The Lab have been re-working their own new user experience with new Social Islands – but there is also the new Community Gateway programme – and I’d like to offer more reports on what groups and communities involved in it are doing
As some residents are aware, Linden Lab has been working on a new pilot programme for Community Gateways – see my original article from September 2015 for background on this, and I’ve reported on some of the issues which have delayed a formal announcement of the programme.
In doing so, I have reported on the work of the Firestorm team with their Gateway, and in October 2015, I offered to report on the efforts of other groups and communities involved in the programme. However, as that call was buried at the foot of an article, it may not have been seen, so I’d like to repeat it here, and ask that people spread the word.
I’ve been covering the Firestorm Gateway since my original article on the new Gateway Programme previously covered the Firestorm Community Gateway, and continue to do so – why not yours as well?
If you are a part of a group, or know of a group actively engaged in running a community gateway which would like to gain further promotion to Second Life residents about what you’re doing, your thoughts on the programme, how you’ve approached things, and so on, please get in contact with me, I’d be happy to cover your work.
You can do so via IM or (preferably) note card in-world, or via the Contact Form on this blog. Just include a brief outline of the gateway, its name and location and details of some of the coordinators behind it (if you’re not one yourself), together with preferred contact details, and I will get back to you.
The BURN2 team have announced the dates and theme for the 2016 BURN2 Conception event – and with them comes an invitation for builders to get involved.
Conception this year will take place on the weekend of Saturday, July 2nd and Sunday July 3rd, with the theme All The Fun of the Fair.
Announcing the event, the BURN2 Press Release reads in part:
A long time ago, a world was conceived to let people stay in touch and interact with each other all year round, rather than just at one wonderful place once year. The conception of this place went far beyond the original idea and its framework.
…What better way to celebrate our conception, than to show what we can create for the community at large with all the fun of the fair? Food stands, games, rides, float parades, fireworks, let’s fill the Playa with fun and frivolity!
Those wishing to participate as builders in the event are encouraged to think along the lines of the event theme and consider building one of the following: a large ride or interactive attraction; a sideshow game of skill or chance; a small food stand; a ticket box; a parade float. The organisers note that other ideas fitting the theme might be accepted, but will need to be discussed with them beforehand.
The roller coaster is sure to be a “hot item”!
Be warned, however! Plots are limited and will be awarded on a first come, first serve basis, so it’s better to get your application submitted sooner rather than later! When doing so, do make sure you read the guidelines at the top of the application form; then select your choice of build type and write a description of what you have in mind. The build period is open NOW through until July 1st, so don’t be surprised if you hear back very quickly!
Those who would like to be a greeter at the event can sign-up here, and the organisers note that there may be some performer / performance slots available, so those interested are asked to keep an eye on the BURN2 website for any details.
The Conception entertainment stage being prepared
The PR also contains another opportunity, this one for models and skin designers:
We are issuing an open call for skin designs as well as models. Come and model your own new skin if you like, as well. Your beautiful skin design may be just the one to make someone feel less self-conscious about being bald.
All skins exhibited in the show will be gathered and distributed at this year’s Skin Burn event, so they must be full permissions. Remember this is a gifting event, full of Colour and Design. Go Crazy!
The Skin Burn Fashion show will take place on Sunday July 3rd, 2016 at 16:00 SLT, those wishing to participate should IM Daark Gothly in-world.
Windows is the title of a new exhibition by Italian artist Terrygold, which opens at 13:00 SLT on Monday, June 20th. Located high above the Solo Donna club, home to the Art on Roofs exhibitions (use the teleport board from here to reach the exhibition proper), Windows is another series of Terrygold’s compelling avatar studies, some of which are set within sash window frames, indicating one aspect of the exhibition’s title.
To enjoy the exhibit the most, it is advisable to set your viewer to Ambient Dark (or a similar windlight) on arrival, and also make sure ALM is enabled so you get the full benefit of the projected lights. Instructions on how to do this are provided for Firestorm users at the arrival point, which also contains the first three images in the display.
Once your viewer is set, Step on to the brick path. Bordered on either side by hedges, this takes you past four further nude images of the artist. The two on the left feature her standing behind an open window and on a window ledge; both are intimate portraits, casting the onlooker into the role of photographer or lover. The two images on the right present her standing before part of a much larger set – one which the brick path directs you towards.
Here street lamps light the way to the façade of a gaily painted town house, sitting at the end of a “street” whilst window-fronted boxes hand in the dark sky around and over you as you make your way to the entrance to the house, within which sit 17 further new works.
The Windows theme takes a slight different here; the images are absent any sign of sash windows, being instead transformed into windows in their own right, each one providing us with just a glimpse of a story within it, or framing a moment in time. Throughout all of them is Terrygold’s trademark use of black and white with just a hint of colour – noticeably red – to capture our attention.
The stories offer here are many in form. Some of this images suggest purely artistic nuances, other sway towards the sensual, while some are openly erotic. Tacchi Cherry (literally “Cherry Heels”, seen above, left) is actually quite startling in the charged eroticism it carries; while alongside of it, Orologio (Clock) is equally startling in its layered meaning of our relationship with time – and its mastery over us.
Available to buy, each of the images here is bound to catch your attention, marking this as another superb exhibit by and outstanding photographer. Windows formally opens at 13:00 SLT, as noted above, and will remain open through until Sunday, July 10th. Recommended.
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 Current Viewer Releases 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. This page 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
By its nature, this summary presented here will always be in arrears, please refer to the Current Viewer Release Page for more up-to-date information.
Official LL Viewers
Current Release version: 4.0.5.315117 (dated May 11), May 18th – no change: formerly the Quick Graphics RC viewer download page, release notes
Maintenance RC viewer updated to version 4.0.6.316614 on June 16th – fixes and updates (download and release notes)
Project viewers:
Project VLC Media Plugin Viewer updated to version 4.0.6.316258, on June 15th – replaces the QuickTime media plugin for the Windows version of the viewer with one based on LibVLC (download and release notes)
Cool VL viewer Stable branch updated to version 1.26.18.10 and the Experimental branch updated to version 1.26.19.12, both on June 18th (release notes)
Singularity Windows (32/64-bit) and Linux 64-bit updated to version 1.8.7.6861 on Thursday, June 16 (release notes)
SL13B: The Auditorium by Anthony (ADudeNamed Anthony), with Egyptian sculptures by Garvie Garzo
Second life celebrates its 13th year as an open virtual world on Thursday, June 23rd. To mark the event, Second Life resident will be enjoying a week-long celebration, in the form of the Second Life 13th Birthday (SL13B), which runs from Sunday, June 19th through Sunday June 26th and features a wide range of entertainments and events for people to enjoy.
The seventeen regions are now open, the stages are alive with music. Exhibits from individuals, groups and community from across Second Life are ready for you to see and enjoy, and a host of entertainers will be bringing music and dancing and more to the grand stages spread across the regions, whilst talks and presentations are also to be found.
As always with the birthday celebrations, there really is a lot to see and do across the regions, and the exhibit builds offer a mix of the breath-taking, the sublime, the wonderful, the stunning and the fun.
One of the things I particularly enjoy with each SLB celebration is the imaginative approach taken to the major aspects of the event – the stages, the auditorium, the welcome area, and once again, this year the builds are simply phenomenal. At the heart of the event is – naturally – the four-region Cake Stage in the shape of Miktaki Slade’s familiar design and approach (above). Almost bracketing this to the west and east are the Automaton / Stage Left and the Live Performance stage.
SL13B: Stage Left by Walton F. Wainwright (Faust Steamer)
The Automaton / Stage Left is a truly amazing two-region design (SL13B Stupendous and SL13B Mesmerize) by Walton F. Wainwright (Faust Steamer). You may recognise that name as belonging to the man who designed the SL12B Welcome Area – and you have to see this stage to believe it; it is a mighty design guaranteed to mesmerise you, it is so stupendous in its scale and in the breadth of imagination it encompasses. Stage Left will be hosting the Linden Lab sponsored Music Fest on June 24th through 26th, and it also hosts some secrets for visitors to discover!
The Live Performance stage, by Cube Republic, is located on SL13B Dazzle, and while it may only comprise a single region, it is for me a beautifully attractive and imaginative stage design. The flying turtle-style ship, hovering over the water immediately caused me to recall the tenth anniversary’s amazing giant turtle stage by Flea Bussy and Toady Nakamura, whilst inside the turtle’s shell we get a wonderful echo of Cube’s own design from SL12B and Kazuhiro Aridian’s DJ stage from 2015’s SL12B. The entire sci-fi loo and the use of a local experience to access the stage make this a fabulously imaginative setting.
To the north-west, at SL13B Impressive, sits the Welcome Area, a giant sailing ship by Catboy Qunhua, floats serenely in the sky, close to the top of the towering form of a great lighthouse, and with more ships sitting in its shadow on the waters below. This is the place anyone new to the SLB celebrations should commence their visit. The landing point provides an information pack, whilst down on the main and lower decks are teleport portals and landmark givers to the major points of interest in the celebration regions – the stages, the auditorium, the pod tour centre, etc. Or, if you prefer, you can mark your way down through the lighthouse to ground level and start your explorations by crossing the bridge.
Across to the north-east side of the celebration regions is a park of rolling hills, gently flowing waters and trees of many hues from which rises the mighty Linden Tree, bearing upon its massive trunk the DJ Stage by Zuza Ritt. The stage will be the home of a lot of entertainment through the week, whilst the park below offers many opportunities to escape the bustle of the celebrations without actually leaving the regions, and take time to wander and catch your breath.
And then there is the Auditorium by Anthony (ADudeNamed Anthony) – seen at the top of this article. Another inspiring design sitting at the boundary of two regions – S13B Astound and SL13B Enchant, the Auditorium will be the home of a range of talks throughout the week of festivities, including the Meet the Lindens series every weekend at 15:00 SLT.
Set within formal garden featuring sculptures by Garvie Garzo, the Auditorium is another stunning design, looking out over a reflecting pool to the west, beyond which stands this year’s SLB Time Capsule display. Eastward of the Auditorium is the sepulchral dome of the Grabbers of the Last Freebie, which contains a surprise of its own.
And of course there are the resident-built exhibits in all their many styles and approaches. Some offer art to see and enjoy – and I confess to immediately loving We Began as Wanderers by Krys (Krystali Rabeni), a simple, elegant sculpture which encapsulates the basic truth about all of us who have come – and stayed – in Second Life.
Within these myriad exhibits are things to do, things to try, things to learn, rides to enjoy, experiences to be had – so much so, that all those passing through the SL13B gates during the course of the week will doubtless have their own stories to tell following their explorations. And of course, there is The Big Hunt to encourage people in their explorations as well!
Thursday, June 16th saw the first full release of Singularity in almost two years, with version 1.8.7.6861being offered for download.
As the release notes explain, the delay in updates for the viewer have been due to a number of reasons – not the least of which was the sad passing of Latif Khalifa (to whom this release is dedicated), and also the departure of one of the viewers core developers for pastures new. There have also be various infrastructure and hardware issues which have frustrated attempts at update.
The new release is currently for Windows 32-bit and 64-bit, and Linux 64-bit only, The team hopes to get the Mac version back on track as well, and are currently seeking a Mac developer to help with this.
Given the length of time since the last full release, there have obviously been a lot of changes, including getting back towards parity with many of the Lab’s own updates, as well as singularity’s own bug fixes and the adoption of elements from Alchemy.
As usual, I don’t propose giving an in-depth review of all the changes to the viewer here, but will attempt to highlight some of the more significant.
Lab-derived Changes
Tool Chain Update
Perhaps the most significant change with this release is under-the-hood. Singularity is now built using the latest tools and libraries recommended by Linden Lab. For Windows, this means that with the 1.8.7 release, the viewer no longer supports Windows XP. It also means that when the Mac version of the viewer is updated, Singularity will no longer support anything earlier than OSX 10.7 going forward.
TLS 1.2 Support
Singularity 1.8.7 is TLS 1.2 complaint, meaning you can use the built-in web browser to make LindeX transactions or SL marketplace purchases if you so wish.
Hover Height
The Hover height slider is available via the Quick Prefs panel
The Lab’s Hover Height functionality has been added to the Singularity Quick Pref panel (click the UP arrow button, lower right-hand corner of the viewer window). As per the official Hover Height it works to a range of +/- 2 metres.
Independent of Hover Height, but a little similar in nature and so worth mentioning here is a new /hover command, which is described as “supporting values of -50 through 50”, however, during testing on Aditi, I found that the maximum height by which I was moved was around 5 metres, regardless of anything set above that. I therefore assume the release notes should read “supporting values of -5.0 through 5.0” – although admittedly I’ve not referred this back to the Singularity developers for confirmation.
Other Lab-Driven Updates
Latest inventory protocol (AISv3) support has been merged in to maintain future SL inventory handling compatibility
QtWebkit browser has been replaced with a Chromium variant
The SLVoice plug-in (Vivox) has been updated to parity with the SL viewer
Server-Side Baking (avatar appearance has been updated
Avatar rendering information is now reported to the simulator (although the local complexity limit slider has not been implemented in Preferences > Graphics) so this is not a full Avatar Complexity implementation).
Preferences Updates
Input and Camera
For combat enthusiasts, Preferences > Input and Camera includes two new options:
Display targeted avatar’s name under the crosshair
Display position and avatar health (your own avatar, in damage-enabled regions)
The new Mouselook options in Preferences > Input & Camera
Communication Chat Preferences Updates
Preferences > Communications: you can now select which conference calls to accept / block (Accept all, accept Friends Only, Block all)
Preferences > Adv. Chat > Chat UI allows you to select displaying user names, display name, display name with user names or user names with display names from a drop-down list
Preferences > Adv. Chat > Autoresponse now splits auto response options into separate sub-tabs. Also, autoresponse options can now be selected via the World menu > Status sub-menu
Revised auto response options layout
Adv Chat > Spam includes a new option to block LM offers.
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 