Interface Comments

I can't really comment on speed or anything, as my machine is under minimum spec.

But here's a few comments on the new interface, personal observations:
1. The Chat button in the lower left really gets to me. In the PC client, with IM in the lower left, I can just flick my mouse down there and click. The 'infinite button' due to screen edges really helps bringing up the IM window since there is no keyboard shortcut. Since the Chat functionality is probably going to be activated most by the Enter key, in my opinion it would be better served to have the IM window in this easy to reach location.
2. Same can be said about the Map button being in the upper right. Easy to flick up and reach without thinking, but less important as you can get to the minimap window (big target) and do the same.
3. Disappearing text entry field. This seems like it would confuse new users, instead of having it readily available as it is now.

So far I haven't seen any visual weirdness or other bugs, however it does seem like the volume is extremely low. My SL "System Volume" setting is at max, and my Mac's system volume setting is just over 50%, yet everything is incredibly quiet. Has anyone on a machine that isn't under-spec encountered this?

For reference, I've got an 800Mhz G4 iMac with 512MB ram, on the geForce 2 MX card (32M). I get about 4-5fps with all the settings on low.

I'll be sure to reply with the answer tommorow, as my machine is above specs (minus the Panther). Once my panther arrives tommorow morning, I'll install and run SL. Yay.

Ok scratch the low sound volume comment, I had this usb headset plugged in and it was coming out of that, not my speakers.

Thanks for the comments! In 1.2, the IM button will be picking up a shortcut key. We're still working on button placement, etc. Keep the feedback coming.

James

Yeah, it was mentioned to me last night that IM was picking up a shortcut key, that is good.

Oh, and another thing.. the text entry window, can it be longer? Stretch to fill like the current one does.

EDIT: Eh, my original post sounded funny. I just wanted to say I do like the new interface quite a bit, I just hope that the progress continues.

Where's the shout button?

Shift + Enter? Control + Enter? One of those..

Anyone take a screenshot of what it looks like on the Mac? I don't have a Mac but I'd be interisted in what it looked like. If there isn't much difference just ignore this

First off, bravo for finally putting an IM window toggle in, thanks mucho!

However, my discerning eye noticed that the two little bars that displayed prim usage and land ownership in the sim are missing from the minimap overlay.

Will these be returning, or accessible somewhere else (even if by scripting call)?

Thanks.

As noted, the mac alpha GUI is caught somewhere between the current 1.1 and 1.2 codebases. From my desktop, I can have 3 completely different UIs running simultaneously, each with a significantly different look and feel. There are a few inconsistencies in the mac alpha that will be ironed out soon.

Can anyone post a few screenshots with the new UI?

I actually took a shot of it, Eggy, but it's downstairs on the mac -- I will have to upload in the morning.

Here it is

Interesting. I suppose I'm more used to the current one but it certainly makes sense. Reminds me of There though just about every game these days has buttons at the bottom.
I would prefer to have a tiny quicklaunch bar with the buttons and a tray for minimized windows, you know, like every windows box has had for the past 5 years

Ah, thanks, Phoenix. Hopefully they'll be back in some accessible way (script, Debug, UI).

I noticed the F9-F11 keys are supposed work the dancing gestures, but they are overridden by the standard Expose keys in Panther.

This is true if you are in windowed mode, but full-screen mode captures those keys correctly last time I tried.

Is anyone but me a bbit annoyed by the non-Mac key-mappings? Things like using ctrl- instead of the apple key for the keyboard shortcuts (e.g., ctrl-V to paste). And conversely, apple to bring up the pie menu (right-click equiv) instead of ctrl.


Meek