Second Life and Virtual Worlds
I cam across this tip in the SL blogrum. Help! I messed up my sculpty-mesh Gaia Clary, of Machinimatrix.org, commented on the problem. Gaia does great tutorials and clear explanations. Donations at Machinimatrix.org are appreciated and split between Gaia and Domino.
Blue Steel and Le Tiger Release Channels (RC) were both running the same RC last week. They had problems and are going into another round of testing with new fixes applied. However, Le Tiger is getting a different RC for testing. This is the first time the channels have had different candidates. This is sort of building the pipeline and then filling it.
McCabe is the primary developer of the Imprudence Viewer. Seems his laptop is wearing out and about to fail. So, over on the Imprudence blog they are asking for donations. If you are using the viewer and like it, please chip in some bucks. The donate button is at the bottom of the Imprudence blog … Read more
I had lots of problems with Phoenix 225. So, I’ve been looking forward to Phoenix’s next release. Yesterday I was reading the Phoenix Release Notes/Change Log and looking all over for the 373 download. They put it up today. This version is much nicer.
Download Size – The first Phoenix I used was in the 40+ mb range, and 225 was 33 mb. This release is down to 28 mb.
The install remembers your settings and your cache location setting. Yay!
WARNING: On the download page they advise you to clear your cache before logging in. This means open the Phoenix viewer, click Edit->Preferences->[Network] and click Clear Cache. Then close the viewer. The cache clears on the next viewer start.
The change log for 1.5.1.373 is up. I have not yet seen the actual download. So, it is not like I can download the viewer and run it. The download page is still showing release 225. But, we can see what is coming.
Phoenix Viewer 1.5.1.373 Release Notes – Update: 2010-10-05 – 1.5.1.373 released today. Phoenix Viewer Download
Additions to the viewer:
Yeah, we have all heard the rumors and speculation. If you are into drama, there are a number flaming threads on the Second Life blogrum where wild speculation runs wild. But, we still have no solid information, we are still dealing with opinion and speculation. In regard to speculation Gwyneth Llewelyn has a new article this morning. It is so far the best example of the application of intelligence to make a rational speculation.
See: Microsoft Life?
With the new 2.x viewers in Second Life lots has changed. Editing one’s appearance is one of the big changes. I have yet to decide of it is better or worse. Whichever, it certainly is different. This is my attempt to sort out how appearance works. I expect the viewer to change quite a bit over the next few weeks.
In the 1.x viewers (SLV1) it was easy to find the editor, just right-click the avatar and select Edit Appearance. Everything is there. I guess it could be intimidating.
In the Second Life 2.x viewers (SLV2) the logic for getting into Appearance Edit changes. The process is more goals oriented. For techie types familiar with computers the idea that one wants to change a dress or their shape means look for an avatar editor. Less geeky types probably don’t think of looking for an avatar editor, they just want to change the dress. The Lab did usability testing and supposedly this was a significant problem. I just don’t know.
By now you have probably heard the rumor that Microsoft made an offer to buy Linden Lab and thus supposedly Second Life. However, this could just be an offer to buy some of SL’s technology. Or it could all be a griefer’s spoof. The source of the rumor tracks back to a banned player and a group known to grief. The complication comes in that both have been involved in revealing ‘real’ secrets in the past.
There is no way to confirm or deny the rumor until either Linden Lab or Microsoft make a statement. Even then many will speculate the official spokes-holes are spinning to control PR. In the political season here in the States that makes perfect sense to many. There is just no way to know who is spoofing, spinning, or in the know. But, the story has legs because it is a credible idea that Microsoft might actually want Linden Lab. As more and more blogs pick it up, more real news sources pick it up and the story spreads. Many will use the number of sources as a measure of truth, which is a really poor way to decide.