Category: Viewers

UKanDo 3.7.2: More nips and tucks

Posted on by Inara Pey

logoConnor Monaron issued a further updated to the UKanDo viewer on Thursday February 27th.

Version 2.7.2.27938 brings the viewer up to parity with the Lab’s 3.7.2 code base and with RLV 2.8.5.10 and offers a series of inventory-related TPV updates, some rebranding and fixes, and the ability to re-skin the viewer with the default LL viewer skin. Release notes for the update are available here.

Inventory Updates

Version 3.7.2.27938 now incorporates three additions to the inventory floater which are popular among several other TPVs:

  • A pair of Collapse and Expand buttons: the first of these will close all folders and sub-folders in your inventory floater; the second will open all folders and sub-folders in your inventory floater, displaying the full tree
  • An inventory search filter drop-down list: allows inventory searches to be filtered by criteria on the drop down (e.g. only search for Landmarks matching the search term)
  • An inventory Worn Items tab: displays everything your avatar is wearing, by folder.
The new (to UKanDo) inventory floater options: the Collapse and Expabnd buttons and the Worn items tab (l): the inventory search filters drop-down (r)
The new (to UKanDo) inventory floater options: the Collapse and Expand buttons and the Worn items tab (l): the inventory search filters drop-down (r)

UKanDo Preferences Tab Updates

The UKanDo tab in Preferences has also been overhauled, with the options rationalised. A new sub-tab is added: Chat – IMs, which pulls together the chat / IMs related options previously found in the Miscellaneous sub-tab into a tab of their own (chat range indicators for the mini-map, notifications alignments, MUpose* and OOC options). Similarly, the Group Land Rez option is moved from Miscellaneous to Avatar (under the new Inventory heading) and also appears in the Build sub-tab as well.

UKanDo 3.7.2 sees the UKanDo tab in Preferences re-worked to make finding options easier.
UKanDo 3.7.2 sees the UKanDo tab in Preferences re-worked to make finding options easier, including a new Chat – IM sub-tab

LL Default Skin

UKanDo users can now opt to re-skin their viewer with the default Lab viewer skin. This is reported as being a part of the UKanDo 3.7.2.27938 update, but appears to work with earlier releases as well (tested with 3.7.0). Be warned, the process does require some fiddling on the user’s part:

  • UKanDo must be shut down
  • The skin folder  must be downloaded from the UKanDo website download page as a ZIP archive
  • The user needs to locate the viewer  install location (e.g. for 64-bit Windows: C:\Program Files (x86)\UKanDoViewer) and then rename it (e.g. “skins_old”)
  • The downloaded skins folder then needs to be dragged from the ZIP archive and dropped into the viewer’s install location (e.g. for 64-bit Windows: C:\Program Files (x86)\UKanDoViewer)
  • UKcanDo can then be restarted, and will use the LL default skin.

The original UKanDo skin can be restored by following the steps above, making sure the original skin folder is renamed “skins”.

Feedback

Another small-ish update, aimed at keeping the UKanDo viewer on a par with LL code updates whilst also incorporating a few nips and tucks.

The option to change the viewer skin is a somewhat convoluted process, especially compared to those TPVs which allow you to select a skin style from within them (e.g. through a Preferences tab) and then applies the selected style with a simple re-start. Whether UKanDo will also move in that direction, remains to be seen; as it is the copying / renaming of folders following each update to the viewer could get a little tiresome for some users.

That niggle aside, a compact and useful update for UKanDo users.

Related Links

Viewer release summaries 2014: week 9

Posted on by Inara Pey

Updates for the week ending: March 2nd, 2014

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
  • 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
  • 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.

Official LL Viewers

  • Current Release updated on February 25 to version 3.7.2.286707 (formerly the HTTP RC) – core updates: DNS look ups changed; improvements to mesh uploads / downloads (download page, release notes)
  • Release channel cohorts (See my notes on manually installing RC viewer versions if you wish to install any release candidate(s) yourself):
    • “Project Interesting” RC updated on February 26th to version 3.7.3.287127 – core updates: more viewer-side control of which objects are loaded in memory at any given time; more aggressive scene caching; faster scene load when visiting a region never previously visited; expanded performance metrics (download and release notes)
    • Maintenance RC updated on February 27th to version 3.7.3.287263 – core updates: assorted MAINT fixes (download and release notes)
  • Project viewers:
    • Project Zipper viewer version 3.7.2.286810 released on February 25th – faster viewer installation (download and release notes)

LL Viewer Resources

Third-party Viewers

V3-style

  • UKanDo updated to version 3.7.2.27938 on February 27th – core updates: parity with LL code base through to 3.7.2; RLV updated to 2.8.5.10; added inventory Worn Items and inventory quick filters and Expand and Collapse folder buttons; re-work of Preferences>UKanDo Tabs; LL default skin download added; assorted fixes  (release notes)

V1-style

  • No updates

Mobile / Other Clients

  • No updates

Additional TPV Resources

Related Links

Kokua 3.7.1.30956: Fitted Mesh and refresh scene option

Posted on by Inara Pey

kokua-logoKokua, the SL and OpenSim v3-style viewer, updated on Tuesday February 18th to version 3.7.1.30956. With it came support for the Lab’s Fitted Mesh solution and the Facebook log-in hotfix.

As well as bringing the viewer up to parity with the Lab’s code base through to 3.7.1, this release also sees a set of updates from the Kokua team, the core of which can be summarised as:

  • The Mac version of the viewer (issued as a test version in January) is now available as a release version with this update, thanks to the help and support of Mac users
  • The Draw Distance slider on the status bar is now turned off by default as new users were apparently confusing it with a volume slider. It can be re-enabled via the debug setting ShowDDSlider (Advanced > Show Debug Settings)
  • The Windows version of Kokua now uses the FmodEx library for music streaming, and incorporates the avatar name in the title bar (port from Firestorm)
  • Opensim variable-sized regions and Aurora Sim regions are now supported
  • A number of issues with the UI have been resolved with assistance from CtrlAltStudio’s Strachan OFarrell.

Refresh Scene

Perhaps the most interesting update to Kokua with this release is a new Refresh Scene feature. This is primarily aimed at mitigating the missing prim issue, and can be accessed through both the Commands and Advanced menus or by pressing CTRL-ALT-SHIFT-R.

The Scene Refrsh option in the Command and Advanced menus
The Scene Refresh option in the Commands and Advanced menus

When selected, the option carries out a number of tasks:

  • Basic Shaders are deselected, increasing the viewer’s frame rate and allowing the viewer to more quickly pull-in the basics of a scene
  • A message is sent to the viewer log, allowing the viewer to run a little longer without the shaders
  • Basic Shaders are re-enabled to complete re-dressing the scene, which should now be correctly rendered.

Other Notes

There have been some reports in the comments following the release notes of issues running the 64-bit Linux version of the viewer on Ubuntu, which are apparently under investigation.

I did encounter initial issues running the viewer on 64-bit Windows using my Crash Test Alt, which saw the viewer repeatedly going non-responsive within a minute or so of logging-in. However, I confess to not having performed a clean install,  so this particular issue could have been as much my end as anything else. When I did perform a completely clean install, the issue went away. So if you do encounter issues, try a clean install, if you haven’t already.

All told, another nicely packaged update to Kokua, one which probably hides a lot more in the way of under-the-hood changes than might at first appear to be the case. The Refresh Scene option is an interesting approach to resolving the missing prim issue, and may well prove to have other benefits in the future as well.

Related Links

Viewer release summaries 2014: week 8

Posted on by Inara Pey

Updates for the week ending: February 23rd, 2014

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
  • 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
  • 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.

Official LL Viewers

  • Current Release version: no change
  • Release channel cohorts (See my notes on manually installing RC viewer versions if you wish to install any release candidate(s) yourself):
    • HTTP RC updated on February 19th to version 3.7.2.286707 – core updates: DNS look ups changed; improvements to mesh uploads / downloads (download and release notes)
    • Maintenance RC updated on February 18th to version 3.7.2.286708 – core updates: assorted MAINT fixes (download and release notes)
  • Project viewers:
    • No updates

LL Viewer Resources

Third-party Viewers

V3-style

  • Kokua updates to version 3.7.1.30956 on February 18th – core updates: parity with LL code base through to 3.7.1; FmodEx implemented for Windows; “scene refresh” option in Graphics Preferences (helps with missing prims issue); Opensim variable region sizes & Aurora sim regions support; more (release notes)
  • Restrained Love viewer (Windows) updated to version 2.8.5.10 on February 22nd – core updates:  (release notes) – party with LL 3.7.1 codebase; RLV updates (release notes)

V1-style

  • Cool VL Stable version updated to 1.26.10.12; Experimental version to 1.26.11.12 and Legacy version to 1.26.8.49 all on February 22nd – core updates: backports of assorted updates from LL code base to all three versions (release notes)

Mobile / Other Clients

  • Group Tools updated to version 2.2.27.7 on February 20th – core updates: unknown, but possibly includes support for the new Group Tools Cleaner, released on February 21st and which helps with Group Tools clean installs (download page)

Additional TPV Resources

Related Links

Metabolt set to live on

Posted on by Inara Pey

Metabolt-logoThere have been concerns and rumours circulating about Metabolt, the text-based client for Second Life and OpenSim. The last update occurred in August 2013; the long delay coupled with the recent unavailability of the Metabolt website, fuelled rumours that the client was being discontinued.

However, this is not the case; CasperTech are stepping-in to take over curating the project, as an announcement on the Metabolt website reveals:

Same Viewer. New Opportunities

It was recently announced that the METAbolt project was being discontinued. We are very happy to announce that this has not happened, and instead CasperTech have stepped in to curate and maintain the project.

CasperTech is a leading provider of solutions for content creators within Second Life. We believe that METAbolt will benefit from our strong legacy and foundations.

It is not our intention to commercialise the project, and we will maintain it in the same spirit of open source community collaboration. We do intend, however, to rejuvenate the METAbolt community with active development, support and new innovation. We are very excited by this opportunity, and we hope you are, too!

Please bear with us while we complete the transitional period – we’re working on a new website and will be making our first release of METAbolt soon.

– Casper Warden, CasperTech Ltd.

While the new Metabolt site is being set-up, a link to the download page / source code for the current release of the client is included below the message.

Metabolt: set to continue thanks to CasperTech
Metabolt: set to continue thanks to CasperTech

Metabolt is popular text-based client for users of various types of bot in SL (such as the Pandora Bot), which can be used for a variety of role, such as greeters, automated assistants, etc. As such, the news that the client looks set to continue should be warmly received.

Related Links

Viewer release summaries 2014: week 7

Posted on by Inara Pey

Updates for the week ending: February 16th, 2014

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
  • 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.

Official LL Viewers

  • Current Release version: updated to 3.7.0.286015 on February 10th (Fitted Mesh viewer), then to version 3.7.1.286557 (Facebook hotfix)  on February 14th (release notes)
  • Release channel cohorts (See my notes on manually installing RC viewer versions if you wish to install any release candidate(s) yourself):
    • HTTP RC updated on February 13th to version 3.7.1.286567 – core updates: DNS look ups changed; improvements to mesh uploads / downloads (download and release notes)
  • Project viewers:
    • Sunshine / AIS v3 project viewer updated to version 3.7.1.286565 on February 13th – core updates: removal of old viewer-side baking code, stability and performance improvements (download and release notes)

LL Viewer Resources

Third-party Viewers

V3-style

  • Black Dragon updated to version 2.3.9.4 on February 16th – core updates: merge with LL HTTP updates, rendering improvements, UI updates (release notes)
  • CtrlAltStudio Alpha version for Oculus Rift  updated to 1.1.8.34412 Alpha 8 on February 10th – core updates: et display output to 120Hz for stereoscopic 3D; slider to control speed at which turning head in Riftlook turns avatar; variable avatar walk / fly speed for SpaceNavigator (release notes)
  • UKanDo updated to version 3.7.0.27930 on February 14th – core updates: merge with LL 3.7.0 code base; merge with RLV 2.8.5.9; Options added for MUpose and OOC Brackets (also working with RLV disabled) (release notes)

V1-style

  • Cool VL Stable version updated to 1.26.10.11; Experimental version to 1.26.11.11 and Legacy version to 1.26.8.48 all on February 15th – core updates: Fitted Mesh support; backport of LL’s “Show on Map” feature in the inventory context menu for landmarks; backport of merchant outbox fixes; fixes and a speed optimization to render debug features from Singularity; FmodEx updates; code clean-up (all); fix to a materials rendering glitch from Singularity (1.26.10.11 / 1.26.11.11), crash bug fixes to the new object caching code from LL’s viewer-interesting (1.26.11.11) – release notes

Mobile / Other Clients

  • Mobile Grid Client updated to version 1.21.1207 and then to 1.21.1212 (February 16th) – core updates: connectivity issue fix for new (Z10) BlackBerry devices; fix for crash when using a mouse

Additional TPV Resources

Related Links