Month: September 2015

Second Life project updates 38/1: server, viewer

Posted on by Inara Pey

Pandora's box of Dreams; Inara Pey, September 2015, on FlickrPandora’s Box of Dreams September 2015 – blog post

Server Deployments, Week 38

As always, please refer to the server deployment thread for the latest updates.

On Tuesday, September 15th, the Main (SLS) channel was updated with the server maintenance package previously deployed to the three RC channels, comprising internal simulator fixes and a fix for BUG-9504 “Clicking on any object that affects the navmesh while in Mouselook dirties the navmesh”.

On Wednesday, September 16th, the RC channels were updated as follows as noted below.

Magnum and LeTigre

Magnum and LeTigre received a server maintenance package providing llGetAttachedList(), which returns a list of all visible attachments worn by an avatar in the same region (i.e. it does not currently include details of any HUDs)  as per feature requests BUG-9683. The wiki page for the function is still appears to be in preparation. Also completes feature request and BUG-9891.

Commenting on data relating to HUDs during the Simulator User Group meeting on Tuesday, September 15th, Simon Linden said, “I’m likely to change that a bit in the future to maybe allow some restricted access to HUD info, so you can get info on those too, but I need to figure out the right restrictions so it doesn’t become a privacy issue … I’m concerned about it as a  privacy thing, like I give you something, you rez it, and it sends me an IM listing all your HUDs.”

BlueSteel

The BlueSteel RC received a further roll of the server maintenance package containing internal simulator fixes to improve inventory performance. These updates had previously been deployed in weeks #36 and #37, only to be rolled back due to various issues (e.g. the “zombie eyes” situation and problems with note cards and scripts as reported in BUG-10183).

SL Viewer

On Wednesday, September 16th, the Quick Graphics project viewer updated to version 3.8.4.305063, with further tweaks to the Avatar Complexity elements. On Thursday, September 17th, the mesh importer viewer RC updated to version 3.8.4.305119.

It appears that the obsolete viewer supplied for users on XP and OS X 10.6 or earlier (version 3.7.28.300847) , may cease working with anything involving monetary transactions (e.g. the Marketplace, buying L$ through the viewer, etc.), possibly by the end of the year. This appears to be the result of compliance reasons preventing the Lab from continuing to provide that backward compatibility.

llGetEnv

During the Simulator User Group meeting, Simon threw out a question and comment relating to llGetEnv:

How useful would some new items for llGetEnv() be about simulator health? … I can imagine wanting to know both temp and normal rez counts, maybe for a specific item too – like if there are 10 projectiles already waiting.

He requested a feature request be filed on the matter, which was duly filed by Lucia Nightfire – see BUG-10263, and simon requested the people add their thoughts / ideas, noting that, “simplest ones are most likely to get attention and stand a chance of getting done.” If adding to the feature request, remember to specify how any additional data requested will help improve the SL experience for those using the function.

 

Kerupa Flow Unveiled in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
The Portraits of Kerupa Flow Unveiled
The Portraits of Kerupa Flow Unveiled

On display at Tabula Rasta’s Gallery 24 is some of work by Kerupa Flow. Entitled The Portraits of Kerupa Flow Unveiled, it presents a series of the artist’s real life portraiture brought into Second Life and offered as a cosy exhibition curated by Kayly Igali.

“I am a Japanese artist.  The art you see here was made on a computer, using a pen tablet,” Kerupa says of her work. “SL allows me to display my art in its purest form.  Digital data is revealed via graphic pixels.  SL helps make my art come alive, makes it real, more even than in 1st life, because to show it there I would have to transform it, by printout or posting on the web.  Here I can upload and it is a real life experience inside SL.  I find that so exciting!”

The Portraits of Kerupa Flow Unveiled
The Portraits of Kerupa Flow Unveiled

The result is a collection of largely black-and white drawings and images spread across the front floors of the gallery. Most of them stand-alone, but within which sits a fascinating examination of the artist’s creative process at work. It commences with a simple androgynous portrait, dated July 2007, which progresses through to a finished” image – only for Kerupa to later return to it and continue working with it. You can see the study in brief in the image at the top of this piece – but an up-close look is recommended.

What makes this set of images particularly interesting, is that the artist presents a series of comments alongside the pictures. These not only serve to illustrate how the image developed over the passage of time, but also offers insight into Kerupa’s evolving relationship with the individual within it, the latter’s expression and the emotions it conveys serving to influence Kerupa’s own responses with each iteration of the work.  The result is a lovely narrative  leading from initial sketch to a final painting.

The Portraits of Kerupa Flow Unveiled
The Portraits of Kerupa Flow Unveiled

As noted, this is a small, but fascinating display of an artist’s work – and one I thoroughly enjoyed visiting. My only regret is that I missed the opportunity to hear the artist talk about her work on September 14th.

SLurl Details

Lab Advises: update your Second Life payment info

Posted on by Inara Pey

secondlifeOn Wednesday, September 16th, 2015, Linden Lab issued a blog post advising people  who use a credit (or debit) card to make payments directly to Linden Lab, to update their Second Life payment information.

This is due to the company transitioning to a new payment system. The advice is particularly pertinent for any users who have not recently added or updated their payment method as the post notes:

Second Life is transitioning to a new payments processor for credit cards. If you use a credit card for Second Life payments and have not added or updated your billing information since July 7, 2015, we strongly encourage you to re-enter your information to avoid any potential disruption of services. If you use PayPal or Skrill for Second Life payments, no action is needed.

Updating your payment information is relatively simple:

  1. Login to your Second Life account at SecondLife.com.
  2. Click Account and then Billing Information.
  3. Under How You’re Paying, select the payment method of your choice.
  4. If you wish to re-use the same credit card already filed directly with the Lab, you will need to Remove it first, and then re-add the details.
  5. Make sure you also indicate to payments which are to be charged to the card by clicking on the Change option and checking the required check boxes.
To update / re-use card information filed with the Lab, you will need to Remove the existing card details first, add (or re-add, if using the same card) details of your card, and then make sure you select the payment options for which the card is to me used by clicking the Change link and checking the option(s) you wish to use
To re-use existing card information filed with the Lab, you will need to Remove the card details first, and then re-add them. When adding card payment information, make sure you also define the payments which are to be charged to the card through the Change option.

When you have updated your payment information, you should see a banner notice at the top of the Billing Information page telling you this is the case.

As noted in the Lab’s blog post, you may notice a small authorisation charge made against the card you register. This is a common means of authenticating billing information, and the charge will be reversed / cancelled by you bank of credit card issuer, so the money is refunded to you.

It is not clear exactly when the transition to the new payment system will take place / be completed (or indeed, if it has already been completed). However, if you do have a credit / debit card registered with the Lab which you have not recently updated, it would be best to do so sooner rather than later to avoid any possible hiccups with payments.

Related Links

Halloween photo call to help promote Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey

secondlifeLinden Lab has launched a photo call in the run-up to the Halloween season in October, and it is one with a slight twist. rather than offering cash prizes, selected entries could be used to help promote Second Life Halloween activities, etc. to residents via e-mails and banner ad campaigns, and perhaps even social media.

The photo call announcement reads in part:

Do you like to dress your avatar up in costumes – travel the haunted spots all over Second Life, and generally run amok during this time of year? Why not show off your fun with images?

Share your pic on our Official Flickr Page with the tag “SLHalloween2015” so that we can see all of your amazing works. You may submit as many as you like between now and September 28th, 2015.

We’ll showcase the chosen image(s) in an email to Residents, as well as in some banner campaigns. We’ll let the chosen image creators know via Flickr and ask for an avatar name for the credits.

An example of the use to which images submitted in the 2015 Halloween photo call might be put (image courtesy of Linden Lab)
An example of the use to which images submitted in the 2015 Halloween photo call might be put (image courtesy of Linden Lab)

There are obviously some basic requirements for entries to be considered – they should be appropriate for audiences of all age ranges; they should be taken in-world and free from additional text and logos, for example. The Lab also suggests taking a picture that tells a story might help make an impression.

This isn’t a contest per se, and shouldn’t be taken as such. It is, however, an opportunity for users to get into the Halloween spirit and perhaps have their avatars immortalised n a Second Life campaign.  Those wishing to take part should, as the announcement notes, simply submit their images with the SLHalloween2015 tag to the official Second Life Flickr group.

So – happy snapping!

A Pandora’s Box of autumnal dreams in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey

Pandora's box of Dreams; Inara Pey, September 2015, on FlickrPandora Box of Dreams September 2015 (Flickr)

Note: this vision of Pandora Box of Dreams has closed.

Lokhe Angel Verlack (Jackson Verlack) has opened the latest in his Dreams series at Pandora Box of Dreams. I’ve been following the progression of his builds since I came across the second iteration back in April 2015 (although I admit missing the opportunity to blog the iteration immediately prior to this one after my visit).

For this, the fifth Dreams iteration, Lokhe has opted to again reflect the season, and is given us a distinctly autumnal environment in which to wander, sit, contemplate, and dream. And it is an absolute delight.

Pandora's box of Dreams; Inara Pey, September 2015, on FlickrPandora Box of Dreams September 2015 (Flickr)

Subtitled Dreams of Secrets, it offers visitors the familiar starting point, up in a skybox which gives a small flavour of what is to come as you sand in a small walled garden, the leaves of the birch tress a rich gold, and a footpath leading to a door in the wall. Touch this, and you’ll be transported the to ground.

Now the first thing to note here is do please have local sounds enabled; the sound scape is as rich as the landscape, and offers additional depth when exploring. Also, have a play with the windlights;  I used [NB] – Misty Day – 5pm for the images here, but the region really does lend itself to a wide range of options  and times of day.

Pandora's box of Dreams; Inara Pey, September 2015, on FlickrPandora Box of Dreams September 2015 (Flickr)

The grassy path continues from the door, and following it, you’ll wind through more laced with the colours of autumn, and come to a flight of stone steps leading downwards to a dirt track which you can follow – or you can branch off, climb more steps and just wander under the trees and through the long grass.

Whichever route you take, you’ll find much to please the eye: leafy groves, coastal views, the odd building or two, quiet streams and brooks crossed by little wooden bridges, and plenty of places to simply sit and ponder or spend time with a companion.

Pandora's box of Dreams; Inara Pey, September 2015, on FlickrPandora Box of Dreams September 2015 (Flickr)

This is another fabulous build in a series that has proven to be eye-catching and immersive with each iteration, and quite possibly the one I’ve enjoyed the most so far. Highly recommended.

“Created Reality”- possible contender for Project Sansar’s name?

Posted on by Inara Pey
Is Porject Sansar to be called Created Reality?
Is there a Link between Project Sansar and “Created Reality”?

Ciaran Laval and I have been using Twitter to further ponder a domain registration in the name of “createdreality.com”. It was originally taken out in June 2013, which under the usual two-year registration policy means it possibly expired around June 3rd, 2015. However, on July 9th, 2015, it was renewed through Ascio Technologies, the company used to register the projectsansar.com domain.

The domain registration renewal followed a trademark registration submitted to the USPTO by the Lab for the name “Created Reality”. This occurred on May 22nd and is summarised here.

The timing of both is possibly interesting, given the domain name had been allowed to lapse (although this could simply have been admin oversight), and the trademark filing came 2 weeks after Lab had confirmed “Project Sansar” to be the new platform’s code-name, thus ruling out “Created Reality” as simply being an alternative code-name for the platform.

The domain createdreality.com was registered through the same servie used to register the projectsansar.com domain
The domain createdreality.com was registered through the same service used to register the projectsansar.com domain

The trademark application also contains pretty much the same descriptive wording as used within the “Project Sansar” and “Sansar” filings made in April 2015.

So, does this mean “Created Reality” is the new name for the Lab’s Next Generation platform? Well, maybe – but maybe not.

On the one hand, it is interesting that the Trademark filing came after the code-name for the platform had been decided. However, this isn’t necessarily indicative of anything; the Lab could simply be covering the bases as they consider various names for the new platform.

More to the point, while the name “Created Reality” may doubtless describe the platform’s function in presenting spaces where people can create their own virtual realities, it does actually read rather, well, bland.

The createdreality.com domain administrator: Linden Research (Linden Lab)
The createdreality.com domain administrator: Linden Research (Linden Lab)

Countering this, however, is the idea that the new platform is apparently geared towards being a “white label” service in which in which creators can build their own branded spaces, and then promote  / market them directly to their potential audience, complete with sign-up portal, etc.

As such, the users of the environments created on the platform are perhaps more likely to know the environments by their various names, rather than collectively by the name of the platform on which they run. Thus, the platform’s name might be less front-and-centre than is the case with something like Second Life. Although that said, I’d personally like to see something a little more dynamic by which to know the platform.

Right now, the Lab is saying little on the subject of “Sansar” or “Created Reality”, with Peter Gray only informing me that the platform’s name is still “being determined”.

However, if we place the “Created Reality” trademark alongside the one for “Sansar”  – the latter being quite distinct from the trademark filed for “Project Sansar” – it would seem we have a couple of the names the Lab have been ruminating on for the platform’s eventual title. Could there be more lurking out there in the form of trademarks and / or domain names?