04-01-2003 15:59
Hello Second Life Closed Beta residents,

We wanted to let you know we've posted a new version of the Second Life software for you to download. With this v0.5 release, you'll see a number of new features such as more animations and enhanced performance. Also, the Closed Beta will soon be moving to an Open Beta with the goal of letting many more people into Second Life. How does the new version and the Open Beta impact you?

- Version 0.5.0 is available now on the Second Life website. You must update your software to access Second Life.
- More hours of availability during Open Beta
- Many new Residents coming into Second Life - help make them welcome and grow the community - more Residents means a bigger world.
- Debut of the Prelude simulator on the mainland which replicates the orientation experience greeting new Residents.
- Integration of a Community Standards Abuse Reporter into the Second Life software
- Financial adjustments: We have fixed several money bugs and some accounts have been adjusted accordingly.

New Version
Version 0.5.0 is now available on the Closed Beta website. The new version must be downloaded and installed for you to log into Second Life. Our new residents should note that we occasionally release updated versions of Second Life. Some versions are required, some are optional because they usually address bugs which you are not likely to encounter. If they are required, you will receive a message while logging in that says "new version available." Please go to the Closed Beta website, log in, then download and install the new version. The latest version will always be available on the website.

Increased Hours of Availability
In the upcoming weeks, expect to see expanded hours as we move toward an open beta period.

More Residents
Second Life will have many new faces as folks try Second Life out for the first time. Help to make them feel welcome by saying hello and sharing your knowledge. The more people join Second Life, the larger the world can become.

New Island Sim
On your way to the outlands? Stop by the new island sim (located south of Clementina). This sim is a copy of the new-resident "Prelude" sims. As part of the New User Training (NUT?) program, new residents now start on any of the various Prelude sims. As many residents did not have the opportunity to go through training, this sim is being provided so you may walk though the same tutorial that all are new residents are going through. Refresh your skills, marvel at the beauty, have fun. To begin the same training program, start at the ivory dome and click on the glowing green Second Life logo.

Upholding Community Standards
The abuse reporter is located in the "help" menu. Community Standards violation, including inappropriate chat in PG sims and content violations can be reported automatically via this reporting mechanism. Please take some time to read the Community Standards and understand them before reporting possible abuses.

Financial Adjustments
Several bugs were found in the last version that allowed some people to incorrectly receive money for specific types of in-world activities. This bug was not widely known, but has been fixed. A number of residents have had adjustments made to their Second Life accounts in order to compensate for the bug. If you feel that the adjustment was made in error, please email [email]support@lindenlab.com[/email].


Linden Lab would like to especially thank our residents who have taken the time to host events, write scripts, teach others, invite friends, create amazing buildings, give us feedback, customize amazing avatars, play games, laugh, and constantly be a source of entertainment and amazement to us and the residents of Second Life. Second Life continues to evolve as a community of creative people in a world of their own design.

Best wishes and have fun,

Linden Lab and the Second Life team

Linden Lab
577 Second Street, Suite 200
San Francisco, CA 94107
Phone 415.243.9000
Fax 415.243.9045
www.lindenlab.com