[New Premium Membership Features]

Sandboxes: Excellent..

...though I do echo the sentiments of others who have asked "Are there going to be adult sandboxes?" Some of us would like to work on things that aren't totally G-Rated now and again. It would be nice if there were places to do that without breaking the community standards.

Freebies: Okay. Pretty Nice!

.. Speaking as someone who sells furniture (among other things) there are literally millions of competing products on the market, of all different styles, qualities, and price ranges, and one more widely distributed freebie isn't going to destroy the entire market for furniture, or for anything. And honestly, I kind of need some new furniture for my own house. I will check this out and see if it suits my needs. It WOULD be great to know how we (as content creators) can also get this kind of awesome advertising opportunity, by making freebies for LL to hand out.

Edit: It's a pretty nice couch actually, and it's nice that it seats two. The whole set's really pretty decent, but I think only the couch really suits my living space. Shame about it all being no-modify though.

[Viewer 2.5 with Web Profiles Has Arrived]

Another thought occurs. You can also "reply" to the email that said you received an offline message. That won't open an IM window with the person, but if you make a compelling enough message, they'll be sure to respond, which will result in opening an IM.

"I'm sorry, I'm having a little trouble finding you in search. Could you please IM me the next time you're online, so I can send you a replacement?"

[Viewer 2.5 with Web Profiles Has Arrived]

I honestly don't know if we can override that privacy setting by "just typing" their name into a profile URL manually. Ideally, that privacy setting should hide the profile from search, but it should still BE at that address. I'm not sure how it's implemented though.

You might try that, assuming you know their "true name", since the display name doesn't enter into the URL syntax. For example, try dialing up the webpage with https://my.secondlife.com/<true.name> and see if you can access it in that situation. If you can, you should be able to open an IM from there.

[Viewer 2.5 with Web Profiles Has Arrived]

How would I be able to contact a customer who had sent me a notecard (or whose IMs don't show in the IM panel because the were capped) this way? How would I be able to redeliver items due to a failed delivery?

 

The same way we've done for months since they made "don't show in search" an option, and since setting a display name effectively deletes their old "true" name from search. We search for their name, and hope they created a group or that their name shows up someplace else. We pray that they sent us a notecard that they themselves created (as opposed to the noob tactic of re-using someone else's notecard).. you can go into inventory, right click on the notecard, and "get properties" to see the Creator, and open an IM from there. We inspect an object they created, to get a link to their name off that. Or we hope that they will IM us.

You can drop inventory on an IM window, so if you can get an IM window open to them, you can easily send them things. 99% of the time, if there's a problem, the customer will IM you, or send you a notecard something (which in 2.5, also opens an IM window).

It's hardly a perfect solution, but this is what we deal with when user privacy is deemed more important than ease of contact. It's the life we live every day in the real world, full of do-not-call lists, and people who are unlisted in the phone book.

[Viewer 2.5 with Web Profiles Has Arrived]

Can you address a number of things?

1. Why is this out of beta?  Moreover, why, as a 2.4 user, was this just FORCE installed on my system?

2. The web profiles are not functional.  They don't contain Picks, they don't let me edit anything, and since there are no Picks, I can no longer use this as a workaround for the broken Search function.

3. Why is the authorization token on search still permanently broken?

Meh, I guess it's back to the third party viewers if I want to actuall do anything in SL.

• https://jira.secondlife.com/browse/WEB-1814
• https://jira.secondlife.com/browse/STORM-927

Do either of these look like what you're seeing?

[Viewer 2.5 with Web Profiles Has Arrived]

It sounds like STORM-927 may be rearing it's ugly head again for some Mac users. Allegedly this was fixed in 2.5.0 Beta 3, but it sounds like some may be seeing this issue again. (Blythe Topaz seems to be having that issue).

[Viewer 2.5 with Web Profiles Has Arrived]

Flickr's an option now too.

I'm hoping we'll see more soon. I'd really like to link up my YouTube account.

[Viewer 2.5 with Web Profiles Has Arrived]

Are you running SL while trying to install it?

Try restarting your computer. Sometimes those DLL's can get marked "in use" even when they're not. rebooting your machine, then redoing the install should get it.

[Viewer 2.5 with Web Profiles Has Arrived]

I had that happen to me too, when I added my Flickr link.. the form fields didn't load, and when I saved the FLickr link, it blanked my profile completely. So I had to re-do it.

The web profiles are still a little touchy from what I can tell. The servers are probably getting hit pretty hard from everyone going to check out their profiles all at once.

But I'm looking forward to being able to link in my youtube account, and we also need a place to put in links to our various blogs and websites, and slurls to our store(s). one "my webpage" link simply isn't enough these days! (hope the proper Lindens are paying attention)

[Viewer 2.5 with Web Profiles Has Arrived]

On a side note, why do LL's viewers still hide my notes tab from me? I used that all the time and now I can't access it unless I log in using a third party viewer.

 

As for the old old old "notes" tab that let you lkeep notes on your OWN profile.. that's long gone as far as I can tell. I never really stored anything important there myself, since it had a habit of disappearing (if it's that important, I put it on a text file on my computer, or more often, one of Window's "Sticky Notes").

[Viewer 2.5 with Web Profiles Has Arrived]

Just saying.. you *CAN* change that setting.

There was no "snark" intended. It's a setting, accessible in preferences. If you don't like the default download behaviour for client updates, just change the setting.

[Viewer 2.5 with Web Profiles Has Arrived]

I'd love to download and try out viewer 2.5, except that I can't. You see, viewer 2.4 took it upon itself to ninja-download and install 2.5 without my consent or participation.

 

[Viewer 2.5 with Web Profiles Has Arrived]

You can also have more than one open at a time.

[Viewer 2.5 with Web Profiles Has Arrived]

Other than nomenclature, are there any differences between this release and the latest beta version? (Second Life 2.5.0 (220251) Feb  2 2011 15:18:59)

[Improving our Lines of Communication with the Community]

True, editing a post to fix spelling shouldn't generate an "email all watchers" event.. but it does, and Linden Lab (as explained by Oz) is more interested in solving Second Life's issues, than Jira's. So, we're faced with an issue that simply isn't going to be resolved until the people at Jira decide to resolve it. Given that, it's time to find a workaround.

One simple workaround is to filter your email. Another workaround is to withdraw from the process entirely, or just up and quit Second Life. Personally.. I can handle filtering my email (I've been doing it for years with the constant notices from the Marketplace (formerly SL Exchange) and the Lindex.)

Is there too much unneccessary email coming from Second Life? probably. Is it worth getting all in a huff about? I don't think so. I too would rather that the Lindens work on fixing the problems in SL, rather than spending their time trying to modify the Jira system.

1. Watch to show interest in an issue.
2. We get emails when we watch.
3. Deal with emails effectively.

To me, that means filter them to a folder. To others that might mean filtering to trash.

But I'm interested in moving forward in a positive and effective manner. Standing around complaining for hours about something I can control with 30 seconds of typing on my email program.. that's not an effective use of my time or energy.

[Improving our Lines of Communication with the Community]

For those complaining that "watching" Jira entries will fill up their inboxes, remember, almost every single mail program or website allows you to filter incomming mail.

if <message subject> contains  ], and <message sender> contains , move to folder 

You can even do it in gmail.

From: no-reply(AT)secondlife.com
Subject:

Skip the Inbox (Archive it)
Apply the label: SL JIRA

It's pretty simple to do, takes all of 30 seconds. Now you can follow all the issues that matter to you, and not be bothered by the flow of information polluting your inbox. PLUS.. you'll now have a handly folder (or label) that you can click on an at-will basis, to check in with the progress on all your favourite jira issues in one easy place.

[Improving our Lines of Communication with the Community]

Participate in SL Forums: SL Forums are a great place to connect with other Residents on specific topics.  As I mentioned earlier, we’re going to roll out a new community platform  for Forums that is easier to use and more organized. Look for that next  month when User Groups will be adding specific areas for lively  discussions with our Product Managers on topics relevant to each User  Group.

I, for one, am really glad to see this. I'm a passionate and involved SL user. I'd like to be involved in the process, and bring my ideas, suggestions, and feedback to the table.. but office hours are always so limiting.

An office "hour" is usually only 50 minutes, and after 10 minutes of "Hello" and "where's the Linden?" and "who has the link to the agenda?" it's 40 minutes.. mostly filled with people's questions and comments not getting responded to, and a few cherry -picked questions getting a response, and rarely in the kind of detail people would like. There's no chance to ask for clarification, too soon the "hour" is over, and the Linden is gone.. offline, the topics never to be broached again.

I have an unpredictable RL schedule. This means, while I have ample amounts of time for SL, I have a hard time planning to attend any given office hour. Forums are particularly well suited to my situation, and are ideal for collaborating across multiple schedules and timezones.

Indeed, I am sincerely looking forward to this opportunity, to finally "reach someone" and be able to bring the dozens of JIRAs I've posted, commented, and voted on over the years, to the attention of the proper people to do something about it, even if it's just to say "no, we're not going to do that". Whether it's the issue of Agent height vs Avatar height, or the inability to delete an object if it's worn.. or just some funky glitch with lighting (or that weird bug where we have to double-click the profile button to get the profile to open in the latest beta viewer)... The Jira may be the best way to formally submit the issue.. but it's a terrible place to try and get a new issue noticed, especially in beta testing, when you want a bug to be noticed before it goes to release.

I look forward to these renewed strategies for integrating user feedback... and I can't wait to see what you've got in store for the forums/blogs/etc. As a longtime SL user, I know that LL has stumbled on this path before. But I hope that this time, we can work together to help make Second Life the amazing world that we all know it can be.

[[TIPS] Get the most out of your input devices!]

The page on "The Rig" really needs pictures.

Just sayin'.

 

 

P.s. Are there any other "more affordable" alternatives to the SpaceNavigator? Most of the ones I've seen have cost in the range of $60 to $200 and beyond, before shipping.

[Viewer 2.5 Beta Now Available]

I assume the profiles will remain viewable inworld, in the UI, just using a web-based system?  Either way, they sure look better.

Viewable inworld, via popup in-game web browsers.

Click a "profile" button, and up pops a web browser pointed at the profile page in question. Complete with a working "Actions" button that opens a dropdown menu for functions including IM, pay, add friend, etc.

I think the biggest issue with these is going to be the inability to drag inventory to them.. but the ability to use web based (free) image uploads will be a plus. Not to mention that now ALL the text you type in your profile is visible, instead of just the first 4 lines and "more..."

It still needs some polishing, but it's a pretty good compromise.. allowing us to have multiple profiles open at once.. and since they're webpages, we can easily "bookmark" the pages of people whose profiles or stores we'd like to check out later.

[[VIDEO] Stop outfit conflicts, attach multiple objects to the same point!]

@wolffang Go to Me menu > Preferences, click Chat tab, UNCHECK Play typing animation when chatting. Another classic fave of mine, maybe I should do a reminder tip.

If you do do a follow-up.. be sure to make note that at some point, LL fixed the "scripts can't detect typing if typing animation is disabled" issue. I don't remember when it was fixed.. but I know way back in the annuls of time, if you disabled the typing animation (and the clicketyclack sound), any scripted "typing AO device" you might have had, wouldn't work, because as far as LSL was concerened.. if the animation wasn't playing, you weren't typing.

This did indeed get fixed.. and nowadays you can safely turn off the typing animation (and sound) and still make use of a typing AO instead.

[[VIDEO] Stop outfit conflicts, attach multiple objects to the same point!]

Perhaps LL should get with the program and and provide some of the features which have proven immensely popular in TPVs.

 

Maybe you missed these?

• multi-attachments (inspired by TPV secondary attachment points)
• alpha masks (inspired by TPV "hide avatar" functions)
• double-click to teleport (inspired by TPVs)
• agent height displayed in shape editor (not quite finished yet, but it's progress)
• teleport history
• support for external script editors
• sit-down right where you're standing (inspired by AO's)
• align textures across multiple prim surfaces
• double-click to wear
• built-in google translation for local chat

And there seem to be lots more, on the way. Got a favourite third-party function that you think would make an excellent addition to the official viewer? Find a Jira issue for it, or create one, and post the link here.. and I'll vote for it. I'm sure others would too.

[[VIDEO] Stop outfit conflicts, attach multiple objects to the same point!]

My advice is to uninstall all other viewers, and go cold turkey with V2 for 2 weeks.

Honestly, I'm such a big fan of alpha masks and the tatto layer and multi-wearables.. I couldn't stand to use Viewer 1.23.5 for more than 10 minutes.

[[VIDEO] Stop outfit conflicts, attach multiple objects to the same point!]

The only real argument for using an old viewer, that has any teeth at all is that Viewer 2 doesn't allow access to the "legacy search" system. Unfortunately, while that search system was superior in terms of search results and relevancy.. the fact is that the system was overburdening LL's servers. The new system does not.. but it also doesn't provide the same "quality" of search results.

The remaining issues.. c'mon people.. it's been nearly a year since Viewer 2 was released.. it's time to get with the program. Every one of you that holds out, is keeping content creators from making awesome new content using multi-attach, multiple clothing layers, tattoos, alpha masks, shared media, and whatever else LL has released since February 2010.

It takes a few more clicks.. and yes some things have changed.. there are a very VERY few things you could do with 1.23.5 that you can't do with 2.4.. but the amount of things you can do with 2.4 that you can't do with 1.23.5 is getting longer every day.

More and more third party viewers are also implementing these features.. so if you can't see or use multi-attachments, and you can't wear the new clothing layers.. ask yourself this: how much are you missing out on today? and how much will you miss out on tomorrow?

Viewer 1.23.5 won't be able to see meshes either.

[[VIDEO] Stop outfit conflicts, attach multiple objects to the same point!]

Really.. this is the function I wanted in 2006. And I'm so glad this feature is finally here.

Ever had a no-modify item attach to your pelvis? are you a neko who wears prim skirts and a tail, and maybe wants to attach something else down there? (a belly button piercing, a belt, or some naughty bits?) Now you can, and you don't have to link things together and hope that they'll work together.

Combined with outfit shortcuts.. no-mod attachments and no-copy items are no longer the major impediments they once were. This feature is so awesome.

 

Now.. Torley.. how do we go about getting a "Neck/Throat" attachment point? It's the only bone in the avatar skeleton that you can't attach things to. https://jira.secondlife.com/browse/VWR-20233

[New Marketplace Function and Final Data Migration From XStreetSL]

How do we switch that off again?