverse @Metaverse
Metaver.se »#MarkZuckerberg on why #Facebook is rebranding to #Meta: The company wants to move past the ‘confusion and awkwardness’ of sharing a name with its main app.«
theverge.comMark Zuckerberg on why Facebook is rebranding to Meta“I think we’re basically moving from being Facebook first as a company to being metaverse first.”
7:01 PM ∙ Oct 28, 2021
7Likes5Retweets

...but pay just as much attention to at least some of the articles and comments that followed it...

New World Notes:

Twitter avatar for @Metaverse
Metaverse @Metaverse
Metaver.se »Meta Commentary on Facebook's Metaverse Move to Being Meta« nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2021/10/me… #Metaverse #VirtualWorlds #VirtualReality #AugmentedReality
nwn.blogs.comMeta Commentary on Facebook’s Metaverse Move to Becoming MetaUpdate, 11/29: Added the summary video above! 7 years ago, Snow Crash author Neal Stephenson told me this: “Metaverse” has turned into a sort of golem, capable of wandering the earth on its own, out of the purview of its...
8:13 PM ∙ Oct 28, 2021
5Likes5Retweets

The Guardian:

Twitter avatar for @Metaverse
Metaverse @Metaverse
Metaver.se »#Metaverse, #Mars, #meditationretreats: #billionaires want to escape the world they ruined.«
theguardian.comMetaverse, Mars, meditation retreats: billionaires want to escape the world they ruined | Sam WolfsonZuckerberg wants us to all turn our attention to a land of make-believe to distract from his PR disaster while Bezos and Musk are obsessed with leaving the planet
7:50 PM ∙ Oct 29, 2021
9Likes5Retweets

The Atlantic:

Twitter avatar for @Metaverse
Metaverse @Metaverse
Metaver.se »#TheMetaverse Was #Lame Even Before #Facebook - Hey, Facebook, I Made a #Metaverse 27 Years Ago. It was terrible then, and it’s terrible now.«
theatlantic.comHey, Facebook, I Made a Metaverse 27 Years AgoIt was terrible then, and it’s terrible now.
7:47 AM ∙ Oct 30, 2021
14Likes6Retweets

The New York Times:

Twitter avatar for @Metaverse
Metaverse @Metaverse
Metaver.se »The #Metaverse Is #MarkZuckerberg’s #EscapeHatch: If his new #strategy works — a big if — it could help address several of #Facebook’s biggest #problems.«
nytimes.comThe Metaverse Is Mark Zuckerberg’s Escape Hatch (Published 2021)If his new strategy works — a big if — it could help address several of Facebook’s biggest problems.
1:35 PM ∙ Oct 30, 2021
14Likes1Retweet

PC Gamer:

Twitter avatar for @Metaverse
Metaverse @Metaverse
Metaver.se »The #metaverse is bullshit: #Games, #NFTs, #crypto, #VR, #AR, the #blockchain, they're all wrapped up in this idea of a virtually-integrated society.«
pcgamer.comThe metaverse is bullshitYou’re not losing your mind: it really does just sound like a worse version of the internet.
8:26 PM ∙ Oct 30, 2021
40Likes14Retweets

And most importantly, CNBC:

Twitter avatar for @Metaverse
Metaverse @Metaverse
Metaver.se »#Facebook’s #Meta mission was laid out in a #2018paper declaring ‘The #Metaverse is ours to lose’: Facebook need[s] to own the #virtualreality market with a product that would #shutout any #future #competition.«
cnbc.comFacebook’s Meta mission was laid out in a 2018 paper declaring ‘The Metaverse is ours to lose’Jason Rubin, Meta’s vice president of metaverse content, wrote a document in 2018 that helped pave the way for Mark Zuckerberg’s big announcement this week.
6:29 AM ∙ Oct 31, 2021
25Likes6Retweets

Besides, Neal Stephenson, who coined the term »Metaverse«, clearly distanced himself from Meta in an early tweet:

Twitter avatar for @nealstephenson
Neal Stephenson @nealstephenson
Since there seems to be growing confusion on this: I have nothing to do with anything that FB is up to involving the Metaverse, other than the obvious fact that they're using a term I coined in Snow Crash. There has been zero communication between me and FB & no biz relationship.
10:45 PM ∙ Oct 29, 2021
9,525Likes1,829Retweets

But what did actually happen?

In fact, Zuckerberg has announced a lot - but delivered little: 10 billion Dollars are to be invested in 2021 alone. 10,000 jobs are to be created in Europe alone. A new high-end VR headset (»Project Cambria«) is to come...

Twitter avatar for @Metaverse
Metaverse @Metaverse
Metaver.se »#Facebook teases ‘#ProjectCambria’ high-end #VR / #AR #headset… [with] #cameras that pass #highresolution #fullcolor #video to the headset’s screens.«
theverge.comFacebook teases “Project Cambria” high-end VR / AR headsetIt’s focused on mixed reality applications.
4:53 AM ∙ Oct 29, 2021
5Likes2Retweets

New AR-glasses (»Project Nazare«) are to come...

Twitter avatar for @Metaverse
Metaverse @Metaverse
Metaver.se »Alongside the reveal of the new #ProjectCambria #VRheadset, #Meta (formerly #Facebook) just gave a #codename to its first pair of consumer #ARglasses. Meet #ProjectNazare.«
uploadvr.comMeta Announces ‘Project Nazare’ True AR GlassesAlongside the reveal of the new Project Cambria VR headset, Meta just gave a codename to its first pair of consumer AR glasses. Meet Project Nazare.
4:59 AM ∙ Oct 29, 2021
3Likes2Retweets

...and the only really tangible thing, at least for developers, is the »Prescence Platform«:

Twitter avatar for @Metaverse
Metaverse @Metaverse
Metaver.se »#Facebook is adding a #mixedreality platform to #OculusQuest: Facebook says the #PresencePlatform ‘will be key to #feelingconnected in the #metaverse’.«
theverge.comFacebook is adding a mixed reality platform to Oculus QuestFacebook gets closer to its metaverse dream.
4:53 AM ∙ Oct 29, 2021
5Likes3Retweets

The news had the biggest impact in a completely different place: Crypto! So called »Metaverse cryptos«, to be precise. Some have grown by double digit or even triple-digit percentages since the announcements:

Twitter avatar for @Metaverse
Metaverse @Metaverse
Metaver.se »#AxieInfinity, #Decentraland and ‘#metaverse’ #cryptos rally after #Facebook rebrands to #Meta: The net market capitalization of #metaversetokens grew 13.40% to $12.36 billion in the past 24 hours.« cointelegraph.com/news/axie-infi…
7:56 PM ∙ Oct 29, 2021
6Likes2Retweets

But anyway - and back to the original statement: the Metaverse has a lot of attention now and for the near future. And, more importantly, a lot of investment flowing into the development of software and hardware.

Competitors will almost feel compelled to at least counter with similar announcements. - And by the way, »GAFAM« is now actually »AAMAM« - or »MAMAA«. - And Netflix lovers call it »MANGA«:

Twitter avatar for @DavidNYC1993
Happy Investor 🇺🇸 & Passionate Golfer ⛳️ @DavidNYC1993
#MANGA is so cute ! After $FB changed to @Metaverse $MVRS ! No more FAANG ! Let’s go , #MANGA ! @stocktalkweekly
Twitter avatar for @MorningBrew
Morning Brew ☕️ @MorningBrew
How it started How it's going https://t.co/ewty6VbaVh
11:57 PM ∙ Oct 29, 2021

Point and fact is that we will see much more movement towards the Metaverse in the next few years with Meta - and most probably others. And that is a very good thing.

But we should all also be aware of the risks: Facebook says hello! Meta will foreseeably not build the Metaverse that many would like to see. We must pay attention to this - and stand up for corrections in direction.

Anyway, let's enjoy the moment!

Join the Metaver.se!

PS: Please forward this e-mail to your friends - or point them to this newsletter at: Metaliv.es

PPS: And actually, we are in the Fediverse on Mastodon, Metaverse-ly decentralised and interoperable: Metaver.se

PPPS: Sooner or later we will expand our presence on TikTok audio-visually, but don't forget to join us right now: MTVRS.TV

PPPPS: If you still prefer Twitter, just follow us there: Metaspac.es

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Hello Meta! Thanks for Bringing Attention to the Metaverse.

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