Curiosity remains at Rocknest, carrying out further soil sampling operations.
With a sample delivered to the observation tray and then to CheMin on Sol 71, sample gathering resumed on Sol 74 (October 24th) with a fourth scoop of the sand-like material being gathered and examined via camera in preparation for it being delivered into the CHIMRA processing system for further cleaning operations.
The sample was transferred into CHIMRA, which is mounted on the robot arm of the rover (the sample scoop itself forming a part of the overall CHIMRA mechanism) on Sol 75 (October 21st). Further cleaning of the CHIMRA sieves and filters is required to ready them for the delivery of samples to the highly sensitive SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars) system aboard the rover itself. Because SAM is so very sensitive, it was determined to go ahead with further planned cleaning cycles despite visual examination of the scoop and the visible part of the CHIMRA inlet revealing them to be well coated in Martian material.
At the same time as sample gathering was underway, Curiosity continued to monitor its environment with the Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD), Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS – the rover’s weather station) and Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons (DAN) instruments of its science payload.
The laser system on ChemCam was also used to zap the soil around the rover for analysis by ChemCam’s own spectrometer. One target in particular, dubbed “Crestaurum”, was struck 30 times by the laser on Sol 74, resulting in a dark pit some 3 mm (roughly an eighth of an inch) across being created in the target location, 2.7 metres (8 feet) away from the laser at the top of the rover’s mast. The shots themselves brought the total number of laser firings in the mission so far to a staggering 10,000.
Zapping the surface in this way vaporizes the material hit by the laser, allowing the ChemCam telescope system to images of the resultant plasma which can be fed via fibre-optics to ChemCam’s own spectrometer. Working in tandem with both the Chemistry and Minerology (CheMin) and SAM systems, which analyse surface samples directly, ChemCam provides a far broader range of data on soil composition, etc., for return to Earth than has previously been possible with rover missions.
Pew! Pew! Pew! ChemCam zaps the Martian sand at Rocknest. Before and after images capture by ChemCam’s Remote imager, showing the target area prior to being hit 30 times by the ChemCam laser, and the cratered result
Rather than discarding the fourth scoop sample following cleaning operations within CHIMRA, the sample was used for two further activities.
In the first, on Sol 77, around 20 grams of the material was delivered to CheMin for analysis, making it the second sample of surface material delivered to that system.
In the second, on Sol 78 and after CheMin had completed initial analysis of its new sample, a further measure of the material was delivered to Curiosity’s on-board observation tray for visual analysis.
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This summary is published every Monday and is a list of SL viewer / client releases (official and TPV) made during the previous week. When reading it, please note:
It is based on my Viewer Round-up Page, a list of all Second Life viewers and clients that are in popular use (and of which I am aware) and which are recognised as adhering to the TPV Policy
By its nature, this summary will always be in arrears
The Viewer Round-up Page is updated as soon as I’m aware of any releases / changes to viewers & clients, and should be referred to for more up-to-date information as the week progresses
The Viewer Round-up Page also includes comprehensive links to download pages, blog notes, release notes, etc., as well as links to any / all reviews of specific viewers / clients made within this blog.
Updates for the week ending: 28 October, 2012
SL Viewer updates:
Beta version rolled to 3.4.1.266073, October 21, and then to 3.4.1.266251 on October 24 (release notes)
Development version rolled to 3.4.2.266255 on October 25
Catznip rolled to R7 on October 23 – core updates: Mini-map improvements, Appearance floater updates and improvements; improved inventory floater and tools; right-click rigged mesh detach; Remove Folder option in context menu; Legacy Search Places re-introduced; temporary and permanent object blocking; Build tool updates; Chat and Group enhancements; Preferences updates
Dolphin released version 3.3.23.24802 on October 27 – core updates: “Restore to last in-world position” re-implemented for objects; “Previous Owner” display in the edit floater ported from Firestorm; The shape editor floater now reports the correct avatar height; log-in panel on splash screen visually cleaned-up
Kokua Beta released 3.4.1.0 October 24 – although reports at 3.4.0.7765 in HELP->ABOUT
Niran’s viewer rolled to 2.0.2185 on October 24 – core updates: updates to top windlight toolbar buttons and to new Preferences overlay; additional button options; minor rendering updates
Zen rolled through 3.4.2.0 on October 22 to 3.4.2.1 on October 23 – core updates (both): Implemented OpenAL and GStreamer Plugins; removal of FMOD libraries & code; fixed and exposed “Email Me IMs” and “Enable Plain Text” Chat Preference Panel booleans; RenderAnimateTrees reintroduced via Debug Menu; missing DLL files added (release notes)
Cool VL updates:
Stable branch rolled to 1.26.4.36 on October 26 – core updates: The new target omega code enabled by default; added script editor support for new LSL functions and constants updated per the latest LeTigre RC channel deploy; assorted fixes and clean-ups
Experimental branch rolled to 1.26.5.16 also on October 26 – core updates as per main release, plus: implemented latest mesh deformer code; lowered the max number of simultaneous connections to 12 for new HTTP code; fixed a “blurry texture bug” resulting from implementing the HTTP core based texture fetcher
Libretto – removed from round-up page due to website being unavailable for a month and no response from creator on status (also removed from the SL Third-party Viewer Directory)
Rati dAlliez is a Homestead region operated as a part of dAlliez Estates. It is home to Wizardhat Studios and the creation of Karencreek Melson and WizardHat Mornington. It is open to the public for visits, and offers plenty to see and do, from dancing with a partner, through admiring the work of the artists, to taking a trip out in a small sailboat.
Wizardhat Studios
It is a region which has both atmosphere and whimsy, mixing reality with a dose of fantasy. There is no windlight preset on the estate, but given the design, complete with a storm threatening, I felt that the Fine Day windlight preset helped give the region an additional depth, with deep blue skies which (to me) blended more smoothly with the offshore storm to the north than the default SL blue sky. Which is not to say other presets don’t also work.
Wizardhat Studios
Sweeping vistas of sky, land, and ocean together as one. Tranquility reigns over a land of dreams. Wander, dance, sooth the eye and soul, magic happens here. A living painting and a work of art where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
So states the Destination Guide write-up for the region, and truth be told, Rati dAlliez is a living painting, one which encourages your participation, whether it be wandering through the flowers, dancing across a meadow or in a floating tower, swinging under the boughs of a tree or sunning yourself with the polar bears enjoying the beach – themselves very much the mark of an artist’s touch of humour.
Wizardhat Studio
It’s a place I’ve been spending a bit of time at of late, sitting and pondering on matters such as the question of my premium membership, as well as on Second Life and my place within it as a whole.
When it comes to thoughts about Second Life, the island might be seen as something of a metaphor when it comes to the bleaker outlook some ascribe to SL’s future (and which I do sometimes feel myself). On the one hand, we have the wonderful build of the island itself, yet looming on the horizon are roiling storm cloud split by lightning, almost personifying the issues SL does face is terms of falling region numbers, high tier, retention issues, all of which present a potentially stormy future for the platform.
The calm before the storm?
Yet walk just a short distance across the island, and it all does become much brighter and calmer, and a reminder that Second Life has weathered many a storm without the sky falling in completely; and while it cannot be denied that some things will have to change over time, all is not yet lost.
I love the eclectic mix of expression the region offers, from the storm-crowded horizon to the north through the mountains to the east and south-east to the little habour itself, nestled between the two tall towers. It is a place where thoughts do come easy, whether high in the mountains or lying on a hammock.
Wizardhat Studios
Of the two towers on the coast, one offers places for couples to enjoy a dance. The climb to the top might require a little patience as the ramp is a little tight, but the seat and the top offers coupled the opportunity to just sit and chat or enjoy the view. The second, slightly larger tower (castle?) forms a studio for Wizardhat Mornington’s artwork as well as also offering places to sit or to dance with a friend or loved one.
Wizardhat Studios
This is perhaps the beauty of Rati dAlliez; whether you want to enjoy a little romance, have a little fun exploring, share a swing with a friend or just sit and contemplate the world (or worlds), there is something here which is likely to appeal. If you visit, you may well bump into one of the Wizardhat Studios group members; if so, don’t forget to say hello; they may not all be as they seem, but messages do reach the right people!
And if you find me sitting atop a mountain and I don’t reply to your call; it’s not because I’m ignoring you, it’s probably because I’m wrapped in thoughts I can’t always articulate very well on these pages.
The end of October marks a year since I returned to Premium membership. For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been mulling over whether to renew again or not.
My reasons for re-upping to premium came about as a result of a renewed optimism about SL, particularly following last year’s SLCC-2011. A lot has happened since then.
It is fair to say that, particularly of late, there are elements of my premium package I’ve come to appreciate. I’m spending far more time in my Linden Home now than I am at my “main” home. Even with just 117 prims, the Tahoe offers comfortable and flexible living space. Shop right, and it can easily be furnished for a very modest prim count.
Linden Home, modified and furnished for 19 prims, including loft conversion and scripted lighting
Yes, the build quality is very 2007, it may even be cookie cutter (although im my opinion a lot less cookie cutter than other Linden Home offerings) but the fact is that it works. The real art in getting a good Linden Home is picking the model you want carefully (including going and seeing them in-world) and being prepared to hop around with multiple applications (bearing in mind the 5-in-24-hours rule) until you find a location you like. In this I was lucky. I hit the bullseye first time.
I’ve also only recently discovered the full freedom of sailing due to one of the premium gifts.
Enjoying my time sailing aboard “Exotix”
I have a new appreciation for places like Blake Sea and the ability to sail around coastlines and across water from continent to continent. All this is to the good; but there is still a problem. When all is said and done, premium membership really only has strength of appeal to incoming users to SL and / or those who have yet to establish themselves. For anyone who has been here a while, particularly if they’ve invested in a decently sized parcel of land on a private island, the benefits of upping to premium are perhaps harder to quantify.
One can actually understand why LL bias the premium offerings towards newer users. Getting people to pay for something they can otherwise a enjoy “for free” and be as much a contributing member of the economy as anyone else, is a tough nut to crack. So to make the package more attractive, LL aim for enticements which will encourage those signing-up to opt for premium directly. My only real objection to them doing this, as I’ve covered elsewhere, is the elastic nature of some of the descriptions of the premium benefits. More privacy? More land? A personal and private home? These are all things anyone can enjoy regardless of account. Sure, the last one costs – but it will even with premium if you want something bigger, prim-wise than a Linden Home.
Premium membership benefits, as defined by Linden Lab
After my recent outings by boat to the Blake Sea and further afield to Second Norway, I became intrigued by the idea of aviation in SL.
Now, truth be told, I have owned an SL helicopter (rarely used) and I did recently pick up the wonderful Lepidoptera (which I still think is pretty amazing), and I love to occasionally zap around on my little Neuspa. However, I’ve never really tried my hand at piloting an aeroplane in SL (much to my shame, given my father actually does fly RL, and has had me at the controls of his ‘plane).
So, spurred on by the number of aircraft flying around Blake Sea, I decided to give things a go. Again, I’ll be honest here. I wasn’t sure how I’d take to things, so I too a cautious approach, and perused the SL Marketplace, visited a few in-world stores and saw what was available. I didn’t want anything “high performance”; I just wanted something to enjoy, and perhaps share with a friend or two. While I did find a couple of attractive light aircraft, I decided that, initially, I’d wet my feet (so to speak) with a couple of freebie offerings, and then if I liked things, would up the stakes from there.
I ended up getting two aircraft: a Terra Stingray and the Pitts S2C – and the proved to be very, very different in handling!
The Stingray is from Steve “Cubey” Cavers of Abbot’s Aerodrome fame. He’s actually single-handedly responsible for getting me into SL skydiving waaay back in 2007, and which I still enjoy today; Ziki Questi and I were going to try to do a “Felix” and make an almighty freefall jump in SL… but I digress.
The Terra Stingray
The Stingray is a jet aircraft with land and sea capabilities. It comes packed with features, including colour and decal changing, a flight HUD, menu system, and – in typical SL fashion – also coverts itself into a speedboat or submarine!
I started my flight in the Stingray from Ey Ren’s awesome new airport at Second Norway. This in itself is a magnificent build making prime use of the available space (departure area, complete with signage, check-in desks, security, etc., all neatly tucked under the runways, taxiways and airport apron).
Dawn take-off: awaiting ATC clearance to turn out onto runway 09L, Second Norway airport
Flying the Stingray is a pleasure. Simply attach the HUD, rez the plane (it’ll sense whether it is on land or water and either deploy the landing gear or not) and climb in. The throttle is controlled via PAGE UP / PAGE DOWN, and the HUD provides your fuel and throttle settings, among other necessary data. Pitch and turn are controlled via the arrow keys.
Ready to roll: opening the throttles
The Stingray is beautifully responsive, and I really enjoyed flying it. Once airborne I could raise the gear and just enjoy myself. Water landings were a simple affair: come down to around 20m, retarding your throttles back to about 40% along the way, then ease back gently, hold the nose steady and gently pitch the nose up before touching the water. Once your speed is down low enough (10%-ish), retract the wings and cruise boat-like to the pier / ramp.
Landing on a runway was equally easy, and helped with the visual references from the VASI lights.
The Pitts S2C is by Michie Yoksuka is an altogether different plane. It comes in three variants: the Mk1 (which is a tad blocky) and the updated Mark 2 with either wheels or floats. There’s no HUD and climbing into the Pitts starts the engine, otherwise controls are pretty much as for the Stingray. As I was flying over Blake Sea, I opted for the seaplane version and started my journey from Half Hitch. The build is a little blockier than the Stingray, but it does capture the essence of the Pitts very nicely.
Me and my Pitts S2B
Like its namesake, the Pitts S2C is fast and very friskly. The RL Pitts is designed for aerobatics, and in no time at all, I was barrel-rolling with wing tips just clearing the waves, and pulling impressive climbs which should have resulted in some pretty hard stall turns….
I wasn’t actually intending to do either, but as I said, the Pitts 2B is very frisky!
I opted to fly the Pitts from Half Hitch, out in the middle of Blake Sea. I’m glad I did as I encountered an unexpected visitor sailing through….
Yikes! Who put that there?! It can’t possibly be….…it is!
One thing with flying a plane which did take some getting used to was the speed – particularly in the Pitts, where I was zipping through regions at a stunning rate at times. The Stingray was slightly more sedate, especially when eased back on the throttle, and as a result tended to handle region crossings with more panache – several times in the Pitts I ended up being booted to 0,0,0, and sometimes I could TP home, other times I simply crashed. That said, there were a couple of times in the Stingray when a region crossing left my camera wedged in the engine air intake behind the cockpit…
Flying high: the Pitts S2B is a frisky little plane
Of the two aircraft I used, I have to say the Stingray perhaps offered the better experience for me as novice. The controls felt smoother and left me feeling more in control. The Pitts tended to respond to everything so fast, I was wibbling about all over the sky (and probably scaring the pants of those sailing by below me at times). But again, that’s perhaps how it should be: learning to fly in a racy plane like the Pitts isn’t perhaps the brightest way to go about things… I also have to confess I like the fact that the Stingray can also turn itself into a natty speedboat.
From plane to boat: Stingray shows its versatility
As to flying in SL, I have mixed feelings. It’s a great way to get to see more of the major areas of Second Life – particularly if you can up your draw distance a little to see beyond the next region as you fly. Landing a plane in SL isn’t always easy – it’s hard to make a good approach without making at least one region crossing, and this did throw me the first few times.
Region crossings are, inevitably problematic, and I did find myself getting frustrated when I wound-up at 0,0,0 on a number of occasions, as mentioned. Certainly, the problem hasn’t put me off flying in SL, so I’ll doubtless be back for more – and I still have my eye on one light aircraft on sale both on the Marketplace and in-world in particular.
The organisers of BURN2 have announced the event is to be extended a further week. The PR notice announcing this reads:
BURN2 2012 Extended For More Fun! Virtual festival extended by one week
In an unprecedented move, BURN2 — the only regional Burning Man festival held within a virtual world — has been extended by an additional week! This will allow even more people to visit the event, enjoy the art and have fun on the virtual playa.
While the second week will not have the extensive organized performance schedules of the first, all camps are welcome to host their own events, and are welcome to remain open and active through the 4th of November. Center camp and Osiris stages will be open for performers on a first-come, first-serve basis.
There may be additional, Hallowe’en themed events at BURN2 on the 31st of October.
Thank you all again for making this the most fun, most memorable BURN ever!
Burn Schedule Revised
As a result of this, the burning of the Man and the Temple have been pushed back a week and will now take place as follows:
Burning the Man: Saturday, November 3rd at 04:00, 12:00 noon and 20:00 SLT
Burning the Temple: Sunday, November 4th at: 04:00, 12:00 noon and 20:00 SLT
Curiosity remains at Rocknest, carrying out further soil sampling operations.
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 