All of the software packages running in the release channels had problems. So, there was no roll to the main channel. The main channel will continue to run the same software as lat week.
Release Channels
Blue Steel and Magnum will continue to run last week’s packages with some additional big fixes.
Stacked Physical Cubes
Le Tigre is going to get a revised server maintenance package.
It seems there was a security patch in the previous week that caused problems for all the release channels and is the reason none are being promoted this week. Tomorrow it will be isolated into the Le Tigre package… I think isolated. It’s a security thing so the Lindens aren’t talking.
On August 27 Firestorm 4.2.1 was released followed by an immediate OOPS! There is a problem that Tonya Southerdescribes as:
It turned out that 4.2.1 has a bug in it that makes most swinging doors not look like they act correctly (though they actually do). They appear to swing normally, then jump ahead, swinging farther all at once.
I’ve seen something similar in the Linden Development Viewers for some weeks now. So, this is probably not a Firestorm bug but something in the Linden Code.
Not much new news so far this week. We did learn a bit more about how the Materials System may be implemented.
Content & Mesh Meeting Aug 2012
Materials
Q: Will there be any veiwer settings requirements to see materials? such as lighting and shadows on. ac14 Hutson
A: I suppose Hutsom is asking will there be any visual settings dependencies. For instance having to have Lighting & Shadows on before you can turn on Sun/Moon shadows is a dependency.
A: Geenz Spad: Lighting & Shadows will be required, *however* you can disable the shadows part by setting that setting to “None”.
Update Note 2014-04-10:The Photo Tools are not part of the Firestorm Viewer and do not need to be installed.
I saw these tools mentioned on Hamlet’s New World Notes in an article titled: Want to Take Great SL Images? Get Mr. Weaver’s Phototools! These are tools made for the Firestorm Viewer (Firestorm 4.1.1 (28744) Jul 9 2012 21:43:46 (Firestorm-Release)). The tools will only work with the default skins.
Mayfair – Not the default settings
This is an interesting addition to Firestorm. It is a rational and logical arrangement of the controls by William (paperwork) Weaver that affects how the viewer renders with world. If you are a photographer this is going to be a way handy tool. All the settings that affect the render appearance are in a single panel consisting of 6 tabs. Some of the controls open other panels, but basically it is one new panel, but what a handy panel.
First… there will be no MetaReality podcasts until September 24th, due to RL problems and RL work load. So, I doubt we will see an update on the Mesh Defomer before then. 🙁
SL Support
If you use a Third Party Viewer (TPV), Second Life™ support can be really annoying. There are viewer problems and server side problems. If it is a server side problem, it really doesn’t matter which viewer you are using. Support should help out and get the problem fixed regardless of the viewer being used. That idea is taking root at the Lab.
Scripting-Server UG August 2012
Now that the MAJORITY of viewers in use are TPV’s, this problem is a significant pain. A process is starting to change that and hopefully reduce the problem. BUT… and this is a big butt… er but… first level support people have a hard time figuring out what are viewer and server side problems. So, some work is going into developing processes to help them decide.
To understand what is happening and what to expect one has to understand the problems support people face. One problem is the Lab’s support people are not trained in how to use or help with TPV’s. That would drive the support training costs and time requirements beyond anything reasonable. If only some TPV’s were supported to reduce cost and time required, there would be a load of drama about which viewers were selected. So, that means an all or nothing approach. It is going to come down on the nothing side.
