Bits and Pieces 2014-31

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Servers

Maestro Linden is on vacation. Caleb Linden is handling the Server Beta meeting and Oz and Simon Linen were there. No new information on what server updates may be in the works. As all regions are running the same server package, the main channel is unlikely to get any updates and there may be no Tuesday restart.

DryLand - 2014 July - BD, Before the Dry
DryLand – 2014 July – BD, Before the Dry

The RC channels may get a restart and new package, but if they do we currently have no idea what that update may be. My guess is there will be no rollout/restart of the RC channels in week 32. 

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Second Life News 2014-31 #2

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Viewers

Brains and Beauty - Whirly @ Server Scripting 2014-31
Brains and Beauty – Whirly @ Server Scripting 2014-31

The Zip RC Viewer came back Wednesday. This is the fast install viewer. The release notes say there is a fix for the XUI Preview Tool… I think that fix has something to do with previewing user interface changes. It also got all the updates now in the main SL Viewer 3.7.12.

Experience Tools

For the everyday SL user there isn’t much news here. The testing in Beta is progressing. The Lindens are deciding if they need more testing or will move toward ‘experience users’ testing. Currently they are working with experience creators. The Cornfield Experience is a test with the experience users.

The next stage of Beta testing will turn users loose on user created experiences. If there are any serious problems they should turn up during that stage of testing.

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Bits and Pieces Catch Up

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Poll

JuicyBomb has a poll running on whether you wear a mesh body; never, some of the time, always. Check it out and vote: POLL: MESH BODY.

I’m thinking about getting one. I have the Slink demo. My thinking is there are not enough clothes yet. So, may be latter.

Dolphin Viewer

There is a beta release of the Dolphin Viewer out. The viewer still does not catch up with the SL Viewer, notably lacking the SL Share features. But, how often do you use that feature?

See the announcement: Finally! The first public beta of the new Dolphin Viewer 3!

Lindens

This picture turned up on Twitter.

The Lindens - 2014 from Ebbe Altberg Twitter Images
The Lindens – 2014 from Ebbe Altberg Twitter Images

Facebook

Strawberry Singh has an article that links to some Second Life Facebook pages I hadn’t seen. See: A Second Life on Facebook. 

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Second Life News 2014-31

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Servers

The main channel gets a rollout Tuesday. It will get the maintenance release that has been running on all three RC channels. This release has a fix for some temporary attachment problems and adds the ‘description’ field to L$ transactions.

Moma Chan's - 2014
Moma Chan’s – 2014

RC Channels

This week there are no new packages coming out. All regions will be running the same server software this week. In this case the RC channels do not need to roll, so no rolls in RC land this week. 

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Oculus Rift DK2

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The DK2 (Developer’s Kit) is shipping and people are making videos of their experience with it. The increased resolution has them excited, as if it were possible to create more excitement than the DK1 did.

[youtube TdkVkKsAqOM]

The motion tracking is impressing. Being able to move forward and backward, leaning rather than moving, is apparently an impressive change adding to the sense of presence. Technolust is a virtual world/game demo that is revealing the color and presence that the OR delivers.

All is not perfect with the DK2. The motion tracking camera has limits and it is reported that when you reach the end of its field of vision the motion tracking stops, which reviewers found disconcerting.

There are still some visual artifacts and motion blurring here and there. But, the DK2 seems to be a big step forward.

Road to VR has numerous links to different ‘un-boxing’ videos and initial tests and reviews.