Author: Inara Pey

Eclectic virtual world blogger with a focus on Second Life, VR, virtual environments and technology.

2024 week #47: SL CCUG & TPV meeting summaries

Posted on by Inara Pey
Silent Melody, September 2024 – blog post †
The following notes were taken from:

  • My chat log & the live stream video (embedded below) of the Content Creation User Group (CCUG) meeting of Thursday, November 21st, 2024.
  • My chat log and Pantera’s video (embedded towards the end of this article) of the Third Party Viewer Developer’s Meeting (TPVD) of Friday, November 22nd, 2024.
Table of Contents

Please note that:

  • This is not a full transcript, but a summary of key topics.
  • “[Video]” time stamps refers to the CCUG meeting livestream recording;  “[Pantera]” refers to the TPVD meeting video provided by Pantera.

Meeting Purpose

  • The CCUG meeting is for discussion of work related to content creation in Second Life, including current and upcoming LL projects, and encompasses requests or comments from the community, together with related viewer development work. This meeting is held on alternate Thursdays at Hippotropolis.
  • The TPV Developer meeting provides an opportunity for discussion about the development of, and features for, the Second Life viewer, and for Linden Lab viewer developers and third-party viewer (TPV) / open-source code contributors to discuss general viewer development. This meeting is held once a month on a Friday, at 13:00 SLT at the Hippotropolis Theatre.
  • Dates and times of both meetings are recorded in the SL Public Calendar, and they are conducted in a mix of Voice and text chat.

Official Viewer Status

  • Release viewer: version 7.1.10.10800445603, formerly the DeltaFPS RC (multiple performance fixes, etc), dated September 11, promoted September 17 – No change.
  • Release Candidate: ExtraFPS RC, version 7.1.11.11750364439, November 12.
    • Performance improvements: enhanced texture memory tracking, broader hardware compatibility and higher FPS gain;  additional code to improve texture streaming on rigged attachments (e.g. if an earring is made with 2K textures, the viewer will correctly calculate the required resolution for the textures and download them, rather than downloading the full 2K textures), etc.
    • Aesthetics improvements: new Antialiasing setting – SMAA; Contrast Adaptive Sharpening; Khronos Neutral Tone Mapping (can be changed to ACES via the RenderTonemapType Debug setting).
    • UI Optimisations.

Mobile Notes – CCUG Meeting

[Video: 45:24-47:42]

  • Adding PBR support to SL Mobile is on the roadmap, with ah hoped-for target of some time in Q1 2025 (Jan-March).
  • SL Mobile voice support is experimental, and utilises WebRTC.

CCUG Meeting

Graphics Team Work – General Recap

[Video 0:28-5:31 and 25:04-32:33]

  • Core focus remains on performance work and will remain so until “everyone is happily on PBR-enabled viewers.”
  • Hope is still to have ExtraFPS promoted to release status by the end of 2024.
    • This viewer should see some “significant [performance] improvement” on certain types of hardware – e.g. the Intel HD4000 series (launched May 2012), which is “remarkably popular” among SL users.
    • This work is focused on developing a “classic” mode (also known as a “potato mode” which will see various rendering options disabled (e.g. HDR, Tone Mapping, Reflection Probes, the Emissive channel) to render SL more in keeping with its pre-PBR appearance when running with ALM enabled (aka Deferred Rendering).
    • To achieve this and ensure decent frame rates, comparative benchmarking is being carried out:
      • If an older GPU runs a non-PBR viewer at a higher FPS with ALM enabled than with it disabled – then the aim is to try to match or better that FPS when the same hardware is running a PBR viewer. Or;
      • If an older GPU runs a non-PBR viewer at a higher FPS with ALM disabled (thus using the old Forward Renderer)  – – then the aim is to try to match or better that FPS when the same hardware is running a PBR viewer, but with ALM-like graphics fidelity.
    • A major element of this work is to get older harder performance back up without creating a rendering schism through the re-introduction of something like Froward Rendering.
  • This work is being carried out alongside “various end of year this and kick-off the next year things.”
[We’re] doing our level best to ensure everybody who can use Second Life on Firestorm 6.6.17 can upgrade to some version of 7.x [PBR] without suffering negative consequences. That’s what we’re doing; we’re chasing all the crashes that we can and all the performance issues that we can. 

– Runitai Linden.

  • [Video 33:28-35:10] A reiteration that a lot of the issues impacted older / lower spec systems are not PBR-related per se (they just happen to have been surfaced within PBR-enabled viewers). Rather, they are the result of things like running out of VRAM due to the updates made to the texture streaming system.
    • Where issues have been due to PBR (e.g. exceptionally heavy PBR in-world builds) there are additional optimisations that are being done.
    • A point to remember here is that PBR is a part of the glTF 2.0+ specification which LL are adopting – and glTF is designed to support a very wide range of hardware, including mobile ‘phone upwards, and so is not itself particularly resource-intensive.
  • Until now, issues with the quality of water reflections on PBR viewers has not been seen as a priority to fix, as it is not performance related and has thus been “taking a back seat” in the queue of fixes. However, if it is seen as a significant issue that prevents users from moving to a PBR viewer, this might be reviewed.

Texture Blurring and downscaling

[Video: 6:54-14:25]

  • In response to comments about texture blurring, Runitai Linden noted that the viewer will start down-scaling textures as it detects a system is running low on available VRAM.
  • This can result in some scene textures close to the camera remaining blurred until focused / zoomed-in upon.
  • Runitai believes there is more work that could be done as to how the fall-off curve for this works to reduce the need to zoom “right in” on textures doing this in order for them to render properly.
  • He further noted that the old behaviour of just using mouseover on a texture to get it to load is no longer applicable, as that actually caused most of the textures in a scene to load at full resolution, causing a performance hit.
  • In addition, there are still some bugs which can result in the viewer getting the wrong answer as to how much VRAM is available on a system (and start downscaling textures when it may not need to). To check if this might be the case:
    • Open the viewer’s texture console (Develop(er) → Consoles →  Texture Console / CTRL-SHIFT-3).
    • Check Est. Free (top line of the Console display) and compare the number with something like GPU-Z or Task Manager (via GPU option).
    • If the two are very different, then there is likely a bug. Please file a bug report with hardware details (Help → About → Copy to Clipboard and paste info into report).
    • Note that on integrated graphics system, the amount of VRAM usually gets reported as the amount of system RAM, and this is referenced by the Sys Free number in the viewer’s Texture Console. Sys Free also reports based on the fact that the viewer tries to minimise its total memory footprint to under 16 Gb.
  • There is no set “minimum” or “maximum for VRAM with SL; LL are committed to enabling SL to run on GPUs with as little as 2 Gb of VRAM, and it is felt that systems with a minimum of 4 Gb and a Draw Distance of 128 metres should be able to manage most scenes – but this is a very broad rule of thumb; the viewer will continue to use VRAM until it runs out, if necessary – there is no upper limit, although some TPVs do allow caps to be set.
  • When downscaling occurs, it should be a) because VRAM has been used; b) commence with textures in the background / off-camera before moving to those in-view.
  • Note that textures will also be off-loaded from VRAM when SL is minimised  / put in the background, to allow other applications access to VRAM. This can also cause blurring as textures are reloaded when SL is brought back to the foreground and resumes using all available VRAM as best it can.

In Brief

  • [Video: 18:32-21:02] WebRTC: LL are still awaiting more users to move to viewers with WebRTC support prior to disabling Vivox.
  • [Video: 23:31-24:40] Older EEP (e.g. Windlight, they’re that old – such as CalWL) settings can look blown-out on PBR views.
    • LL have been attempted to auto-adjust them, but this has proven subjective in terms of results.
    • Therefore, going forward, work will be limited to trying to make them look like they used to, which is acknowledged as not being great for PBR content, but is the “least bad” in terms of keeping EEP settings people like looking the way people like to see them.
    • Hopefully, this work will be finished in time to be included in ExtraFPS; however, if it misses ExtraFPS, it may be issued as a viewer hotfix.
  • [Video: 39:15-40:10] A note of two long-term risks, graphically speaking, that have to be addressed within SL at some point:
    • COLLADA support: support for COLLADA is waning world-side, and so SL needs an interchange file format that is not dependent on COLLADA. Again, glTF is seen as the best solution here.
    • Similarly, OpenGL support is waning, so SL requires a rendering engine that does not rely on OpenGL [and this has been an on-going discussion for the last couple of years or so].
  • [Video: 40:12-45:10] Land Impact: it has long been acknowledged that the Land Impact calculation needs to be revised; there is both a lack of real incentive within it for creators to optimise their builds, and  it misses some key adjustments for things like large builds. The question here is more when it will be revised – although doing so may not eliminate all the ways in which some people game the system to produce lower LI items, as this is something of a separate issue.
  • A general discussion on glTF and mesh imports (incl. scenes) via glTF. In short, no-one working on things at present, given the focus on the performance issues. The local preview remains available in those viewers with the code – by Runitai reminded people that the preview does not use texture streaming; everything gets pulled in at full resolution – and so VRAM can easily be gobbled up.

TPVD Meeting

Much of the TPVD covered ground already walked during the CCUG meeting. Therefore, the following is thus a summary of additional points discussed. Time stamps reference Pantera’s video, below.

Note the meeting formally ended at around 29 minutes, although the video runs through until just shy of 41 minutes, covering a more generic conversation.

  • A recap of the “classic”  / “potato” mode work (get PBR viewers running on lower-spec machines running at the same or better FPS than the hardware can run a non-PBR viewer).
  • Debunking the PBR myths:
    • It is not necessary to run the viewer on Ultra quality in order to view PBR content.
    • LL are not removing support for Blinn-Phong (or “classic” or “legacy”, however you want to call them) materials. PBR is an extension to materials support in SL, not a replacement.
  • A general conversation on Blinn-Phong and PBR Materials, notably in terms of providing the former as “fallbacks” to the latter to accommodate people on non-PBR viewers and prevent them seeing grey / white / plywood surfaces  / features.
  • [Pantera: 9:42-10:42] Some people may experience issues with PBR not just because of computer hardware limitations, but also because of network / router issues (e.g. instead of a single diffuse map, PBR calls multiple maps, resulting in multiple HTTP requests which can cause some routers to choke).
    • To counter this, the “classic / potato” mode LL is developing already doesn’t use the emissive map; if this is shown to work and push up performance, then LL will likely go through as see what other maps might be ignored without compromising the overall visual look of “classic” mode, and hopefully further lift performance in these cases.
  • [Pantera: 15:11-16:45] A reiteration that LL are continuing to work on trying to resolve performance issues, and that anyone experiencing such issues should file a feedback report with as much detail as possible (including hardware information (Viewer Help and use the Copy to Clipboard button and paste info into the report).
    • Specifics are important, as there is only so much info LL can pull from their stats. This is particularly true when terms such as “performance craters” are used, as these are so broad-ranging as to be meaningless.
  • [Pantera: 16:50-20:00] SL viewer’s use of CPU cores and threads: thread usage is variable depending on the number of CPU cores.
    • Those with a specific interest in this, the Steam Hardware Survey is “pretty close” to SL, although SL’s install base tracks “a little closer” to the lower end of hardware, so reduce what is reported in the Steam Hardware Survey 10-20%, and that’s fairly representative of SL.
    • Overall with SL, the main processing loop is single-threaded; texture rezzing and some audio processing occurs on background threads.
    • Runitai Linden has been experimenting with adding threads – such as a dedicated idle thread – and these are showing a “lot of promise”, particularly when Vsync is used.
    • As most GL processes are multi-threaded, hints are sent to things like Nvidia drivers to put themselves into multi-threaded mode.
  • [Pantera: 20:38-25:35] Frame limiters / Vsync: some TPVs use frame limiters to assist with performance, and LL would be interested in receiving a code contribution for one of these.
    • However, it is felt that if trying to limit frame rate to screen refresh, then Vsync remains the better option; whilst a frame limiter is more suited to use in other situations. But, and  depending on the frame rate, Vsync can cause more screen jitter than a frame limiter.
    • In this discussion it was noted that a fix from Apple at the OS level means Vsync with work at 100/120 Hz.
    • It was noted that Firestorm are now defaulting to 60fps with their frame limiter.

Next Meetings

 

† The header images included in these summaries are not intended to represent anything discussed at the meetings; they are simply here to avoid a repeated image of a gathering of people every week. They are taken from my list of region visits, with a link to the post for those interested.

Simurg’s Winter Valley in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
Simurg + Winter Valley, November 2024 – click any image for full size

It has been but a month since my last visit to Lintu’s (KorppiLintu) always-engaging Simurg, so this might seem a rapid-fire return. However, being the time of year that it is, the parcel has been redressed from its autumn / Halloween design to a winter / seasonal setting – and Lintu was kind enough to drop me a personal invitation to come and take a look.

Added to the above is the fact that Simurg is a parcel rather than a full region, and Lintu is adept at demonstration just what can be done to present richly engaging settings in Second Life without the need to go all-out on an entire region. This is something I have always admired when designers do so (and have tried to achieve myself within the parcels I’ve held / hold, even if I’m too selfish to share them!); thus visiting Simurg is always a personal pleasure for me.

Simurg + Winter Valley, November 2024

Simurg + Winter Valley sees the setting region to something of its “split level” design, with Lintu again using elevation to give a sense of space and quite literal depth to the location, whilst also allowing for the inclusion of another “hidden space” within it to further enchant visitors.

Visits commence on the elevated aspect of the setting and to its western side. Here, within a wooden gazebo visitors can purchase Simurg products via a wooden Christmas tree and look out over a snowy environment whilst deciding if they are suitably dressed for the winter. I most certainly wasn’t, my qipao dress being way to summery – so I fixed that by adding pair of elbow gloves 😀 .

Simurg + Winter Valley, November 2024

From the Landing Point, a path points  eastwards, bracketed to one side by a decidedly warm looking log cabin (one of Cory Edo’s excellent designs), with a large covered veranda complete with fireplace and blankets on the sofas to keep folk warm.

On the other side of the path, and close enough to the cliff edge to provide a view out over the valley below, is a boarded look-out point with warming braziers and wooden seats located behind a heavy rope set out along posts to prevent folk stepping too close to the edge and possible slipping over it.

Simurg + Winter Valley, November 2024

Also facing the cabin from across the main path is another, single-room cabin, reached by a shallow set of stone steps. With glazed walls and an open space before it again looking out over the valley, it is set far enough back so as not to be rudely staring into the dormer windows of the house directly below it. The main path passes behind this little cabin, skirting under a backdrop of rocky cliff faces and then descending gently down towards the valley below.

In descending the slope, the path passes by Lintu’s workshop (open to the public) and links to the end of another path leading down from the front of the little cabin. It then ducks under a lynch-gate before dipping again and curving around to meet the carriage track passing up along the valley from its very south-eastern corner. A stage coach guards the track here as it blends with the off-region landscaping (as does a fence to stop people colliding with the region’s edge).

Simurg + Winter Valley, November 2024

The track runs alongside a broad pond through which a local stream passes – although both are now frozen. The fact that they are means the pond can be used for ice skating – just touch the hearts floating over the ice. The track follows the edge of the pond to where it narrows into the neck of the stream. Here it is crossed by a little hump-backed bridge and the little village square on the far side, with its Christmas tree, little stalls, coffee shop and tailor’s shop.

Beyond the bridge, the frozen surface of the stream offers a way into the Fairy Cave, where more magic awaits other who venture inside, with two romantic little settings to be enjoyed.

Simurg + Winter Valley, November 2024

Throughout all of this are little touches and details that mark Lintu’s care and eye for creativity. Cats roam and play inside her workshop, the cabins and house are all furnished, places to sit can be found throughout, deer and wolves can be seen among the woodlands in the off-region landscaping (and within the region in a few places!) while white horses wait to greet you in the cave. And all the while the chimes of a music box playing When You Wish Upon a Star might be heard, landing another layer of romance to the setting.

All in all, Simurg + Winter Valley presents another photogenic and enjoyable setting form Lintu, and I recommend it for a wintertime visit!

Simurg + Winter Valley, November 2024

SLurl Details

Using SL? On BlueSky? Get a free custom Second Life handle!

Posted on by Inara Pey
My Bluesky handle updated to use the secondlife.bio extension

Note: the secondlife.bio handle extension is neither supplied nor endorsed by Linden Lab. It is a third-party tool provided for the use / enjoyment of Second Life users. 

If you are one of the growing number of Second Life users who are on BlueSky, either as a result of joining directly or because you decided you’d had enough of Twitter/X? If so, you’re probably aware of things like the Starter Packs of SL BlueSky users put together by the likes of Kess Crystal (starter pack) and Caspian Morningstar (starter pack).

But did you know you can also have a “Second Life handle” for your BlueSky account?

Why settled for yourname.bsky.social when you can be yourname.secondlife.bio, and have a handle that instantly identifies you to other SL users on BlueSky as an SLer (as I have, as seen in the banner image for this article)?

The idea is the brainchild of Samuel Newman, a BlueSky contributor (and @secondlife.bio on BlueSky), and updating your handle to use secondlife.bio could not be easier. All you need is a BlueSky account, then follow some simple steps on your desktop:

  • Make sure BkySky is running in your browser.
  • Visit secondlife.bio.
  • Under Enter Your Current Handle type / copy/paste your existing BlueSky handle, leaving out the leading “@” (e.g. “zaphodbeeblebrox.bsky.social”).
  • Click the Submit button next to it.
  • The page should update with Account Found and show your BlueSky handle and banner:
Updating your BlueSky handle via secondlife.bio (1)
  • Now enter your handle + the .secondlife.bio extension under Choose Your New Handle:
Updating your BlueSky handle via secondlife.bio (2)
  • Click the Submit button next to it.

Now, Switch back to BlueSky and:

  • Click  on Settings → Account → @Handle to open the Change Handle floater.
Setting your new handle in BlueSky (1)
  • Click on I Have My Own Domain at the bottom of the floater to expand it, and:
    1. Enter your new handle using the secondlife.bio domain (e.g. “zaphodbeeblebrox.secondlife.bio”)
    2. Make sure DNS Panel is selected (highlighted).
    3. Click / tap on Verify DNS Record (this will be enabled to click after completing (1.) above.
Setting your new handle in BlueSky (2)
  • Your BlueSky handle should now update – you may need to refresh your BlueSky page to see it.
  •  And that’s it!

Obviously, if you’re an SL user on BlueSky and are happy with the bsky.social extension on your handle – that’s great! You don’t have to change (or feel pressured into does so). But if you use BlueSky exclusively for your Second Life activities, it might heighten your visibility with other SL users and encourage them to make contact / follow you should you name pop-up in their timeline; and if you have non-SL followers, it might encourage them to express curiosity in knowing more about the platform – so why not give it a try?

My thanks to Barbi Blowhard for the pointer to secondlife.bio, and a thank you to Samuel Newman / @secondlife.bio for creating the handy handle generator.

Linden Lab relaunches Second Life Blogger Network with enhanced mission

Posted on by Inara Pey
via Linden Lab. Used with permission

On September 26th, 2019, Linden Lab launched the Second Life Blogger Network (SLBN), a referral service for bloggers producing high-quality, independent blog content to have their work promoted by Linden Lab through a new curated SLBN feed on the Second Life Community Pages and via Linden Lab’s high-visibility Second Life social media feeds and on the Official Second Life Viewer log-in page (see: Second Life: Blogger Network launches).

In July 2024, that version of the service was placed on hiatus, to allow the Lab “to dedicate resources to upcoming changes and enhancements designed to enrich our community’s experience even further”.

On Friday, November 22nd, the Lab announced the nature of some of those enhancements with the launch of the Second Life Blogger Network 2.0  (SLBN 2.0). To quote from the announcement:

Since its inception, the SLBN has been a platform to amplify high-quality, independent blog content through our official channels, including social media. This aspect will remain a core focus as we relaunch and refine this initiative, but SLBN 2.0 brings an exciting new element: exclusive insider access to Second Life executives and early previews of upcoming features.
In addition to showcasing your incredible content to the broader Second Life community, SLBN 2.0 will now include:
  • Direct Access to Executives: Gain insider insights with occasional opportunities to meet directly with Second Life executives in a group setting to discuss platform news, updates, and strategic initiatives.
  • Early Feature Previews: Be among the first to learn about and discuss new features before they are publicly released. This means you’ll have a head start in sharing timely and relevant updates with your audience.
  • Exclusive Conversations: Participate in closed discussions that allow you to provide feedback and shape conversations about the future of Second Life.

– from the official blog post on SLBN 2.0

Participation in SLBN 2.0 remains free and non-exclusive.

  • Those who were a part of the original SLBN and who are actively blogging, are automatically eligible for participation in SLBN 2.0, and do not have to re-apply.
  • Those not previously a part of SLBN, but who wish to sign-up should review the SLBN Terms & Conditions and Content Guidelines.
  • Complete the Submission Form.
  • In addition, bloggers can optionally include the SLBN logo in their blog.

Those intending to participate should also read the official blog post on SLBN 2.0 in full.

Artsville: of Manipulators and Unnamed Heroes in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
Artsville Galleries and community Hub: Christian Carter (XJustFriendX) – Manipulators

Update, January 15th, 2025: Artsville has relocated.

Currently open at Artsville Galleries and community Hub, the arts hub managed by Frank Atisso with the support of Jerzzie Reece-Redstar (jerzzie Reece), are two entirely independent exhibitions by two very different artists which carry enough of a slender thread between them that I’m going to cover both here as they spoke to me, and I hope both artists will forgive me for combining them in this manner.

On the ground level at Artsville, and within Gallery 1 there is Manipulators, a collection of black and white photographic images by Christian Carter (XJustFriendX) which opened on November 15th, 2024. Christian presages the exhibition within his SL Profile with the comment I wanted to show in these photos things that worry me a lot lately… And having viewed the exhibition, I can say he’s not alone in the line of thinking and reflection taken within the exhibition, which is more fully described within the gallery with a quote attributed to the Nobel prize-winning Swedish biochemist, Arne Wilhelm Kaurin Tiselius (August 1902 – October 1971):

We live in a world where unfortunately the distinction between true and false appears to become increasingly blurred by manipulation of facts, by exploitation of uncritical minds, and by the pollution of the language.
Artsville Galleries and community Hub: Christian Carter (XJustFriendX) – Manipulators

David I. Haberman cites the quote as coming from Tiselius whilst speaking at the 1970 Nobel Prize Ceremony (Tiselius received his Nobel prize in 1948, but was Chairman of the Board for the Nobel Foundation from 1964 through 1968, and thereafter remained involved with the Foundation through to close to his death).  As such, and given today’s global political climate, it is a highly apt and relevant statement.

Within Manipulators, Christian explores the reality of the reality contained within Tiselius’ words through images highlighting the manner in which language, reality, truth and facts have become so easily manipulated, most notably through the growing reliance on the likes of the soundbite, social media and belief in media channels which see revenue as more important that the transmission of facts. Social / mass media in particular have a lot to answer for: from allowing the rise of polluted language (“alternative facts”;  “fake news”) to become accepted means to deny critical thinking and allow the easy acceptance of lies and deceit, through to the elevation of charlatans, egotists, billionaires and those who would consider themselves the super-elite, aloft from the laws and requirements which bind the rest of us, as the new saviours.

Artsville Galleries and community Hub: Christian Carter (XJustFriendX) – Manipulators

The images themselves speak clearly to all of this, and while it might be subjective on my part, I would perhaps suggest viewing them in order from the right as you enter the exhibition hall; not because there is a specific order or narrative flow to them, but simply because following them in this way will bring around the images in turn to finish as Christian’s core message to all of us: we are each the heroes needed to make the world a better place.

Heroes are also the subject of the second exhibition I’m covering here, that of Bleu’s (Bleu Oleander) Tomb of the Unnamed Hero. This can be reach from the ground level of Artsville via the teleport boards.

This is an installation which is best seen using the Shared Environment and with media enabled if not set to Autoplay (click the movie camera icon, top right of the viewer menu, next to the volume control icon – not the local media stream button).

Artsville Galleries and community Hub: Bleu’s (Bleu Oleander) Tomb of the Unnamed Hero

Perhaps the best way to describe the installation is to use Bleu’s words:

This tomb/temple project is dedicated to all those who have gone before us, is a place for reflection, reflection on who we are and the lives of those that paved the way for us. A reflection on the ultimate meaning of our own lives. Each contribution worthy of remembrance. We now also understand ourselves not only as expressions of those that have come before us, but as ecologies of our microbiomes … we exist in symbiosis. Our genomes and microbiomes are a record of life that came before us and helped make us who we are.
This project is a virtual three dimensional interpretation of these ideas.

In passing through and climbed Bleu’s installation – or by imply sitting within it – we are given the opportunity to reflect on some basic truths. That while there are many remembered for their impact on history, good and bad and have been immortalised in book, verse, song, story, film and television; in reality we can all be heroes in our own way, simply for being who we are, and in how we help and positively impact all those with whom we interact; within each of us reside the power to affect change and growth, to bring forth good and share it with others.

Artsville Galleries and community Hub: Bleu’s (Bleu Oleander) Tomb of the Unnamed Hero

Thus, Bleu reminds us that even when times seem at their darkness, we can draw strength, compassion and understanding from those who came before us, and both share it with those around us and dedicate it and our own to those who follow us.

Linden Lab blogs full availability of SL Mobile App

Posted on by Inara Pey
Outside my Linden Home on the SL Mobile App, November 14th, 2024 (unedited / retouched)

A little over a week since quietly making it available to all Second Life accounts types, on Thursday November 21st Linden Lab officially blogged that all Second Life users can now download and make use of the SL Mobile App (available on both Android and iOS) – see Second Life Mobile is here!

The original November 14th move to make SL Mobile available to all was followed by a special Zoom telecon with a number of Second Life bloggers, during which – and among other things – the Lab specifically discussed Mobile and its development and their hopes for it.

Engaged in that call were Executive Chairman Brad Oberwager, CTO Philip Rosedale, VP of Engineering and Product, Grumpity Linden, and chief Mobile developer Adam Frisby  – who some may know for his former involvement in Second Life and his role in creating the Sine Space virtual world (or as it was once known, sinewave.space), whilst being hosted by Brett Linden.

As one of those able to participate in the discussion, I presented a summary of the commentary surrounding SL Mobile in Second Life Mobile: free to all users & Lab execs discuss the product and goals, and a few of the points made in that article are likely worth repeating here:

  • Currently, the product is still officially regarded a “Beta” – it is still being improved based on feedback, and new features are being developed for future integration.
  • Capabilities are being added in terms of user “journeys” – that is, if someone wants to do X in SL, what capabilities / functionality / abilities do they require? The first such “journey” focused on going something in-world – such as a club or venue, etc., – and doing something, and what that would entail (being able to see the scene, move, chat, IM, view profiles, tip performers etc).
  • The App is not – and most likely will not – ever be seen as a “replacement” for access Second Life via a desktop / laptop; not is it ever likely to be as feature-capable as the desktop viewer.
  • Broadly speaking, SL Mobile has been developed with two primary audience in mind:
    • Existing users – as a means for them to enhance their SL experience by continuing  engage with the platform and their friends during those times of the say when it might not be practical to utilise the desktop viewer in order to do so.
    • “Lapsed” users who have left SL, many of whom have responded to the Lab reaching out to them by saying Second Life doesn’t address their preference for using mobile to access the things they want to do, rather than being reliant on a desktop environment.
  • Linden Lab is seeking feedback on the App, particularly if issues are encountered / persistent. However, when reviewing the App on Google Play or the Apple Store, LL do ask that users keep in mind that SL Mobile is not feature complete, and is being built iteratively, and so not all desired functionality may be there when using it.

Alongside the announcement, the Lab promoted a short video first seen with the “soft” opening of the App’s availability on November 14th, and which is presented below.

Personal Notes

I’ve been using the SL Mobile App since it was first made available for Premium account holders, and as such have watching its development since then. While my own experience with the App has been problematic – and potentially the result of a range of factors outside of SL and the Lab’s control (quality of wi-fi, for example), I’ve been impressed with what I’ve seen in terms of development and progress. However, given I personally have little use for the App (I work from home and so my PC is always within easy reach when I have time for SL), and given its (until recently) limited availability, I’ve not covered it to a great degree going forward.

That said, I will continue to cover the App in my Viewer Release page and weekly viewer release summaries, and as as result of the App now being available to all, I will attempt to report on significant updates going forward, for those interested.

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