Second Life’s upcoming mobile app improves world graphics and now includes instant/direct messaging to other World SL users!
Photo taken by TavishBrock from the SL iOS app — Click here to teleport to compare and contrast.
Linden Lab continues to roll out closed alpha invites to Premium+ subscribers for its upcoming iOS/Android app for Second Life (see: "mobile updates" here). And outwardly, the app itself continues to be improved. Here are some new updates and screenshots from Rosehaven Estates’ longtime SLer TavishBrock resident, who gave us an early hands-on preview last month.
"The latest version looks much better than the first alpha." Tabish tells me. "The visual artifacts of missing textures are gone, making the world look much more realistic. Now I can get around and I feel like I have some idea of where I actually am (but a minimap would also help)."
The user interface looks very clean and simple, at least at the top level.
"There are missing features." Note Tavish, "However, it’s still early days and I think more features will be added as things progress. The virtual joystick works fairly well, but doesn’t deny keyboard controls (assuming they’re way down on the list of things to add, and rightly so)."
I’m hoping we get some kind of "wow" It’s a UI interaction that makes the user experience magically more intuitive than the desktop version, but we’re still waiting for its sign.
But real-time mobile has one big feature. You can message other online Second Life users through the mobile app! yes:
"Direct IM now works too." Tabish tells me. "You can send IMs with people nearby or on your friends list. You can also start a group chat with groups you belong to. When using the mobile client, you are in the default grid. The only reason you can’t send an IM to anyone is because there’s no way to search and find the person to start an IM session."
I think this means quite a bit. Second Life mobile app users already It is part of the main Second Life grid. Offering IM/DM functionality means the app is already very useful for casual interactions through the app.
By the way, Gogo from Juicy Bomb posted his iOS walkthrough along with a video.
Here are her pros and cons so far:
- chat with friends
- Explore places and destination guides
There is no world map yet. - Linden No Balance
- No land tab
- Difficult to navigate/move around.
I run around here and there because I haven’t learned how to walk yet. - Difficulty sitting on objects
- can’t select anything
- I can’t change my clothes
You can wear saved outfits. (You must log in to the desktop viewer.) - Lezzing isslowDo you think you expected it?
- coolMuch better than that dreaded Speedlight viewer.
Read the rest here!
All images courtesy of TavishBrock.
And thank you to the Virtual World Museum for helping support New World Notes posts like this one!