Category: Viewers

Viewer 3: further releases

Posted on by Inara Pey

Viewer 3.2 continues with almost weekly releases. The 3.2.1 (244864) release went public of the 15th November brings the release viewer almost up-to-par with things recently seen in the Beta and Development Viewers, namely:

  • Chat translation options – in time for the Google free API end-of-line, although the debate over Bing fees is liable to continue
  • Destination Guide open by default
  • New Neck and Centre attachment points.

However, there is still no revised snapshot floater.

The Viewer also includes a number of crash and performance fixes, together with a bag full of minor bug fixes and corrections.

In the Development branch, the Viewer reaches 3.2.4 (245302). There are no obvious release notes with the Development version (empty wiki page), and no obvious UI updates. I assume the release carries more in the way of bug fixes, etc.

Performance-wise,  the new releases (3.2.1 & 3.2.4) offer something of a performance boost on my usual hardware set-up: Viewer frame rates are constant in the mid-30s when on sims with a handful of others but still falls on its bum when shadows, etc., are enabled (to roughly 1/2 the frame rates of Firestorm, and roughly 1/3 those of Exodus). This gives rise to noticeable “stutter” when panning the camera particularly.

Both the new release and the latest Development versions continue to run significantly better in Linden Home regions than Firestorm (again on my set-up). I’ve yet to encounter a single disconnect in these regions when using the official Viewer, whereas, as I’ve mentioned, disconnects and crashes are a fact-of-life when running Firestorm in many of these regions. Frame rates for the 3.2.1 while in Linden Home regions were also significantly better than with the 3.2.0 release of the viewer – 18-20 fps, rather than single digits sitting around the 3-5 fps mark.

I’m not sure where the OpenGL fixes stand – it is hard to get along to Viewer meetings; there is a “dedicated” development stream for fixes to this issue, but I have no idea if these fixes are making their way back to the main Development -> Beta -> Release flow.

The Viewer installer and executable still have yet to be corrected: as far they are concerned, people are still installing and running “Viewer 2”. Tateru Nino raised this point recently (and tbh, I hadn’t actually noticed until she did). I don’t find it an irritant myself, but it is mildly amusing.

The mouse movement / click-to-move reversal is still there however. For those unfamiliar with the problem: up until now (unless using the Basic Viewer mode), you could steer your avatar using the forward / back keys and by pressing and holding the left mouse button with the pointer over your avatar; moving the mouse left / right would move your avatar in the appropriate direction.

With SINGLE CLICK ON LAND set to MOVE TO CLICKED POINT sees this reversed – move the mouse to the right, and your avatar moves left.  There’s a JIRA out to request a fix to issue.

Beta-wise, no changes have been made, and the release number remains as per last week.

Overall, 3.2.4 (Development) looks pretty stable, fast and comfortable to use. As I’m not affected by the OpenGL issue, I’m completely unable to comment on how it fairs on impacted graphics cards, and will have to leave that up to someone else. Otherwise, and pending the official release of the OpenGL fixes, these releases may indicate the “radical” element of the Viewer UI change is coming to an end, and it’ll be more a case of polishing things in terms of small enhancements and bug fixes.

And on that subject, if anyone from LL is still reading this blog – there are a few JIRAs on the new UI besides the one linked to above. You might want to point your colleagues towards :).

Viewer 3.2 UI JIRA

Posted on by Inara Pey

More people are trying-out the new FUI (apparently “Flexible User Interface”, and not “phooey” as someone jokingly insisted!) in Viewer 3.2, and some interesting JIRA are starting to appear.

If you’ve made the hop, you might want to consider taking a look at some of these and adding your support to any you agree with (remember to WATCH rather than VOTE – or do both to be on the safe side!):

  • VWR-20738: add ability to organise buttons in Customise Toolbars floater
  • VWR-27209: a Navigation bar only option to top bar of UI
  • VWR-27222: add Estate & Statistics Bar buttons and include multi-use separator in Customise Toolbars
  • VWR-27318 / VWR-27330: provide the option to use either the toolbars or the Sidebar
  • VWR-27358: allow the Chat Bar and an “IM Bar” to be docked, as if a button-like element, to the bottom bar area
  • VWR-27388: make any menu option draggable to the button bar
  • VWR-27448: recover the ability to dock windows at the edge of the screen and have them behave like tabs
  • VWR-27455: make the button bars on Viewer 3.2 dockable to top/bottom or right/left (depending on the edge) and not only on the middle
  • VWR-27457: create a “Quick Preferences” button for rapid access to frequently used preferences
  • VWR-27463: add Picks, Places, and Destinations to menus
  • VWR-27599: some floater window sizes and positions are sometimes reset to default after a crash, and all are on viewer update

While the following are not strictly Viewer 3.2 related, some may feel they still apply:

  • VWR-26688: allow notifications to be positioned to a different area of the screen

Note that I don’t pretend that this is an exhaustive list, nor have I included any JIRA for 3.2.0 through 3.2.2 marked as “fix pending”. Finally, JIRA listed above should not in any way be taken as a personal endorsement on my part – they’re simply what came up in search & while perusing the results!

Update 17th November

  • Adding EXP-1449 left click drag to control avatar not working, when “single click on land” action set to “move to clicked point”.

RLV goes new UI

Posted on by Inara Pey

For RLV users wishing to try-out the new Viewer 3 UI, there is news: Marine Kelley already has a version of RLV out which incorporates the new UI and other bits.

RLV Viewer with new V3 UI

The Viewer, built on the 3.2.2 (0) release of November 7th, includes the new UI presentation of buttons, notifications appearing up in the top right corner (see image), Destination Guide open by default, and so on.

Additionally, it retains the RLV menu option and  includes a couple of familiar sliders seen in other TPVs up in the Navigation Bar: the avatar offset and the Draw Distance (the latter of which I’ve always appreciated in those TPVs that have it in difference to a Quick Preferences button), as well as including the ABOUT LAND and SKY buttons.

Unlike the latest versions of the official Viewer, the mini-location bar is displayed in addition to the Navigation Bar  / Favourites Bar, rather than the option allowing you to toggle between the Navigation / Favourites and the Mini-location. Being the (0) release means the Viewer doesn’t have the new snapshot floater – but given the speed with which Marine got this version out, one supporting the floater may not be far behind!

Performance-wise, on my usual machine the Viewer is on a par with the latest 3.2.2 release, coming in with an average fps around 20-22. Some have reported teleport issues with 3.2, I’ve not encountered any myself – and certain none in this Viewer while hopping around the place.

There’s not a lot to review here that I’ve not covered elsewhere when it comes to the new UI (see the link at the top of this post). All I can say is, kudos to Marine on the speed of her response with the release, and if you are curious about the new UI and want to give it a go but don’t want to crack out of RLV – now you can!

Viewer snapshot floater overhauled

Posted on by Inara Pey

The latest Development – 3.2.3 (244722) Nov  8 2011 – and Beta  – Second Life 3.2.2 (244666) – Viewers include a new snapshot floater that presents a set of simplified controls and some new features.

Snapshot folder – old (l) and new (r)

Send Snapshots to Your Feed

There is a button to send any snapshot directly to your feed ay my.secondlife.com. There is no charge associated with this option, and clicking the button allows you to:

  • Set the image size
  • Optionally include a caption for the snapshot and the location where the picture was taken

E-mail Revised

The option to send an image via e-mail has been revised; clicking on the button now opens the message options in the snapshot floater, rather than in a separate floater, and buttons allow you to toggle between the message view and the image settings.

Advanced Options

The advanced options for snapshots are now access by clicking the right-pointing chevrons at the top of the floater. Here you’ll find the familiar check boxes for including the interface and your HUDs in an image, and to set the auto-refresh function. However, there are two options some might not be familiar with that are worth mentioning.

Colour / Depth

Available when saving images to your computer via the drop-down menu, this option allows you to take a full colour image or something more atmospheric. The DEPTH option appears to work with the Viewer’s DoF (Depths of Field) option active in the PREFERENCES -> GRAPHICS tab. Examples of both settings are below.

Save options: Colour (l); Depth with Viewer DoF active (m); Depth with Viewer DoF disabled (r) – note loss of detail in (r)

Freeze Frame

This is probably the feature that will excite most people. Check the option will switch the Viewer to full screen mode, and freeze what you are seeing in-world while allowing you to position the camera for the shot you require!

With freeze frame active, you can pan, orbit, zoom until you’re satisfied, then take the shot. Clicking the refresh bution with the option active will update you screen to the last moves made by any avatars / moving objects in view.

All told, this is a very well-presented update with some fun new features. I like it!

With thanks to Opensource Obscure

Update 11th November

As has been pointed out – I’d somehow missed the fact that freeze frame has been around a while; as has, tbh the colour / depth options. Put this down to me staying up far too late at night looking at things when I should be a-bed!. Article revised to reflect these errors.

Viewer 3.2 launched, I make a few suggestions

Posted on by Inara Pey

Quick note: A couple of other blogs have linked to this piece as a review of the new UI. If you are looking for a review, you can find mine here. This article only references the fact the new Viewer is released, and doesn’t carry any specifics.

Well, well.

After blogging yesterday that Viewer 3.2 had reached Beta – lo and behold, and with no fanfare whatsoever, it’s released!

Apparently there was a blog post about it that Tateru spotted on Monday, but it appears to have vanished into the sub-etha.

Version 3.2.0 (244443), dated Nov 3rd, doesn’t have the latest revisions that the Beta release has – there is no Destination Guide open by default, and there are no translation options on the Chat Preferences, nor does Inventory have the Direct Delivery revision (not surprising, given yesterday’s announcement). The new attach points (Neck and Centre) have yet to appear – although they are in the Beta, so expect them & translate, etc., shortly.

However, everything else I covered in my First Looks piece on the new UI is there – including the direct-to-marketplace shopping button top right of the screen which is liable to annoy many who have in-world shops.

3.2.0 UI

I’m not sure when on Monday the switch-over occurred; I’ve been checking the download page daily of late (sometimes more than twice), and when I downloaded the latest Beta, the release Viewer was still 3.1.2.

Short Random Thoughts on the UI

Given we have a button-based UI, I’m not going to suggest anything radical, but here are some thoughts:

  • Make the Chat  bar optionally “sticky” so that if positioned over the bottombutton area, it displays a-la V1, without the floater surround (i.e. so the “nearby chat” floater title and X to close vanish). This would:
    • Reduce screen space used by the bar
    • Allow a further V1-like feel to the Viewer, helping those moving over from V1 feel more at home
  • Add more button options for greater flexibility, for example:
    • Environment settings to access the Environment Settings floater (and add sun positions as buttons on the floater)
    • Quick Preferences button, a-la Phoenix / Firestorm, that provides access to frequently used options such as the Draw distance, Particles count, Height offset, Physics and LOD sliders, etc, and WindLight presets

Button floaters were an idea that crossed my mind as well, but I’m not convinced they’d be a benefit.I hope the code is such that TPVs adopting the UI can add their own buttons easily enough.

I’m a little surprised that the improved camera controls / floater still hasn’t appeared and can’t help wondering what LL are doing with it.

Would also be nice at some point to see some form of client-side AO option included in the Viewer. TPVs have these as standard, they don’t impact on the sales of AOs (as people still need the walks, etc.). On that subject, LL, isn’t it about time the default waddle was reworked into something of a “unisex” walk?

Anyway, random thoughts aside, if you’ve not given the new UI a test, I recommend you do, even if you’re not a regular official Viewer user – it’s worth a look-see, and even if buttons aren’t to everyone’s liking, they at least allow a greater flexibility of approach to screen layout – and even allow a sort-of pseudo Viewer 1.x layout.

Updates: 9th November

Two excellent JIRAs on the UI have been raised, and they are certainly worth Watching (which, as we all know, is the new Voting – although putting in a vote as well won’t do any harm!)

  • VWR-27388 – make all menu options draggable to the button areas – thanks to Pat Perth
  • VWR-27455 – make button groups repositionable within the button areas (i.e. move to left/right or top/bottom edge of placement areas – thanks to Gwyneth Llewelyn
  • I’ve also raised a JIRA for the addition of a “Quick Preferences” button to access specific sliders: VWR-27457.

Also on the 9th, LL’s blog post on the Viewer reappeared, together with a number of links:

This post also included information on my.secondlife.com Direct Messaging, which I covered last month.

LL move to continue built-in Viewer translation

Posted on by Inara Pey

As most know, changes to the Google translation services are coming. The v1 service was depreciated in May of this year while free access to v2 service was discontinued for “new” application requests on the 24th August (access switching over to their paid service), with all existing access to the free service started prior to the 24th August due to be discontinued from December 1st.

The Lag – via Oz Linden mulled over alternatives for a time, via JIRA, and this has resulted in two options for continuing to use an in-built translator in the future, by using either the paid-for Google Translate API, or by using the Microsoft Bing translation API.

The new translation options are not live as yet, but can be seen in the latest Development Viewer (3.2.2 (224260) or above or the latest Beta Viewer (3.2.1 244227 or above and which also has the new Viewer UI incorporated in it).

Accessing the Translate Options

To access the translation options, go to PREFERENCES -> CHAT and click on CHAT TRANSLATION SETTINGS. This will open a further floater:

New translation service options

As can be seen, the Google translate option is retained – but you’ll have to sign-up and pay for the service yourself.

The Bing option provides a means to continue with a free translation service, but will require you register for a WindowsLive ID, if you don’t already have one.

Using the Bing Translator Service

To obtain a Bing AppID:

  • Click on the Bing AppID link in the floater. If you have a WindowsLive account and are logged in, you’ll be taken to the application registration page
  • If you don’t have a WindowsLive account or are not logged in, you’ll be taken to the sign-in registration page
  • Once you are signed-in or have gone through the registration / verification process, you’ll be taken to the application registration page. This isn’t a terribly helpful page, but essentially:
    • In Application Name type “bing” or “bing translator” (although I get the impression just about anything will work)
    • Fill-out the rest of the required fields and accept the terms & conditions
  • Clicking SAVE takes you to your Applications page – this may take a while to load, (and may even time-out – did on me the first time) – but it should eventually display the application name you gave, and an ID – highlight and COPY this
  • In the Viewer Chat Translations Settings floater:
    • Check ENABLE MACHINE TRANSLATION WHEN CHATTING
    • Click the Bing Translator API radio button
    • Paste your copied AppID into the Bing AppID field.
    • Click OK
  • Close the floaters and away you go!

Note that as this is a Development Viewer, as such details on the Chat Translation floater may change between now and it reaching a formal release (work was still on-going last week).