The main SL viewer updated a few days ago, Monday I think. It is now version: 3.7.6-289164. This is the combined Merchant Outbox, Vivox voice, and Breakpad viewer. Mac users should get some relief using this version.
A bot at Server-Scripting UG 2014-17
RC Viewers
Interesting Viewer version 3.7.7.289461 – This viewer is currently the best performing of the RC viewers and looks like the next candidate to be promoted. But, the Lab is not planning to make another release for a couple of weeks, that likely means week 19 or May 5. So, things could change.
If you do not want to take an hour to listen to the show, below I have my take from listening. Of course with that you get my opinions and biases affecting what I heard. So, listen to the original audio if you take exception to something. Also, I skip a lot and just touch on what I found interesting.
01:15 – Drax is, I think, pretending to be amazed that the Lindens are people with the usual human traits; emotions, hard working, enthusiastic, their own ideas…
01:35 – 04:00 – the obligatory promotional section. SL Go, an OnLive app, is a new sponsor of the Drax Files Radio Show. If you have not heard of SL Go… where have been? This is an app that allows tablets (and my Android phone) and older computers to access Second Life™ or other high-end video games. Drax and Jo relate some excellent user cases for SL Go. At US$1/hour or $10/month for unlimited time, this is a great possibility for many people. Listen to this section if you have an interest in alternate ways to access SL.
Gaia Clary announced today that Avastar RC 1.1.-1054 is out and has a fix for the shape sliders. See her announcement here: Avastar-1.1 Custom Shape Sliders fixed. The article explains what has been going on.
The big change is getting shape sliders in Blender to represent what happens in SL. See the 7 minute video.
[youtube 5hhMEiPjslY]
Another LARGE improvement is you may now use any custom shape. Until version 1054 we needed to model to the default/Ruth shape.
Quoting Gaia, “If you export your mesh with a specific shape slider configuration, then the System will minimize the distortions when you wear exactly the same shape in SL.” This is going to be a big help.
Gaia is hoping this is the change we have all been looking for. I know I have been scratching my head testing avatar, weighting, and weight transfers via Avastar and Blender to figure out how to get the best results. This change may give me better results. Once I have my tests done I’ll make a post.
I am sort of pleasantly surprised by the answers to a question in the Fab Advice column. When the advisors were asked which are the best boobs and butts, only one had answers. The others have little experience with add on boobs and butts and theirs spend most of the time in inventory. See the full article here: Fab Advice #15.
Skyler refers us to Big Boobie Babes. This is a site that keeps up on the latest in Second Life™ boobs and butts with reviews and release news. They also have a blogroll of other sites covering boobs and butts.
Verotic Muscle Skins and Appliers
I do see more and more clothes coming with appliers for the various add ons. I have my Slink hands and love all the nails I get. But, I haven’t gotten into implants… yet. I do like my smaller breasts. But, I do like the nicer shaped ones too. So, I have thought about … having some work done.
When there isn’t much happening in SL on the development front, I tend to write about other things that affect our online lives. For me this is a slow news week. So, I bring you: FB Newswire…
Simopolis?
While the goals of Facebook and Google are similar, ID’ing and profiling every person on the planet for targeted advertising, their approaches and execution are different. However, I think their successful implementation of products have simpler similarities.
Vic Gundotra, the brains behind Google+, is leaving Google. This raises questions about Google+’s future. Add to that management’s decision to move staff working on Google+ to other teams, like Android. Rumor is something like 1,000 employees have been moved to other teams. Now that is a move.
Take away the brains and muscle (engineers) and it is a pretty good indication the product is being abandoned.
The word is Google’s goal is to have every Internet/Google user be a ‘signed in user’ via Google. It appears G+ wasn’t getting them there. Plus Facebook has pretty well captured that market. The attempt to push G+ on everyone was apparently creating blow back. Have you tried a Nexus phone? The recommended way to move your contacts is to put them into your Google login and then download them to your phone.
Of course Google would never read your email or addresses. Nor would the NSA…
