Category: Viewers

Phoenix viewer appears set to continue (but not with SL)

Posted on by Inara Pey

PhoenixAs of January 1st, 2013, the Phoenix Firestorm team ceased support of the Phoenix viewer, bring a close to all further work on that viewer on their part.

While this signals the end-of-line for Phoenix where Second Life is concerned, it appears that efforts are underway to attempt to continue Phoenix development for the OpenSim / Aurora environment, under new leadership and a new brand name.

In a blog post dated 29th December, 2012, Virtual Reaility, the new developers for Phoenix state:

Over the past week the Jessica Lyon, Project Manager of the The Phoenix Firestorm Project, Inc. made an announcement that on Saturday, December 15, the Phoenix development team would no longer support the V1-based Phoenix virtual worlds viewer that has had a significant following of users in virtual worlds such as Second Life and OS Grid.  Ms. Lyon stated that support for the viewer will be dropped to provide development and support focus on their Phoenix-Firestorm viewer.

Though this may seem like a dark day for people who use and enjoy the Phoenix viewer, this cloud has a silver lining. Virtual Reality is pleased to announce that it will continue development, maintenance, and improvement of the Phoenix V1 viewer, which will be re-branded as the Virtual Reality Viewer. “I am excited to have the opportunity to fork this highly popular viewer for virtual worlds users who use it and desire to continue to use it.”, said, Virtual Reality owner and CEO, Sonic Boom Drillion. “The Virtual Reality viewer will continue to work within OpenSim and Aurora based grids, however we hope to update the viewer to address a number of technical advancements that are presently happening in virtual worlds.  We are eager to embrace this code base and develop it to support these changes.”

The post goes on to state that as of the 29th December, work was underway to move the Phoenix code to Virtual Reality’s own systems, however the work will not include porting outstanding / open JIRA relating to Phoenix, as these are related to Second Life, which will not be the target environment for the rebranded viewer.

virtual-realityVirtual Reality is an OpenSim hosting company focused on Aurora Sim side of OpenSim, and provides customers with grid space through its own  Virtual Reality grid, as well supplying private grids to customers.

Within the blog post / announcement is a request that any developer wishing to work on the rebranded viewer should contact Virtual Reality at virtualrealitygrid-at-gmail.com.

While this does not help those who have used Phoenix specifically with OpenSim, it does mean that potentially, the Phoenix legacy will live on, albeit under new management and a new name, on OpenSim.

Related Links

Viewer release summary 2012: week 52

Posted on by Inara Pey

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: 30 December, 2012

  • SL Viewer updates:
      • Release version rolled to 3.4.3.268262 on December 18 – release notes
      • Beta version rolled to 3.4.4.268497 on December 20 – release notes
      • Development rolled to 3.4.5.268612 on December 28
      • Development version of the CHUI project viewer rolled to 3.4.3.268599 on December 27
  • Dolphin rolled to 3.4.8.26933 on December 27 – core updates: code base updated to match latest from LL; new right-click avatar context menu option to take a calling card from an avatar near (adopted from the Starlight skin by Hitomi Tiponi); RLV updated to 2.8.4; bug fix to correctly blurred textures – release notes
  • Niran’s Viewer released version 2.0.6 on December 27 – core updates: revisions to the login screen; ability to disable Fullbright in your world view; motion blurring; updated Space Reflections vode from Tofu Buzzard  – release notes
  • Cool VL updates – three versions for the time being, all updated on December 29:
    • Stable version rolled to 1.26.6.3
    • Legacy version Legacy (v2.6 renderer) rolled to 1.26.4.46
    • Experimental version rolled to 1.26.7.3
    • Release notes
  • Phoenix officially reaches end-of-line on December 31st – read more here
  • Libretto – removed from round-up page due to website being unavailable and client removed from the SL Third-party Viewer Directory.

Related Links

Viewer release summary 2012: week 51

Posted on by Inara Pey

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: 23 December, 2012

  • SL Viewer updates:
      • Release version rolled to 3.4.3.268262 on December 18 – release notes
      • Beta version rolled to 3.4.4.268497 on December 20 – release notes
      • Development rolled to 3.4.5.268547 on December 21
      • The CHUI project viewer rolled to 3.4.3.268587 on December 22, which saw some updates to the CHUI UI and a move to the 3.4.3 viewer code (latest dev version now 3.4.3.268591 / Dec 24)
  • Dolphin rolled to 3.4.7.26856 on December 17 – core updates: primarily under-the-bonnet (/hood) fixes – release notes
  • Kokua rolled to 3.4.3.r2 on December 18
  • Zen Viewer rolled to 3.4.3.1 on December 20 (mis-labelled “20 November” on release notes page) – core updates: Large Group Servies update; removal of mesh deformer; removal of AudioEngine log spam; fixed Web Profile floater not showing when web profiles check box selected in Grid Manager; removed “>” Character from localhost loginuri in Grid Manager.
  • Cool VL updates – three versions for the time being, all updated on December 21:
    • Stable version rolled to 1.26.6.2
    • Legacy version Legacy (v2.6 renderer) rolled to 1.26.4.45
    • Experimental version rolled to 1.26.7.2
    • Release notes
  • Phoenix officially reaches end-of-line on December 31st – read more here
  • Libretto – removed from round-up page due to website being unavailable and client removed from the SL Third-party Viewer Directory.

Related Links

“Tiling” snapshot fix (and more) now in the SL release viewer, Dolphin, Niran’s and RLV

Posted on by Inara Pey

Snapshot Tiling Fix

The snapshot tiling fix (MAINT-628) can now be found in the following viewers:

  • Dolphin viewer 3.4.6.26773+ (current release now 3.4.7.26856)
  • Niran’s Viewer 2.0.5+
  • Restrained Love 2.8.3.5+ (Windows)
  • SL release viewer 3.4.3.268262+ (released: 18th December).
Tiling test for Dolphin
Tiling test for Dolphin (3.4.6.26773+): image taken at 3500×2134 resolution using Dolphin 3.4.6.26773. Location: The Island of Armenelos (M) (click to enlarge) – fix also in the latest SL official viewer (3.4.3.28262), Niran’s Viewer (2.0.5+) and RLV (2.8.3.5+)

Graphics Preferences Updates for GPU Classes

The SL viewer, Dolphin and RLV all include the new Graphics Preferences settings related to the ongoing GPU table updates. These new options place additional “stops” on the Quality and Speed slider between the four original settings of Low, Mid, High and Ultra, which are intended to better represent the default SL capabilities of different GPU classes,

The new "intermediary" graphics settings intended to better represent the capabilities of different GPU classes
The new “intermediary” graphics settings intended to better represent the default SL capabilities of different GPU classes

SSAO Fix for Horizon Haze

Also included in the recent Dolphin and Niran’s Viewer releases, is Tofu Buzzard’s SSAO improvements for generating horizon haze over Linden Sea (“ambient  distance fog”). This helps overcome a long-standing bug within the viewer which has effectively broken / nerfed horizon haze over Linden Water for a considerable time.

SSAO haze effect - fix from Tofuu blizzard, available in deferred mode on Dolphin and Niran's viewers.
SSAO haze effect – fix from Tofu Blizzard, available in deferred mode on Dolphin and Niran’s viewers. (image courtesy of Niran V Dean) – click to enlarge

Space Reflections

Niran’s viewer also introduces an interesting / experimental viewer-side feature from Tofu Blizzard called “space reflections”, designed to create reflections on shiny surfaces when running in deferred mode and with the appropriate Graphics Preferences option enabled. It’s not perfect, but it can be used to produce some interesting effects, as shown below, if only for those running a viewer which can render the desired results.

Tofu blizzard's "space reflections": (l) a viewer running in deferred mode; (r) Niran's viewer running in deferred with "space reflections" active
Tofu Blizzard’s “space reflections”: (l) a viewer running in deferred mode; (r) Niran’s viewer running in deferred with “space reflections” active to produce reflections both on the floor and inside the large sphere (click to enlarge)

Related Links

Viewer release summary 2012: week 50

Posted on by Inara Pey

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: 16 December, 2012

  • SL Viewer updates:
      • Beta version rolled to 3.4.3.268139 on December 14 – release notes
      • Development rolled to 3.4.4.268156 on December 14
      • The Sunshine Project viewer (avatar baking) arrived with the release of 3.4.4.268071 on December 14th (wiki page) – note this viewer is not recommended for daily SL use
  • Dolphin rolled to 3.4.6.26773 on December 11 – core updates: snapshot tiling fix (MAINT-628); fixes and improvements for the image quality with SSAO enabled, and for ambient fog over water (distance haze) with shadows enabled; Some Windlight preset files renamed to avoid issues; Teleport to ground level enabled via keyboard (CTRL-SHIEFT-END) – release notes
  • Niran’s Viewer rolled to 2.0.5.2346 on December 11 – core updates, snapshot tiling fix (MAINT-628); fixes and improvements for the image quality with SSAO enabled, and for ambient fog over water (distance haze) with shadows enabled; new “space reflections” feature – release notes
  • Restrained Love rolled to 2.8.3.5 on December 16 – core updates: fix for those encountering build problems using 2.8.3.4, plus latest beta updates from LL, including snapshot tiling fix (MAINT-628)
  • Cool VL updates – three versions for the time being, all updated on December 16:
    • Stable version rolled to 1.26.6.1
    • Legacy version Legacy (v2.6 renderer) rolled to 1.26.4.44
    • Experimental version rolled to 1.26.7.1
    • Release notes
  • Phoenx officially reaches end-of-line on December 31st – read more here
  • Libretto – removed from round-up page due to website being unavailable and client removed from the SL Third-party Viewer Directory.

Related Links

Calling all Phoenix users

Posted on by Inara Pey

PhoenixJessica Lyon has announced she and the Phoenix  / Firestorm team will be holding an Office Hour meeting, and all users are invited. Jessica is particularly keen to have users on Phoenix attend the meeting, commenting:

Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend but I especially want to see Phoenix Viewer users in attendance as the primary topic will be about Phoenix and its future. I also would like to see all you angry people who have been flaming and hating on us in our blog comments. I’d like to address your complaints so please at least be on the stream if you can. 

Because the lack of Phoenix Viewer development and in fact the future of the Phoenix Viewer itself needs to be discussed and your questions/concerns need to be addressed.

Firestorm users are also obviously welcome.

Event Details

Those wishing to attend / join the stream are advised to turn up around 30 minutes ahead of the meeting. As there are limited slots for both the in-world event and the stream, it would be advisable if those attending the event don’t also run the stream, as this could prevent others who are unable to get in-world from watching and listening on-line.

The event will be recorded for future playback.