[The Second Life Economy in Q4 2010]

Web merchandise sales volume grew 5.8% in Q4 = in world sales down by at least that much!

In world sales support tier --- your primary revenue stream. Replacing stores with magic boxes is a loosing strategy for everyone!

[Viewer 2.5 Beta Now Available]

There is a word, or a redefinition of an old word, for slipping information into the public domain without permission. Since the majority of SL users do not read these blogs they would not know of the exposure even if there was an Opt Out function.

We are being !Zuckered!

[Getting Immersed in Second Life]

Welcome aboard Rod;

   I pretty much second all the comments above. One project for that alt; explore some of the places you might not normally go. Second Life is incredably diverse and like most noobs it will take a while to learn tollerance. A partial list of some things to get used to as they are quite normal in SL:

     -Furries

     -D/s & BDSM

     -Child Avatars

     -Upwards of 30% of female avatars are RL male

     -Many people have sex in SL, some have a lot!

     -Everyone complains about Linden Lab, we are here because there is no better alternative, and we love our inventories a little bit too much. (how's that for a backhanded complement?)

     -The amazing builds and art galleries that LL generally likes to promote usually get one visit. It is the fun places we go back to again and again.

     -Emotions are emotions, the same in SL and RL. Friends are friends; love is love. There is no "just" in front of SL emotional connections.

     -Almost everyone in SL is willing to help make SL a better place. Often the best thing the Lab can do is stay out of the way.

Always remember to set some time aside each day to just have fun in the world you command.

Good Luck to us all

Shug

[[QUICKTIP] Do you turn classic clouds on or off?]

I leave them on most of the time. They do not look right when you are within them near land or objects so I turn them off then, and sometimes when I am cameraing around my sim they are in the way. Overall they are a nice visual effect, especially at sunset/sunrise.

Sometimes they give an added feeling of distance, look at my thumbnail pic.

[Check here if you want more options]

Q,

   I really do not think problem is "accusations of condescension" so much as the fact that we have been through this "input" exercise many times with little or no effect on Linden decision making. That said, I will try again.

  Options, no matter how you classify them are the essence of SL, this is after all still our world / our immagination. None of us has any desire to live in your, or anyone elses vision of what SL should be.

  I would suggest you put your pride in your bottom drawer and take a serious look at Emerald and it's variants, the reason it was / they are so popular is Options, if they could do it, you surely can!!!

  As for Viewer2; if you have not gotten the messages, general and specific by now there is no point in me reiterating them. As it is now it is usless to me in spite of a few nice features.

  Please keep working on it, but this is not a one size fits all world. Keep as many options as possible and LISTEN to your paying customers. We are willing to help but we are tired of being ignored.