Firestorm Viewer Update

The Firestorm Viewer Team is deciding whether to go into feature freeze in 2 weeks and release a viewer version 2 weeks after that. They want to avoid having a viewer out without Viewer Managed Marketplace when the Lab starts their 30-day countdown clock on VMM implementation. That could leave FS users out in the cold on VMM. The real issue with VMM is for those using MagicBoxes. But, the team is anticipating FS users would not be happy.

poche doughnut
poche doughnut by Estella Thereian, on Flickr

If you do nothing with your Marketplace items then auto-migration will eventually run and migrate you. That will eliminate anything you are still selling via magic box. There is no longer a need for magic boxes. The new system does all the things that MagicBoxes did. 

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Black Dragon Viewer Review

Version: Black Dragon 3.7.27 (34575) May 22 2015 Review

Update: This article starts out listing a number of small problems with the Black Dragon Viewer. From some feedback I decided to add here at the beginning, this is a pretty nice viewer.

I am not into doing reviews of Second Life™ viewers like I once was. It has been a long time since I have used the Black Dragon Viewer. I often say I stopped using it because the user interface (UI) changes so fast. NiranV objects to my continually saying that. When I was using it, it was changing. But, NiranV tells me that has not been true for some time, years. And at the time I was forming my opinion he had just started work on Black Dragon and was changing it pretty fast. Fair enough. I need to update my thinking and belief about what is actually happening.

RAYNE Isles
RAYNE Isles by Loverdag, on Flickr
Taken w/Black Dragon Viewer

So, I now (6/2 – week 23) have Black Dragon 3.7.27 (34575) May 22 2015 installed. I’ll be using the viewer as I write this. Then over the next few updates I’ll decide if the UI is changing so fast I can’t keep up. I’ll publish this well before I have time to decide on the rate of change. But, my experience is that NiranV is pretty factual about what is going on with the viewer. So, for now I’ll concede the point and change what I say. 

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Second Life LoD Problems – Is Firestorm to Blame

Lots of Second Life™ people use the Firestorm Viewer. Creators are certainly part of that group. A  number of people think the Firestorm Viewer is to blame for LoD problems in Second Life. Can that be?

{ She leads in the cold of winter }
{ She leads in the cold of winter } by Trinetty Skytower, on Flickr

Personally I think this is a case of a fascist mind set running the standard victim line and wanting someone else to fix their problems. See what you think. 

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Second Life My Viewer Problems

Every so often I hit a point where my Second Life™ experience sucks from poor viewer performance. When that happens I start changing viewer brands in hope of an improvement. I troubleshoot starting with the easy and work to the hard. But, this time I over looked an obvious problem.

I Still Remember
I Still Remember by Thurkearan of Darrath, on Flickr

These days I mostly use the Linden made viewer and it is almost always one of the RC versions. I like being on the cutting edge. Over the years Imprudence, Emerald/Phoenex, Exodus, Kirsten’s, and Niran’s were the viewers to use, at various times, to be on the cutting edge. That has changed. 

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Hypergrid Business on Bright Canopy

Maria Korolov has written: Bright Canopy’s viewer in a browser supports voice, uploads, OpenSim grids. She is talking about the Bright Canopy beta that is in progress now. This version runs in an Internet Browser using the FRAME system. She explains how it works.

Serene Sanctuary
Serene Sanctuary by Loverdag, on Flickr

One of the challenges in using a streaming service is that the actual viewer is running on a remote server. Your computer is sort of doing remote control of that viewer. So, saving files (pictures) can be a problem as the local drive the viewer sees is on the server, not your home computer. 

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