The main channel is now running version #18.01.17.511913. The version ran on all three RC channels last week. It is reported in the wiki as having Internal Changes. Mazidox Linden described it at the Server Beta UG as, “This week we promoted a couple of things to RC on Agni including DRTSIM-367 (internal fixes) and a version of the service that handles avatar bakes, built with the new version of our OS.”
Shhhhh
The bake service is not actually a simulator change. It is a change in a backend service. The server and service have to work together. So, there is probably some simulator change. But, maybe just in which API it uses to bake the avatar.
The Linux Operating System (OS) the Lab uses in its server gets updated every so often. They have been (are?) in the process of another OS update.
The main channel is not getting a roll. I’m showing my home region in the main channel as last restarting 1/16, last Tuesday.
All three RC channels are to get a rollout tomorrow. Version #18.01.17.511913. It is only described as ‘internal fixes’. There was no additional information available from the Server-Scripting UG Meeting.
For builders, there is information that only the physics part of the road matters. The physics part of the road should be thick, vertically, and extend past the region edge by a couple of meters.
Viewers
The main viewer today is version 5.1.0.511732. This is the 64-bit viewer that released in week #2.
Second Life Maintenance Viewer version 5.1.1.511871 – This is a new version this week. I suspect it just got the 64-bit updates.
Second Life Voice Viewer version 5.1.1.511952 – This too got updated with 64-bit. Expect this to be next version bumped to main.
Second Life Project 360 Snapshot Viewer version 5.1.0.506743 – No change since week #27…
Second Life Project Animesh Viewer version 5.1.1.511908 – This got an update. I suspect some fixes and the 64-bit update.
Second Life Project Render Viewer version 5.1.1.511933 – This is also and update. No information about what might be in it other than the 64-bit update.
Second Life Linux Spur Viewer version 5.0.9.329906 – This is a new entry in the Obsolete Platform section. Basically, there is no working Linden Linux viewer. There are a couple of third party Linux versions that people can use.
Other News
Hamlet and Strawberry are asking that you subscribe to your favorite YouTube peeps. YouTube is changing their partner program. Some video bloggers in the SL blogosphere will lose their partnership status due to changes at YouTube. See: Subscribe To Great SL YouTuber Channels Before They Lose Partner Program Status.
And we have a new warrior in the LoD Settings Wars. Beq Janus has posted her explanation of what setting the viewer’s LoD to 4 does to the overall SL system. See For LOD’s sake stop!
Hamlet has an article about Stevie Davros’ enhanced skies. In 2011 Firestorm added a feature that allows replacement of Second Life™ clouds. Thank you for the computer code, Cinder Roxley. Back then Vincent Nacon was creating new cloud images for this feature.
Stevie Davros Dramatic Skies
So, this feature is not new nor limited to Firestorm. JuicyBomb wrote a tutorial NEW CLOUDS FOR SECOND LIFE, May 2013, for those using the Linden Viewer. The instructions are good for any viewer.
Not much has changed since then. I just checked in the Linden Viewer 5.1.0 and there is still no provision for selecting a different cloud texture. So, it is still a manual change.
Ugh… still fighting something between a cold and flu…
Servers
The main channel is getting a restart but will continue to run version #17.12.01.511131 rolled out 12/12.
All three RC channels with get version #18.01.08.511751. This change is declared to have internal logging improvements.
Worlds 3
Viewers
The Main viewer remains version 5.0.9.329906. We first saw this version as a RC candidate in week #47 as a Maintenance version. It promoted to the main viewer in week #49.
Second Life Alex Ivy Viewer version 5.1.0.511732 – This is an update from 5.1.0.511248 which we saw in week #48.
Second Life Maintenance Viewer version 5.0.10.330148 – Another update. Replacing version 5.0.10.330123 out week #51.
Second Life Voice Viewer version 5.0.10.330039 – Last updated in week #50.
Second Life Project 360 Snapshot Viewer version 5.1.0.506743 – no update since week #27.
Second Life Project Animesh Viewer version 5.0.10.330058 – Last updated in week #49.
Second Life Project Render Viewer version 5.1.0.511604 – has updated from version 5.1.0.511446 released week, #50.
AS of this morning the Wolfpack version of the viewer has disappeared. As this is a version of the main viewer with additional data reporting, I think we can expect it back when the main viewer next updates.
Today the No-Change-Window is closing. Developers with a bit of extra time over the holidays have finished up upgrades to the viewers they make. So, we have some new third-party viewers out. The Lab, of course, was closed over the holidays. So, not much news from them.
You can not escape it.
Servers
There is no Deploy post today. No rollout was expected for the main channel. Whether we will see one on the RC channels is still iffy.
I am showing the last restart of my main channel home region as 12/26.
Viewers
The main viewer remains 5.0.9.329906. Last updated
Second Life Alex Ivy Viewer version 5.1.0.511248 – Last updated in week #48.
Second Life Maintenance Viewer version 5.0.10.330123 – Last updated in week #51.
Second Life Voice Viewer version 5.0.10.330039 – Last updated in week #50.
Second Life Wolfpack Viewer version 5.0.10.330113 – Last updated in week #51.
Second Life Project 360 Snapshot Viewer version 5.1.0.506743 – no update since week #27.
Second Life Project Animesh Viewer version 5.0.10.330058 – Last updated in week #49.
Second Life Project Render Viewer version 5.1.0.511446 – released week, #50.
Third-Party Viewers
The big news is the Catznip Viewer updated in Beta the 26th and in final version yesterday 1/1. This is a big update. Now version R12.
I’ll be downloading it later and will post after I get to use it for a bit. However, Inara has a good review of the release and changes: CATZNIP R12: INVENTORY, SHOPPING AND MORE. She put some effort into the review. Check it out. You’ll get the keyboard shortcuts to get to the fun stuff.
I’ll download it and post my take later today.
Black Dragon has a New Year release, version 2.9.6. This is a bug fix release.
Christmas is sort of over. We are on to the post-Christmas battery buying days and OMG, why-did-they-think-I-would-wear-this returns…
Second Life is in a ‘No Change’ window. Many Lindens are off work this week. So, there is little news. There is however a Friday post from the Lindens in Featured News: Unboxing 2017 and Looking towards 2018 in Second Life! Worth a read.
without thinking of anything
Other than saying they will make Second Life™ better in 2018, they don’t say much about what is coming. If you have been reading here you know of some things.
I used to do reviews of the events of of the year. It is a bunch of work. So, Inara is doing her year-in-review: 2017 IN REVIEW – PART 1. I’ll leave that work to her. I am thinking of doing a review in video… If it proves fun, you’ll see it. If it turns into work, I’ll probably abandon the project.
