SL Search Update

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You may know that Linden Lab is testing a new search. They have a project viewer and everything now. I’ve tried the new search and I think it is better than what we currently have in SLV2. But, not as good as what there is in SLV1.

I’ve been waiting for Darrius Gothly to post something about this new search on DGP4SL. He is my favorite source for information about search in SL. I’m unsure how objective he may or may not be on the subject. I am guessing he is as feed up and annoyed with SL Search as I am. But, he seems to do lots of testing and experimenting and know what is happening. So, check out:

Yet Another Stab At Second Life In-World Search

 

 

Second Life Translators Dying

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Many if not most Second Live Viewers have automatic language translation features. Those translators depend on Google’s translation services. The viewers use a Google API (Application Programming Interface – basically a protocol for asking a question and getting an answer). Google has announced that as of December 2011 the service will be turned off. (Reference) Google’s translation page will remain. But, the door to the service which SL viewers use will close.

Effective immediately, the service is being ‘throttled’. A limit is set on the number of requests an application can make per day.

Why?

Google sited their reason for closing the API part of their translation service as abuse. It seems it was too popular. As it was a free service the ‘abusive’ load on Google servers was a financial drain.

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New Sculpty Tutorials

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Gaia Clary is updating the sculpty tutorials on Machinimatrix.org. The original tutorials were made using mostly Blender 2.49b. Now that Blender 2.57b is out and in popular use the need for new tutorials is growing. The way things are done in 2.49 and 2.57 are different. So, one can’t transfer a process from one to the other.

The first video tutorial in a series came out June 1. You can see it here: Basics about Sculpted Prims

Blender 2.57 Sculpty Tutorial
New Sculpty Tutorial for Second Life

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Second Life Chat Load Test

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In the forum an irritated resident was asking for an update on chat. I too am frustrated with chat. So many of my group-chats never post. I get an error message. But, looking for an update I see there is a glimmer of hope. There is a chat load test scheduled for June 2 on the ADITI grid for the… new system (?)… or may be just the changed existing text system.

Thursday, the 2nd of June, 2011 @ 4PM PT see: http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/GroupChatTest

The Lab was working on a change over to XMPP Chat. Unfortunately testing revealed that XMPP Chat did not solve the chat problems. The pre-roll out code for XMPP was actually rolled to the main grid some weeks ago. The XMPP Chat code was even added to the KirstenLee Viewer. It was in use on the ADITI grid and looking like it would roll to the main grid. Then went down a black hole with only a slight mention in an office hours meeting that it had not met SL’s needs and chat was being rethought.

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New Trojan: MS Removal Tool

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I’ve been busy the last couple of days fixing client’s computers that have been infected with the latest Trojan. It is the newest in a line of extortion Trojans to infect computers. Yes, this is another Windows Trojan. Read on to learn what it is, how to recognize it, protect your computer and how to remove the MS Removal Tool Trojan.

Extortion Trojans are the ones that tell you how horribly infected your computer is, usually reporting dozens of virus. They then promise to remove them, if you pay some money to buy their software. If you don’t pay, you basically can’t use your computer. The problem is you computer is infected with their Trojan. Paying them is like paying a blackmailer, never ending and ineffective.

MS Removal Tool's Fake Report
MS Removal Tool's Fake Report

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Second Life Mesh Schedule

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Today the Lab released information on the release date for mesh. They gave us very little beyond a time line. But, we do have a time line.

Second Life Mesh Demo Videos

Phased Roll Out

In July some regions on the main grid will see mesh rolled out. Rather than roll mesh to the entire grid, the Lab will only implement it on a few regions. Between then and the end of August more regions will be mesh enabled until all the regions are mesh enabled. Of course, if they find a problem, mesh could be rolled back and the time line for full roll out moved back.

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