Tuesday 16 October 2012

Status update

Why our long release cycles?
While Firestorm is plugging along towards another huge release, I often get asked why our releases are so far apart compared to other viewer projects'. There are a couple of reasons for this, but the main one is that updating is a royal pain in the butt, and I understand most users hate updating unless there is something really worthwhile in the update to make the effort. Because of this, I want each and every one of our Firestorm updates to have enough value that you will want to update to it and not be insulted by frequent minor updates that do little to improve your experience. When I say "value," I mean a significant combination of great new features, along with bug, stability and performance fixes that make the update process worth your time and energy. Now, not everyone on our team agrees 100% with this strategy, and I'm sure there will be some of you who don't, either, but I believe it to be a matter of respecting you (our users) and your time. In the future, however, we plan to make that updating process easier for you by setting up seamless behind-the-scenes updates you will hardly even notice, allowing us to provide more frequent updates and even hotfixes to improve your experience faster!

Upcoming Firestorm "value"
I'm VERY excited to say we have some great new improvements coming, like integrated Phototools contributed to us by Paperwork Resident! Paperwork has spent a lot of time with our developer Ansariel Hiller, getting his phototools integrated into Firestorm with their own floaters and panels. But we'll also have features like the ability to save/restore custom camera positions, improved Spellchecker and Autoreplace (courtesy of LL), an RLV update, crouch to toggle, a new "Dyslexia" font, "Autoresponse Sent" message in IMs, the ability to highlight people in a region through the object list in the About Land floater, customizable audio alerts for friends going on/offline, voice visualizers in the radar, the ability to exclude group-owned objects during selection, configurable interface sounds in Prefs, an option to report collision messages to scripts, etc., etc., etc. Not to mention a gazillion more stability and performance improvements. It's all coming soon!




OpenSim and our compatibility efforts
While Second Life still remains the primary focus of our development efforts, we have begun working towards bringing Firestorm Viewer into better compatibility with the OpenSim Platform. It is important to point out where the extent of that effort ends, though. We are making Firestorm work better on the "base" OpenSim Platform, but we cannot fix problems that arise on specific OpenSim grids because of changes those particular grids have made to their OpenSim code. For those issues to be fixed, we will rely on those grids to provide us code contributions to address those issues.


Military Open Simulator Enterprise Strategy
Several weeks ago, we were contacted by Mr. Douglas Maxwell, who is a Science and Technology Manager for Virtual World Strategic Applications of the Simulation & Training Technology Center. This is a branch of the United States Army Research Laboratory, and he runs the Military Open Simulator Enterprise Strategy (MOSES)  project. While MOSES does have a presence in Second Life, their primary focus and virtual headquarters exist on the Open Simulator platform. They expressed an interest in working together with us on Firestorm Viewer. More specifically, they intend to make the Open Simulator platform more secure for their grid, but more importantly to also give that work back to the OpenSim community by contributing it to our open source Firestorm Viewer. We think this is a fantastic goal and have already begun working with them. We are certainly looking forward to the results of these efforts in the future. If you have any questions for Mr. Maxwell, you can reach him through his email here.


Our new second home on OSgrid
Walter Balazic, owner of the Littlefield System, and Hiro Protagonist, who runs the servers the Littlefield regions run on, have very generously donated a couple of regions on OSgrid to us to use as we please. Not only that, but Walter and Camryn Darkstone landscaped and furnished one of them to be our OSgrid headquarters! See a snapshot here, or if you would like to check it out in person, you can create an account on OSgrid here and, once inworld, open the Map and look for an island called "Firestorm Island." Having a region there helps us to further test Firestorm's OpenSim capabilities and work towards ironing out all the bugs there. The region is absolutely beautiful, and we are so ever grateful for their generosity! Thanks Littlefield!

Jessica Lyon
Project Manager
The Phoenix Firestorm Project, Inc


86 comments:

  1. My God how much text and NOT at all nothing,just words after words after words. Why on Earth must always explane so much when you can do it shortly and simple.?!!!

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    Replies
    1. Give me three examples of paragraphs that could have been summed up further.

      Delete
  2. At present using Phoenix as it is more fps than Firestorm does anything in this long Blog mean Firestorm fps will equal or indeed exceed Phoenix?%£

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  3. If the Phoenix Hour or the Firestorm Hour starts being made again, I'll watch it. I used to watch every upload of it. I did find the latest ones a few months ago on treet.tv.

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  4. Can you explain briefly what is that "Dyslexia" font? I meant, is just another font to choose or have something to do with people with dyslexia and autocorrector?

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  5. @Kitsune - You'll find all info about this font here: http://dyslexicfonts.com

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  6. Jessica, you and the team work so hard to make this wonderful viewer even better. I am looking forward to the next release.

    I love the way you are so open and accountable and keep us all in the loop.

    Francesca

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  7. In the next firestorm update can you please fix the issue I've been having with random drops in bandwidth causing me to freeze up and lose stream. I've checked my internet connection it is fine so I don't understand why it keeps happening. This is my only issue at present.

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  8. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  9. As a doctoral candidate in Psychology who uses SL for work with PTSD patients, when will a Kinect interface be available for SL and OpenSim? The biggest stumbling block I have with my colleagues is the lack of real time body language and facial expressions - body language is a key part of being able to help people with trauma.

    Is the Firestorm Team looking at a Kinect Interface at all? I would love to be part of testing a beta one.

    Thank you,
    Colleen M. Crary
    Fearless Nation PTSD Support
    email: cmc4234@thechicagoschool.edu

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  10. @colleen3k
    While your idea are great, you are directing them to the wrong team. The features you want to see would almost certainly have to be implemented by Linden Lab and built into SL by them.

    With all the extra featurs the Firestorm viewer brings, it's still essentially a modified version the official LL viewer. Changes in how AV's render or input methods aren't something they can really do.

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  11. Just to say how happy Im with firestorm regions being hosted by Walter on Littlefied!
    And sadly i didnt see nay reference about being integrating tone mapping (exodus development) on your viewer!
    Firestorm can be (And i have to say, that is not personal experience) the less crash viewer, but is not the most amazing on graphics, not even close to Exodus and of course, miles way of Niran's!
    If you can use tone mapping and set the craphics as Niran's that you would hace the best of all!
    As now, i can only use firestorm on OSG, as on SL its just a pale image of waht other viewers are foffering already in what matters most, performance and stability x graphics quality!

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  12. lmaopimp, why were some comments about the word length on this post? lol, it certainly made my morning! =D

    great to hear about your home on the OSgrid, i need to break out of my "stuck" ways and try Firestorm - even for Sim-on-a-Stick! =)

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  13. have just installed the photo tools into the latest firestorm and its all working well... so far !! m god the cam is insanely good and the control over the windlight settings !! Woohoo best thing ive seen in a long time.

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  14. Well, if you ever want to have a "public" or semipublic "bleeding edge} beta, I'd be a tester if you like.

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  15. Firestorm Hashimasen you add the difference between the official, but I am one. Crash. I love when the 2.gesture, because it turned into a display of three silver blue 4.Skin. Texture that does not temporarily Freez is early, I uninstalled the official
    tysm

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  16. I also can't understand why all the time must update new and new viewer.Its soo damn rushing..maybe better that Support and Devs start to WORK HARD with issues and NOT to rush with nonsense new viewers at once when new is out.
    Its like nonstop project and does they realy listen a users,NO,even they bann at once if you say one single NON PG word,but viewers...rushingg rushinggg rushingg.I'm NOT happy at all!

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  17. PLs, Pls, Pls, make it a priority in next update, the use of tone mapping and Niran's tweeks!
    latest Niran's is freaking amazing, and i wish mnany more (Mac and Linux usrrs) could enjoy the amazing graphics that any gots just using Linden LAb default day cycle, making use of personal and diff windlight settings, just a fancy, even if usefull, nuisance that distracts from the beauty of seing a day cycle, full of its richeness!
    Firestorm could be the viewer that would allow all to enjoy that feeling!
    (Niran will never do aa version for Linux, nor for MAc and for sure one for Open sims, exodus team its only focus is Sl).

    ReplyDelete
  18. The first paragraph reflects my sentiments exactly! Applause!! :) Great news on the changes in the upcoming release and YUSSS it's better than great to hear of the commitment to improving OpenSim compatibility & security. I think many of us are hedging our bets by establishing identities on OpenSim grids.

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  19. When will Phoenix viewer get another update?

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  20. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  21. @Wolfenstein
    How many times do they have to tell you that Phoenix will not be getting any more major features unless another viewer team does them and provides the code. Other than squashing bugs, Phoenix is pretty well at the end of it's development cycle.

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    Replies
    1. That was an unnecessarily hostile reply. A simple "it's no longer being developed" would have sufficed.

      Delete
  22. I have been very satisfied with the update cycle your team has chosen. It's never an easy balance to maintain .. putting new features into user's hands while not driving people crazy with seemingly non-stop updates. Personally I think you've chosen a good balance.

    I do have one pet peeve though that I've not seen anyone mention (and I should probably post in the JIRA) but it has to do with the Properties floater layout. When I'm preparing a product for distribution, I routinely select all the items within the product and select Properties so that I can rapidly double-check I've set everything correct. Yet the "X" to close each individual item's properties is buried inside one of the fields, thus making it hard to spot. If you would tweak the layout just a bit to move all the following fields down a bit, it would reveal the "X" and make it visually easier to use.

    Again, thank you to the entire team. I remain very impressed with the level of commitment you all demonstrate .. even though you work as a volunteer group on a project that can (and does) sometimes draw poison arrows from the general population.

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  23. In the next update how bout a mesh option for Open sim? Or maybe focus on helping them get closer to where SL is now(if its not been done yet.) More stuff for open sim would be alot better- easier for beta testers too!Keep up the good work, the default button for the phoenix users was like christmas in july to me!I am happy to have both firestorm and Phoenix in the same viewer.

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  24. There.com had a stint (or still does?) with the US military creating a virtual iraq to train solders dealing with middle-eastern cultures, and doing it safely in a virtual world.
    I'm wondering if the group that's dealing with phoenix team is the same project that was with there.com about 8-9 years ago?

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  25. I understand that you have to find a balance when deciding when to release a new version... but I hope you'll consider making a version of Firestorm available that doesn't trip over the fontconfig issue. It appears that the recently-releasee Ubuntu 12.10 has moved to a version that provokes the bug, so I suspect that a lot more people are running into it. Thanks for the excellent work you do.

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    Replies
    1. I figured a way to make Second Life client run in Ubuntu / Xubuntu / Lubuntu 12.10 32-bit, by fixing the fontconfig issue, until Linden Lab fixes the client:
      http://freesoftwaredeveloper.blogspot.gr/2012/12/how-to-run-second-life-in.html

      Delete
  26. "husgalot",may you explane to me how on Earth wars belongs on SL.? I bet ppls are NOT intresting talking about anything what comes on RL wars,because wars just are soo afwull.TOO afwull,so i can't AT ALL understand you even typed that on here !

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  27. hahahaha Jessica,

    Das ist so ziemlich die einfallsloseste Ausrede, die ich kenne, wenn jemand mit der Arbeit nicht hinterher kommt. XD

    Weißt Du, wenn mir ein update zu lästig ist, dann mache ich es einfach nicht, und verschiebe es auf einen anderen Tag. ;-)

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  28. Hi.. i use firestorm and I'm wondering when updates will be made so we can wear more than the 4 or 5 layers at the moment.. yeah I know with mesh not many layers get used.. but for those that dont wear mesh clothes yet.. as it's a pain having to take some off so you can use it for something else.

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  29. Oh PLEASE..I beg you guys to enable multiple tatt and alpha layers in Phoenix.
    Firestorm is hell for me and a lot of other people.
    Please please please,pretty paaahleeez..

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  30. Antoinette,that will not happen,Ph is not anymore developed and its slowly dying.!!!!

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  31. Read this comment too Antoinette :

    Karl said...
    @Wolfenstein
    How many times do they have to tell you that Phoenix will not be getting any more major features unless another viewer team does them and provides the code. Other than squashing bugs, Phoenix is pretty well at the end of it's development cycle.

    19 October 2012 16:36

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    Replies
    1. Well that is good news for me a happy Phoenix user.
      As I have said before I get 10fps more out of Phoenix than Firestorm and would not want the major changes applying to Phoenix that slowed Firestorm down.
      As long as Phoenix is kept working I will continue to be happy.

      Delete
  32. Wolfenstein Sequoia said...
    That was an unnecessarily hostile reply. A simple "it's no longer being developed" would have sufficed.

    Sometimes ppls need that,rolfffff !!!! That they understand what means NO !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. All that does is alienate people away from your point of view. It does not win friends or influence people.

      Delete
  33. Not my headache,but its true that PH is not anymore developed,its dying,slowly.And thats why FS is coming more and more popular and i use ONLY FS !

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  34. Have submitted 3 crash reports on Firestorm, it won't even fully launch. Have had NOTHING from the Firestorm (???) Support Team (?????) Using a MacBook 2.4 ghz/240gb hd/4gb ram/OSX 7.0

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  35. Have submitted 3 crash reports on Firestorm, it won't even fully launch. Have had NOTHING from the Firestorm (???) Support Team (?????) Using a MacBook 2.4 ghz/240gb hd/4gb ram/OSX 7.0

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  36. FHave submitted 3 crash reports on Firestorm, it won't even fully launch. Have had NOTHING from the Firestorm (???) Support Team (?????) Using a MacBook 2.4 ghz/240gb hd/4gb ram/OSX 7.0

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  37. Have submitted 3 crash reports on Firestorm, it won't even fully launch. Have had NOTHING from the Firestorm (???) Support Team (?????) Using a MacBook 2.4 ghz/240gb hd/4gb ram/OSX 7.0

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  38. Have submitted 3 crash reports on Firestorm, it won't even fully launch. Have had NOTHING from the Firestorm (???) Support Team (?????) Using a MacBook 2.4 ghz/240gb hd/4gb ram/OSX 7.0

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  39. 1 time is enough to tell Rick and i don't personally think that 3 is ultimate much,but agree with you,that FS support team...will not always help..!! So on that point i'm with you !!!!

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  40. nVidia SLI support...
    Embrace your dreams!

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  41. I have no issues the way Firestorm creators work, and I am always excited for new updates because I love new skins and fonts and features. I don't understand OpenSim or any of that but it is okay. As long as Firestorm team improves bugs etc, it is all good.

    What I do want to ask...when are you guys going to work on Phoenix Viewer? I don't know if you guys quit that, but it is so reccommended to try have Phoenix viewer do multiple layers/mesh/etc improved as a lot of my friends aren't comfortable with Firestorm because of the major change and many features.

    I really hope Phoenixviewer becomes best again, kinda miss it too.

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    1. The only thing that could have killed Phoenix viewer was the unwillingness of the development team to offer further updates. Now with suspect claims about the V3 clone Firestorm being the "#1 viewer," they have decided not to offer future updates. The only way we'll see the far superior Phoenix viewer updated is if some programmer lifts the code to create his or her own viewer project.

      Delete
  42. Sorry to say, as i used pheonix for to long, but Phoenix its dead!
    Get used to Firestorm or any kind of V3 viewer, but stop using phoenix, 2 many features are not suppoeted already and many more will follow as LL keeps improving its code!

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    Replies
    1. No. I'll just use Singularity Viewer since it's more stable, uses fewer computer resources, and the user interface is better.

      Delete
  43. No Archangel - they decided not to update Phoenix any further quite some time ago. The only way it will be updated is if one of the other, dedicated 1.2x client teams elsewhere decide to release their code to THIS dev team.

    Simply put, they feel it is a waste of their time and resources to continue to update a client for which they need to shoe horn in up to date code (like putting a Ferrari engine into a lawnmower).

    Don't like this choice? You can use one of the other third party clients and pray that they fully update their code before the next big roll out by Linden Lab ...

    After all, that will mean there is more code to try and shoe horn in!

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    Replies
    1. Tell that to Henri Beauchamp, whose code the Phoenix developers lifted to bring mesh to Phoenix. Better yet, go read his explanation for just how much of a "chore" it is to import code.

      http://sldev.free.fr/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=584

      Don't believe the lies and exaggerations of the Firestorm elitists. They can't accept that their preferred viewer is and always will be second best to the viewer that made their nonprofit the success it is among SL users.

      Delete
  44. You know Archangel, I have noticed that every so often, you pop in here and spout off - often with your personal preferences and unsubstantiated claims being presented as if they are facts.

    You cite a single coder's results merging in a specific type of code as if it is some grand revelation from the Aether .... Here's the reality: It isn't. If it were so easy to import all the recent coding changes since the days of the 1.x clients then each and every single client would have each and every single updated line of code by now - they don't.

    Don't like the client? That's perfectly fine. Don't bother keeping tabs on it then, don't bother commenting when they have news, don't pop around and spread half-truths, outright lies and your own person preference as if they're facts.

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  45. OMG, what happened to SL and its community? So first my protests!

    1) You are using too many words and waste someones time? Silly. Please, continue to use words when writing to the blog, that's what they are for, I love it! It's always fun reading your thoughts and let me reflect with my own.

    2) I don't like to see the U.S. or any other Army involved in the PHOENIX FIRESTORM PROJECT!!!

    Even my SL partner is U.S. Marshal this bugs me. My virtual world is a place of peace and open mind and NOT a playground for reallife military activities of any kind!

    Do you really believe they will give you something back in return that is useful for the SL community? Why more security? We don't need security at military level. SL is secure, or not? Didn't they always tell us it is? ;-)

    Anyway, in my opinion, from a security point of view is OpenSimulator the least option to choose, so it's ridiculous. Puhhaaa ;-)

    3) Great to see the LL statistics. But they might tell only half of the truth. What happens when Firestorm crashes for me? Do I try again and again? No, I'm going to use another viewer (which in my case means I stick to Phoenix) and my crashes no longer appear in the stats.

    And all those who left SL when it was no longer fun because they left behind and could not keep up with the growing hardware requirements, where do they appear in the stats?

    4) I love to see you are actively going to better support the OpenSimulator community with Firestorm. There is an urgent need for it. My thanks to Hiro and Walter for supporting you.

    5) Let's take a look at some other stats, the latest viewer stats from OSgrid (still available here: http://pastebin.com/uAJTWwcs).

    Great success for Firestorm: with almost 20'000 users, Firestorm managed to become #3 followed by Phoenix 1.6 (11'438 users). Thats still far behind #1 Imprudence 1.3.2.0 (some 35'000) and #2 Imprudence 1.4.0.3 (23'350).

    Well, I didn't want to go into the top rankings, I wanted to take a look at the other ones, starting with Singularity 1.6.0.3 on place #5 in the stats.

    With only 3822 users of Singularity 1.6.0.3 one might think Singularity doesn't count. But there are also 2574 Phoenix 1.5.2.1185 users on place #9. The list of users of older viewers goes on and counts up to a number that is significantly higher than the number of the current Firestorm users in the OSgrid.

    Will they ever become Firestorm users? NOPE! Maybe some of it. OpenSim users are different and have other requirements and priorities. Low resource usage, simplified import/export and crash free hyper-jumping comes long before customized tag colors and other nice over-valued viewer features.

    Well, time to spread my word. Build Firestorm in a way we can easily add or remove the things we want or need to eat-up our resources. This is much more than the configrable Firestorm we got so far. Even it can be configured to look like Phoenix, it's not Phoenix and that is not only due to its underlying viewer generation code base. Think about it.

    Thank you for listening.
    Shy

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  46. Just been setting a PC up with Windows 8, downloaded Firestorm and Phoenix.
    Firestorm logs in and loads and runs.
    Phoenix logs in and when ahout 80/90% loaded goes into "Not Responding".
    Is this common with Windows 8 or just this situation here with this PC new installation?

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  47. oops... I should better watch my typos :-) I hate them like bugs ^^

    Archangel, it doesn't make much sense to accuse Jessica for being a liar. It's just her point of view, maybe a little bit overdrawn.

    The problem some of us have is that we are a minority that is simply ignored.

    It starts with the fact that the UI is not decoupled from its underlying foundation with the protocols (I'm not a viewer developer, I assume it is so from what I've seen and read). So, if Linden Lab stops support for V1, it does not only stop support for the old look and feel, it also stops supporting the underlying functionality.

    And here comes the problem. How to create a much better user interface, reduce the waste of hardware resources and make things more stable while at the same time have to keep-up with the continuing changes with limited human and probably no financial resources? This is a unique challenge that requires someone like Jessica to manage and she does it well!

    There is always a drawback. The PHOENIX FIRESTORM PROJECT team obviousely decided NOT to do the tedious "decoupling" task and better invest their limited resoures in doing the other things much better. That's not bad for the majority of consumers, but bad for you and me with limited hardware resources. Too sad we have no option. That comes close to what I call digital divide.

    However, there is hope. To better support OpenSimulator was one of the best ideas Jessica ever had. If things go from worse to worst it can only come better.

    *cheers - & sarcasmn off*
    Shy :-)

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  48. SL v1 viewers are not compatible, yet, with windows 8!
    On the other way at least Inworldz viewer, works perfectly!
    Customization makes perfect sense, and id love to see a viewer that would allow that!

    ReplyDelete
  49. I raised a Jira today PHOE-4314 because a PC I installed with Windows 8 will not lauch Phoenix in her answer Ansarial Hiller confirms Phoenix and Viewer 1's are now broken and will not be fixed.

    "That is a known issue that Phoenix and all other V1 viewers are currently incompatible with Windows 8. As Phoenix is actually unmaintaned, it is undecided yet if it will get another update and if yes, when this will happen. See also Tank Master's comment earlier today at PHOE-4311:

    We have no fix at this time for .net 4.5 compatibility for phoenix, nor do we have any interest in fixing it currently do to the EOL of the viewer. If you are going to run with .net 4.5 installed, which as what is installed by default on Windows 8, you will need to use Firestorm or another V3 client to log in. The incompatibility with .net 4.5 extends to all V1 based viewer to one extent or another and not just phoenix. "

    Fortunately my game PC uses Windows 7 so I can continue to use Phoenix but looks like Phoenix could die at any piont in time if some other thing(s) were to upset it.



    ReplyDelete
  50. If you have newer hardware why not switch to Firestorm? Using the "Phoenix" default settings the interface can really be configured and arranged that it comes very close to its original. You will get used to the new menu structure after a short time. However, there are still some things missing and I will continue to overlook IM and messages (I dont like to have all that stuff in the top right corner where I prefere other things to be.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes very close but Firestorn runs 10fps slower than Phoenix.

      Delete
    2. Now been in touch with Windows Community Support forum and they advised me to run Phoenix in Compatibility Mode.
      A) Right click on Phoenix Program, right click on Properties.
      B) Click on Compatibility tab and set up Compatibility with Windows 7.
      Now Phoenix runs for me on Windows 8.
      :-)

      Delete
  51. Shy,just customize it,you can uncheck Im's etc to be top of the right corner,simple as hell :p

    ReplyDelete
  52. if u need more space in OpenSim, look for Inya Wulluf on SL and I will hook you up :)

    ReplyDelete
  53. That Linden LAb is more stupid then Microsoft, LOL!
    That Phoenix does indeed run a lot faster then Firestorm!
    That Windows 8 is yet to soon to even bother grabing, much less for a desktop!

    ReplyDelete
  54. Note: The SL Viewer on Windows works on XP, Vista, and Windows 7.

    Why i puted that.? cs i don't belive on Earth W8 works still,NOT at all !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well Phoenix works on Windows 8, so would have thought Linden SL viewer would.

      Delete
  55. Is it true that Phoenix Viewer is dead?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not dead whilst it still working.
      Got told on a JIRA it will not be resuscitated if taken ill.

      Delete
    2. looks like .. phoenix is dead & Firestorm is dead ... the whole thing is in Sleeping Beauty slumber, the last update was for nearly a quarter of a year (the LL viewer had since that time at least 3 updates) and Mrs. Lyon tries in delaying tactics

      Delete
  56. @12345

    Nobody is trying delaying tactics here, Firestorm repositories has regular commits: http://hg.phoenixviewer.com/phoenix-firestorm-lgpl/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In my country results count, not the pure activity.

      The work of two or three people does not help anyone, as long as it is not complete. And since a few days, we have a further update of the LL viewers, the gap has become bigger again. So why do we want it nice speeches where everyone can see?!

      ^^

      Delete
  57. There are the official releases and the so called nightlife (cause they are not supported) due to LL own rleases, sometimes several on a single week, of the beta and dev viewers!
    Normally Nightlife builds are not public, some tpv allows them to be tried and used, still there is a good reason for any tpv to avoid letting many have acess to them!
    LL reports the login to Second Life based on the viewer version used!
    So you can say, firestorm is the most used viewer now, cauae many can be loggin with other viewers but with diff versions of those viewers and Ll will not count each as all!
    So if one is just doing for the charts, the best way is to have the same version going for the most time possible as long as that version works!
    Reason why Phoenix is still on the top charts, cause many never bothered to move form some that serves their needs and know how to use it!
    Now, other tpv, that release a new version every single wek and allow any to use them, will not be listed, even if they have mroe users then firestorm logged in as the Lab will count each version as a diff viewer!
    As simple as that.

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  58. So with Phoenix not having new releases it will become top of the pops.

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  59. @ZZ BOTTTOM

    LL is counting all Firestorm versions as one entity in the meanings of grid popularity, the same masurement is used for all other viewers and their versions. So Firestorm 2.x, 3.x and 4.x is counted just as single "Firestorm".

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In Germany there is a saying: "Do not trust any statistics that you did not fake yourself."

      Delete
  60. Well, not what i was told by another Tpv creator, that claimed using a older version (older by one week lol) of it's viewer, was making it look bad on stats!
    Btw, a tpv that is 3th party complaince as well!

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  61. What is going on with Sl, for the past two days I havent been able to log in, No Updates for the Firestorm?? what else can I do

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  62. @ZZ BOTTOM

    They're separate in stats, they're sumed up as well. So, hypothetically, if viewer XYZ is used by 30% of grid this usually means, that (for example) version 1 of it is used by 5%, version 2 by 10% and version 3 by 15%.

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  63. Everyone talks about viewers as if they're some sort of religious icon they can't live without. It's a sad state of affairs when people are more committed to a piece of software than to their inworld friends. Use whatever viewer you like best, but stop the ePeen competition ... it's juvenile and destructive even to the viewer you profess to love.

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  64. Cincia,i don't agree with you,cz without the viewer you never can't even go SL ! Sorry but i agree more ppls before you,than you !

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  65. Nvidia have a Beta driver out 310.33 with this version I have found with Windows 8 Phoenix does not need Compatibility Mode in order to run.
    Long live Phoenix.
    :-)

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  66. This is gunna sound a little stupid but you should make Firestorm a V3 viewer, it's alot more smooth and such.

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  67. Firesotm can be a V3, but i agree with you, it has 2 much fancy shinny lil tools and les of what appeals, graphics quality and performance, campared to other Tpv!
    Still i wonder when do some realize that there is already a phoenix viewer that is updated reguraly, its called Singularity!
    And i dont even use it, lol!
    (Niran my Sl viewer, firestorm for kitely and OSgrid, good old imprudence for inworldz!)

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  68. @Charles Heller, @ZZ BOTTOM

    Firestorm actually _IS_ a V3-based viewer, on 3.4.x codebase at the moment. It's like a swiss knife - not fits all, but fits other.

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  69. Is it possible to announce how long the restarts are expected to hold the sims offline? It is not funny to attempt 3 times to relog into a sim and end up in a group holding sim twice, and then get a 5 minute ban on third try when selecting 'home' instead of 'last location' for the location. And there seems to be no 'support' channel for submitting a suggestion, other than entering it here and hope the customer service staffers will get this, somehow, someday, someway. It's been off 15 minurtes now. How much longer should one wait before attempting to relog into their sim?

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  70. @SGW
    This is totally beyond our control.
    If your region is taking a long time to come back online after the rolling restarts, then you need to file a support ticket with Linden lab directly from https://support.secondlife.com/create-case/
    Choose "Land and Region" then "Report an offline region".
    They are usually pretty fast getting regions back online.

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