It looks like the Lab is going to do consistent monthly news updates. This month we got a new update Monday as to what is happening in Second Life. August UpdateIf you regularly read this blog, you’ll probably find you know most of the things announced in the blog post. But, there are some things I did not know about, so you won’t have found out about them here.
The New Splash Screen
Splash Page
I think everyone is now seeing the new Second Life Splash page. This is the one a wrote about: New Login Screen Arrives a few days ago.
Some choices are not what I would consider social networks, but that is just me. I suppose I can see how Flickr might be a social network. I just never thought of it that way.
With 16 votes Twitter is leading… we need more votes to get an idea of where SL Residents hang out.
Tateru in a post on Dwell On It tells about the Meeroos account being blocked. This is the fulfillment account used for all the Meeroos orders in Second Life. So, for now the provider of Meeroos is screwed. Seems this was an enforcement goof. Similar Meeroos account names were being opened by those hoping to scam … Read more
If you think Google was a problem for you with its pseudonyms policy you have no idea what is in store for you. HR 1981 is in process in the US House of Representatives. This will require ISP’s to log all activity on their networks and retain it for 18 months along with all the … Read more
2ndhub is another social network. The network is geared toward Second Life users. How much RL information one uses with 2ndhub is up to you. So, if you are into keeping you RL and SL separate, 2ndhub is catering to you.
I am unhappy with Facebook. I have an account for my avatar and wonder how long it will last.
2ndhub Social Site for Second Life
I still like a couple of games on Facebook, but those are wearing thin now. I play only once per day now and have given up on Frontierville (too many ads in my face) and mostly given up on My Vineyard (same reason). Backyard Monsters is becoming more and more of a grind. Backyard does have a constant flow of new stuff to play with. But, it is a laggy game and doesn’t always work. I think it depends on the time of day…
Google+ is very nice and I love the state-of-the-art interface. But, because of their confused stance on pseudonyms and my use of Google Web Master Tools I canceled my Google+ account.
User Interface
2ndhub has a Facebook style interface. There are no new user interface features. So, use of the service via smart phone is likely tedious. Use via a desktop or laptop is clunky. The interface is cluttered. Everything is a drop down list or simple hyper link. Menus are standard link with a drop down.
Pixeleen Mistral, a Second Life avatar, was recently suspended by Google+. She posted an article in Alphaville Herald, Google+ Suspends Pixeleen Mistral – Nerfs Data Liberation Front. This article should give all Google users pause. Pixeleen was blocked from Google+ and Gmail.
Another Suspension and Gmail Block
I think we all know Facebook and Google are in business and a prime source of their income is marketing data with an emphasis on your personal data. What many have not thought of is their personal data, i.e., contact lists and other information you personally create. Pixeleen is pointing out that being blocked in Google+ can cut you off from your data. You won’t be able to access it or download it. I don’t mean ONLY your Google+ data. I mean all of it in any of the Google Services.
