Category Archives: VR

If you are looking to Update ahead of the curve.

by

Update on Windows 11 minimum system requirements

Yep it’s that time again Just when we all thought Windows 10 was the last version of Windows we would ever have to get. Well guess what? After testing this version I think its going to be better and easier to maneuver. So check it out set to release Beta this month. Remember and updated computer helps run your Second Life Better.

Today we’re releasing our first Insider build for Windows 11, and we’re looking forward to the insight that comes from you installing and using on a variety of your PCs. Last week’s introduction of Windows 11 signaled the first step on our journey to empower people with the next generation of Windows. With a new generation comes an opportunity to adapt software and hardware to keep pace with people’s computing needs today and in the future.

The intention of today’s post is to acknowledge and clarify the confusion caused by our PC Health Check tool, share more details as to why we updated the system requirements for Windows 11 and set the path for how we will learn and adjust. Below you will find changes we are making based on that feedback, including ensuring we have the ability for Windows Insiders to install Windows 11 on 7th generation processors to give us more data about performance and security, updating our PC Health check app to provide more clarity, and committing to more technical detail on the principles behind our decisions. With Windows 11, we are focused on increasing security, improving reliability, and ensuring compatibility. This is what drives our decisions.

Why new Windows 11 minimum system requirements

Windows 11 is designed and built as a complete set of experiences, unlocking the full power of the PC our customers have come to rely on, including in areas like security, reliability, compatibility, video conferencing, multitasking, playing, creating, building, learning and more. We need a minimum system requirement that enables us to adapt software and hardware to keep pace with people’s expectations, needs and harness the true value and power of the PC to deliver the best experiences, now and in the future. To do that, we were guided by the following principles:

  1. Security. Windows 11 raises the bar for security by requiring hardware that can enable protections like Windows Hello, Device Encryption, virtualization-based security (VBS), hypervisor-protected code integrity (HVCI) and Secure Boot. The combination of these features has been shown to reduce malware by 60% on tested devices. To meet the principle, all Windows 11 supported CPUs have an embedded TPM, support secure boot, and support VBS and specific VBS capabilities.
  2. Reliability. Devices upgraded to Windows 11 will be in a supported and reliable state. By choosing CPUs that have adopted the new Windows Driver model and are supported by our OEM and silicon partners who are achieving a 99.8% crash free experience.
  3. Compatibility. Windows 11 is designed to be compatible with the apps you use. It has the fundamentals of >1GHz, 2-core processors, 4GB memory, and 64GB of storage, aligning with our minimum system requirements for Office and Microsoft Teams.

Using the principles above, we are confident that devices running on Intel 8th generation processors and AMD Zen 2 as well as Qualcomm 7 and 8 Series will meet our principles around security and reliability and minimum system requirements for Windows 11. As we release to Windows Insiders and partner with our OEMs, we will test to identify devices running on Intel 7th generation and AMD Zen 1 that may meet our principles. We’re committed to sharing updates with you on the results of our testing over time, as well as sharing additional technical blogs.

PC Health Check App

With these minimum system requirements in mind, the PC Health Check app was intended to help people check if their current Windows 10 PC could upgrade to Windows 11. Based on the feedback so far, we acknowledge that it was not fully prepared to share the level of detail or accuracy you expected from us on why a Windows 10 PC doesn’t meet upgrade requirements. We are temporarily removing the app so that our teams can address the feedback. We will get it back online in preparation for general availability this fall. In the meantime, you can visit our minimum system requirements page here to learn more.

First build of Windows 11 available to Windows Insiders today

Today, we’re releasing the first preview build of Windows 11 to the Windows Insider community. In support of the Windows 11 system requirements, we’ve set the bar for previewing in our Windows Insider Program to match the minimum system requirements for Windows 11, with the exception for TPM 2.0 and CPU family/model. By providing preview builds to the diverse systems in our Windows Insider Program, we will learn how Windows 11 performs across CPU models more comprehensively, informing any adjustments we should make to our minimum system requirements in the future. We look forward to the product feedback and learning as it’s an important step to prepare Windows 11 for general availability this year – thank you to the Windows Insider community for your excitement and feedback thus far!

Have a great week from all of us at Zoha Islands and Fruit Islands.

Catch Up With All Of The Meet The Lindens Episodes At SL18B

by

Catch Up With All Of The Meet The Lindens Episodes At SL18B

Posted on by Daniel Voyager

For anyone that has missed any of the SL18B Meet the Lindens series episodes then here are all the catch up videos in full to watch again. The 2021 Meet the Lindens sessions at SL18B have been pretty popular this year and have all gone really smoothly without any major technical issues. Saffia Widdershins and Strawberry Linden along with the rest of the team have done a great job this week interviewing many well known Lindens/Moles.

Featuring Oberwolf Linden, Patch Linden, Grumpity Linden, Brett Linden and the Moles. I would imagine everyone will be back next year at SL19B scheduled for mid June 2022. The SL20B celebrations in 2023 will be huge as that would be a big important milestone.

All these episodes featured below are at least one hour to two hours long. Find out about the roadmap for Second Life, the next Linden Home theme, the passing of Ebbe Altberg, latest updates on the SL Mobile development and much more.

Live events at SL18B will end on Sunday 27th June however the SL18B regions will remain open until Tuesday 6th July 2021. There is plenty of time to explore the birthday regions and exhibits during it’s quieter days ahead.

Monday 21st June 2021 – Lab Gab SL18B Special / Linden Lab Leadership Team with Oberwolf Linden with Brett Linden, Grumpity Linden and Patch Linden

+ The Second Life Book Club with Draxtor Special at SL18B with Philip Rosedale & Tom Boellstorff

Tuesday 22nd June 2021 – Patch Linden – VP of Product Operations

Wednesday 23rd June 2021 – Grumpity Linden – VP of Product

Thursday 24th June 2021 – Brett Linden – VP of Marketing

Friday 25th June 2021 – The Moles – Linden Department of Public Works (LDPW)

Please spread the word about all of the SL18B talk sessions. Well done to everyone that made SL18B a huge success. Yay.

Have a great week from all of us at Zoha Islands and Fruit Islands

 

Katiaportugal Genesis Performs Live in Second Life While Streaming

by

Singer Performs Live in Second Life While Streaming Her Real Life Performance on YouTube & Facebook

I’ve caught countless live music performances streamed into Second Life over the years, but performer Katica Pajic (Katiaportugal.genesis in SL) has a fresh new twist that I haven’t seen before: While performing in SL, she also streams her computer display/webcam feed on Facebook and YouTube. That way, you not only get to watch the virtual show, but can also watch Katia singing (and chatting with her audience) in real life.

She started doing shows like this in April 2020, during the height of the pandemic, and after a brief pause, began doing so again, often performing twice in one night.

The inspiration, she tells me, is “to show people how it looks from the performer’s side and who are they behind their mic.” And also, that “I am not just an SL name… I am a person.”

I love this extra level of engagement, and it’s also a smart way for performers to build their brand. Anyway, Katia’s next show is set for tomorrow at Noon and 2pm SLT — follow her Facebook and/or her YouTube channel to watch!

KatiaPortugal SL YouTube Facebook stream

Have a great week from all of us at Zoha Islands and Fruit Islands.

Second Life Destinations: Titmouse Animation

by

This week Drax interviews Chris Prynoski, who runs Titmouse Animation with his wife Shannon. Don’t miss the exclusive five-second shorts screening only in SL!

The screening region, which was custom built for the Smash Party event last year, has a very authentic urban grunge vibe. Matter of fact, the SL location represents an authentic replica of the Titmouse studios in Hollywood, California, right down to the porta potties. Surrounded by concrete buildings, the open outdoor space has everything from a cage to smash things with a hammer, an area to grab a beer, and plenty of seating to hang with your friends or meet new people. There are hidden Easter eggs to explore as well, like the lonely animator, who is working away day and night while his colleagues party.

Chris tells us that the tradition of screening five-second clips started 13 years ago. Traditionally screened at a live event in the physical world, previous events have taken place in cities like Los Angeles, New York, and Vancouver. This year, due to the physical constraints of COVID, the screening moves exclusively to Second Life through May 24.

Chris says this is an opportunity to let every animator do what they want, so be prepared for a wide range of styles as well as content ranging from wholesome to slightly crude, but always hilarious.

Hopefully we have many more inworld Titmouse events to look forward to. Last year’s premiere of the show “The Shivering Truth” brought thousands of Residents to the event. These collaborations illustrate the many possibilities within SL and make it so wonderfully hard to describe. Visit this quirky virtual cinema today!

Video Production Credits:
Draxtor Despres

607ca284e8f0e864414158.jpg

Titmouse Animation Screening Event

Visit the official event space for independent animation studio Titmouse (creator of “Big Mouth,” “Star Trek: Lower Decks,” and many more popular shows). Watch an exclusive showing of the “5 Second Day” animations in a virtual cinema and take out your frustrations in the smash cage. Don’t forget to grab your free swag, too!

Visit in Second Life
 
Have a GREAT Week From all of us at Zoha Islands and Fruit Islands

SL18B Regions Come Online

by

SL18B Regions Come Online

 


Soon to be renamed to SL18B

Second Life 18th birthday celebrations officially start next month from 17th June through until 1st July 2021. The good news is that the SL18B regions have now come online however they are all still named SL17B at this time.

It’s going to be great to see the visual changes of the birthday regions over the next six weeks or so depending on how often the World Map tiles update in Second Life. These regions are closed for public access currently.

On Thursday 6th May Linden Lab announced that the SL18B Shop & Hop applications are now open. This event brings together the top merchants across the grid for exclusive discounts and exclusive items. SL18B Shop & Hop will take place from 17th June to 1st July.

Current Applications For SL18B

Linden Lab will be sharing more information about SL18B over the next month. I’m sure there will be announcements early next month along with many group notices in the specific birthday groups inworld.

Not much longer to wait now until the birthday celebrations open.

Have a great week from all of us at Zoha Islands and Fruit Islands

Binge Watch Now!

by

Binge Watch: A Second Life Machinima Team Not Only Produced a Full-Length, Tarantino-esque Detective Series, It’s Now On Its Third Season!

With its arresting visuals, sardonic dialog, and music like the ironic Sinatra throwback heard above, the LANG series is something Quentin Tarantino* might make, if he was in the mood to make a comedic neo-noir machinima in Second Life.Watch all episodes here——-> Created by Zatch Ixchel and company, I wrote about LANG last January, and it’s not only kept up its solid pace, but is now teasing Season 3 as coming soon. 

“At this point, I’m inspired by the characters themselves, the world we’ve built here,” Zach tells me, when I ask how he keeps inspired to keep creating episodes. “I want to know what happens to these people. I want to know why Lang is the way he is. I want to know if Sadie will ever be satisfied.”

Watch Season 1 and Season 2 below so you’re all caught up before S3 drops:

As for the Season 3 teaser, you may get a hint of what’s coming soon:

LANG Second Life machinima YouTube

“I have an affinity for the back of the head,” says Zach. “Some have probably noticed — nearly every episode of the series will frame the back of somebody’s head at some point. This gives the viewer the sense they are joining the character in introspection. They are visiting the character in their most private quarters; the back of the head. In this teaser we visit Arthur Charles, uninvited.”

* Speaking of which, a couple well-placed sources once told me a regular Tarantino player was a motherf#@!ng Second Life user back in the day. So you never know!

Have a Great Week from all of us at Zoha Islands and Fruit Islands