06-15-2004 11:55
Welcome back! Second Life Version 1.4 is now available.

This release gives you some great new ways to add character and drama to your Second Life, including the ability to upload custom animations, to stream music to your parcel, and to share data via XML-RPC with the real world. Plus, those of you with Second Life partners can now express your affection for all to see in your profile.

• Custom Character Animations – animate your avatar to do almost anything you can imagine. Using an open .bvh file format supported by products like Curious Lab’s Poser®, you can create and upload :30 animation files to Second Life, endowing your avatar with distinctive “moods” and movements. Animations will work just like other Second Life asset files, and can be saved to your inventory, attached to objects, or joined together with a new gesture sequencing tool to create longer combinations.

• Theme music for everyone – Live streaming audio support allows you to link to Internet audio sources. You can program soundtracks for your own property, or broadcast among other things, live sportscasts, talk shows, or DJ soundtracks direct from real world clubs to Second Life clubs. Don't like your neighbor's music? Just turn it off.

• Live Connections to the Real World - XML-RPC allows data and commands to be sent back and forth between disparate systems over the internet. In Second Life, this means computers outside of Second Life can communicate with Resident-created objects and scripts in-world. Some applications for XML-RPC include faster in-world blogging, the ability to send newsfeeds into Second Life and the capacity for store owners to manage their inventory remotely.

• Profess Your Love - With the new Profile option, Second Life couples can make their relationships official. Married and connected Residents will be able to designate their partners on their profiles in-world where their relationships will be visible to the rest of the community. Can’t be married in real life? Try Second Life. For more information, visit www.secondlife.com/partner.

For more v1.4 details be sure to read therelease notes! And for a more complete summary and help, try the Second Life Starter Guide.
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