SLim Pickings

I just downloaded the new SLim Second Life client released by Linden Lab. So far I like what it does but theres a few things that I don’t like about it…

Pros

• I like that I can contact friends in IM or be IMed by people when I am not logged in without using a webapp or other third party programs.
• Voice is enabled

Cons

• You need to download a first look client to be able to download your friends list.
• If you want to IM someone in the SLim client, they need to have the actual SLim beta.
• Unable to chat in public chat like you can with AjaxLife or similar programs.

/me understands that this is a beta and hopes it will be better. I’m sure as time progresses more functionality will be added to the SLim client. But so far I am enjoying it even if one person on my friends list only has the SLim client right now.

If theres one feature that needs to be added, I want a little popup that says X X is online at the bottom right side of the screen like some other applications do.

Not long now…

… I hope …

In case you aren’t aware, for about 10 weeks my main machine which could handle Windlight well went out of action. At first we thought it was the Motherboard that was bricked so we sent it off with the warranty and then found out that it was not the case. So then we discovered it was really the graphics card that was to blame for the problems. Assuming that everything else is fine I should have the machine back very soon and enjoying Second Life like I should have. It’s annoyed me to no end because I wanted to fully experience things like SL5B and the Relay for Life.

So while I was in the downtime I managed to get my old computer up and running again. During the downtime some things went wrong with the machine. But it gave me a chance to experience Second Life from the older hardwares perspective. It intrested me because I always hear people with low end machines complaining that their machines are unbearably slow and get 1fps. It makes me think, what exactly are they putting the Settings at with the viewer. Case and Point this screen capture of my settings, hardware and frames per second.

This machine right here is about 4 or 5 years old now. Yet I seem to be getting 17fps on this low hardware. The only problems I get sometimes is that the machine will hang for a few seconds. But that is down to the machine having 512 MB of memory. Now I understand that some people having laptops and they really do suck for Second Life if they are cheap laptops but the fact is if you buy one of those cheap laptops you are shooting yourself in the foot for any 3D application. I know because I got one for the laptop and yes it sucks big time. I wonder what other people with older hardware get when they are on Second Life. If you read this blog let me know in the comments.

Moving On…

So. Maybe you have heard or maybe you haven’t.

But I am going to be leaving Nowhereville. Why?

Well. I figured that I would leave to make way for a change to Nowhereville. Theres some prime candidates who want to move in and it makes sense that I should leave to make way for change. I have always been a big believer of change and the good it can do but having looked back at Nowhereville I just don’t think it has changed all that much. The major changes to the island were mostly on my parcel(s), Gomem’s parcel, When the Newggenheim came in and when Caleb changed things around. But now it probably needs a major change and I believe that may be around the corner, and it’s gotta be good…right?

But what about you, Stuart?

Well. I am moving to Podcast Island. Why?

To be honest not a lot happens there. It needs to be injected with new life and events to make it seem more active. The main event that happens each month is of course the Podcaster Meetups. But with SLPN moving in there will be more events garunteed with the live podcasts we are starting to do more and more at SLPN.

…I wouldn’t mind Creative Commons either

I was checking out the feeds on Google Reader today when I noticed that the popular blog, Not Possible in RL, asked this of Linden Lab.

The Not Possible in Real Life group hereby requests that Linden Lab add a Creative Commons tab in the object editor, as well as a Creative Commons option in the right click pie menu, so that everyone can see, with a simple right mouse click, what the rights are on an object.

I personally second this motions because I am a supporter of Creative Commons. Even though I don’t make it painfully clear on my podcasts I pretty much grant people to use and mashup anything inside of it because it is a good thing.

So, will the guys in charge pay attention and accept Creative Commons into Second Life?

Strike Time?

OK, I am going to discuss this whole SL Blogger strike thing. I myself a blogger am blogging about a blogging strike. Yay Oxymoron’s!

So, Gwyneth is leading a protest about the whole copyright and licensing thing about the lack of a clarification. Even though there was a clarification.

Linden Lab’s clarification

Why didn’t the linden’s address the bloggers?

Pretty much because they aren’t going to go after the frickin bloggers. The bloggers help promote Second Life so why the hell would they go after the bloggers?

It’s like saying that Apple sues all the blogs for talking about the iPhone. It’s crazy. They didn’t even take down Fake Steve. So why the hell would Linden Lab even take them down.

The copyright thing goes after people who are profiting by infringing on the Second Life copyrights. SLPN was sorta affected in a sense because we may in the future recieve cash sponsorship to help out the costs of running the network. Hence why I did some changes like just branding it as SLPN, Podcasts for the Metaverse

My blog will not change UNLESS Linden Lab says, you gotta change this. Because lets be honest, they will only give you a written warning about the content if its deemed to violate in a way they don’t like it.

And just remember…theres only 49 days left if your super-paranoid that the Lab’s is out to get you

Who needs to login anyway?

OK, We all know it. The logins were broked for an extensive period of time and yes it did indeed suck. However it wasn’t a problem too much for me (personally). A lot of my friends will know that I am indeed a Dr Who fanatic. Infact my avatar is not of Human based origin BUT a Time Lord (but that doesn’t really matter).

The point is that last night, Dr Who returned and with other things like YouTube the grid downtime did not affect me. However I shall now write some of my top tips for downtime.

1. Download Podcasts!
You don’t need an iPod to listen to any podcasts. All you need is something that plays .mp3 files and IF you don’t have one of those then you don’t have a computer that can run Second Life’s client. A lot of great audio podcasts can be found at http://slpodcast.net and no that is not just a plug. I’ve had people come up to me and say they listen to the shows at work/in-world/car etc. The point is there is some great discussions there for everyone. However if you like the idea of TV there is all those great video shows over at SLCN such as Tonight Live (which i am watching streamed live right now as I right this).

2. Read…
Another thing I was meaning to do was get through all my RSS feeds and stuff. If you like to read internet content but don’t like the hassle of entering in all those URLs there is a better way. Use a webapp called Google Reader. I use it personally and love it. What I do is tag all the blogs into certain categories like say “Second Life” or “Tech News” and as soon as a new entry is up it displays on my window to read. This helps me get up to date on all the news so I can find all the good content about things. That’s one of the things I do with podcasts. Go through all the junk and podcast it in a entertaining way if possible.

3. Get Away from that computer…seriously
Sure you need your SL fix but just step away from that monitor and get some of that good ol’ fresh air. I personally try to do a hell of a lot more these days because even though I am young…I really need to start getting out more. A lot of the time when nothings happening in the feeds or in SL for me, I just sit around. One thing I have been trying to commit more to is walking around. The area I live in is a village so theres some good scenery. What I do is A) Get my podcasts synced… B) Grab my dogs leash C) Go Walking…

I read somewhere that we as humans are naturally lazy and being the climate today we just become victims to it…

Theres a few things for some avatars to do while the grid is down and being broken. Also I mentioned in section 1 that I was watching Paisley Beebe. Well as i still write this the show hasn’t really started yet because of all those SL problems. If Linden Lab™ is wanting to make sure that it’s product is to succeed in the future they need to tackle the problems now. I predicted earlier this year (i’m sure I said this on The Podmafia Podcast) that this year was going to be the year when the Linden Lab™ was going to try and sort out all of the problems with lag such by rolling out things like Havok4 and Mono. Right now they are at the deployment phase. The next task is refining those tools in the real enviroment of the grid and getting to all work. At least thats what I think they are doing

Inventory Cleaning

Since Friday I have been gradually cleaning up my inventory because I am fed up of having to go through folder after folder trying to find what I am just looking for….this is what My inventory currently looks like…

One of the things that I used to have was a Take it or Leave it folder where I would have props and suits for hosting the show…however I don’t host Take it or Leave it anymore so…DELETE

Tonight Live with Paisley Beebe - 2nd December 2007

Here’s another photo update of the recent Tonight Live with Paisley Beebe.

Yxes finally had enough of Crap/Cee goofing around before the taping and bit his/her head off and used it as a trophy and a warning to those who annoy her as she prepares for the show

The MODA fashion students strut their stuff on the catwalk

Then we got some tunes from Luigi DiPrima

The show ended with Brianna Beresford of the Virtual Male Institute. A company aimed at improving the look of male avatars in Second Life. Of course I don’t need any help.

Brianna showed off her latest work (the avatar standing in the tuxedo)

It looks like SLCN is having a Xmas special on the 20th of December at 5PM SLT (assuming I converted the time right) . Also the calendar claims that Tonight Live will also be on the 23rd as well.

Tonight Live on the 25th of November

Like any other Sunday, I finished the day up by watching Tonight Live with Paisley Beeb. There were some technical difficulties in the show with streams going down among other crazy happenings.

Like Crap dancing upside down on the cieling (or is that the right side up?)…

Yxes doesn’t like photos being taken while she is preparing for a show?

Starr Sonic

The KONA’s , Ravishal Bentham and GoSpeed Racer
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Winterfied Edloe

As we are now into winter, with everything cold, it only seems fitting that it happens in Second Life. Edloe covered in snow seems to fit well.Also i hear Crap now how the SuperCell weather generator (which can be found at WaterMoon Breeze and is the best weather machine in Second Life. So I am expecting a lot of snow particles and bad weather. Somehow that seems to fit in right for this virtual world.

I also decided to check out Duckyfresh’s plot on Edloe while I was there. Duckyfresh Wantanabe is the host of the SLCN show called That S’Life.