Bridie Linden has updated the development roadmap (actually, it's not a roadmap so much, as a set of directions, but bear with us) for upcoming releases. The release cycle for the 1.20 viewer is going to be longer than usual, expecting to end in June.

The map is a bit tangled, with a commingling of server-side and viewer-side changes kind of munged together, but there's a new feature in the long, long list of bugfixes and bughunting tweaks: New feature: VWR-4794: Basic voice lipsync for voice visualization. Now that's going to be interesting.

Viewer 1.20RC7 and Simulator 1.22 are both expected to see the light next week.

Nothing much new in SLS1.22, except work to further ease load on the asset servers (if some of you are winding up at infohubs and welcome-areas instead of at home, or getting teleport routing failure messages, those are a part of this work), and code to help identify possible failure points in other systems.

Viewer 1.20RC7, Simulator 1.22 expected to see light next week originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 May 2008 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

With server version 1.21 still going through its shaky rollout, Linden Lab have decided to put the old land-store back online. It still has all the issues it had before (delays, not working in MSIE, an inability to order void/openspace simulators and so forth), but you will be able to order new sims at new prices.

Hopefully when server version 1.21 and the new land-store are finally online, any outstanding orders can be fast-tracked through the new system. In the meantime, it looks like Linden Lab is taking the hit on extra-handling of simulator purchases by running at the new, lower prices.

Old land store, new prices originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Linden Lab is giving the air of being somewhat baffled this week. Earlier in the week, it lowered prices for new Second Life simulators -- because well, lower prices are good, aren't they?

Unfortunately instead of lavish praise for the price cut, response to the move seems to be more along the lines of "Argh! You sons of bitches!" (loosely paraphrased). There seems to be more depreciation than appreciation involved.

Continue reading Linden Lab lowers prices, estate owners rebel

Linden Lab lowers prices, estate owners rebel originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 02:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Cry "havoc" and let slip the squirrels of war! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Mar 2008 20:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Barely a fortnight after their initial version 0.1 software, Finnish developer RealXtend (in conjunction with OpenSim, Admino Technologies and LudoCraft - I think we might have to just start calling it the 'RealXtend Project' in future to save on typing) has released the next version of their software. An avatar portability system that allows your avatar to be transferred to any compatible world where you have an account is definitely a handy feature now that additional Second Life style grids are starting to spring up all over.

"We have been testing and fixing bugs as much as possible and we have a few new major features. One of the new features is the Avatar system, under RealXtend your avatar has been completely redesigned to support transfer between virtual worlds. Earlier avatar systems used by other virtual worlds have been tied to one world or grid only and could not travel with the user," said RealXtend project manager Jani Pirkola.

RealXtend's viewer is licensed under the GNU GPLv2 (sans quicktime components), and all the server-side code as a part of OpenSim is under the BSD license, which is a very broadly permissive open source license.

RealXtend releases updated software originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Feb 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.