Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Joyous New Year!

Well it looks like we all survived the Mayan Apocalypse. Which unfortunately means we all have to go back to work after the holidays... and we still have to pay our bills :-( . Oh c'mon, admit it! You know you thought about how nice it would be to not have to pay bills anymore! :-D

On behalf of the entire team here at the Phoenix Firestorm Project, we would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah or whatever celebrations you partake in this time of year. Happy holidays and we wish you all a fantastic New Year! 

We survived 2012! See ya next year! \o/

Sincerely,
Jessica Lyon and the Team.

Ending support for the Phoenix Viewer

On Saturday, Dec 15th, we held an important office hour at which the subject was the removal of official support for our V1-based Phoenix Viewer at the end of this year. We are also no longer developing this viewer. (Not to be confused with the Phoenix-Firestorm Viewer, which will continue to be fully developed and supported.)

To be clear
- We are ending support for the Phoenix Viewer on Dec 31st, 2012. 
- If you are a Phoenix user we recommend you migrate to a peer-to-peer help group created for Phoenix users: “Phoenix Viewer Self Help.”

- We are NOT forcing you to use Firestorm! If you don't want to use Firestorm, there are a few V1 alternatives out there. Check out the LL Third Party Viewer Directory. 
- We are NOT telling you not to use Phoenix Viewer.
- We are NOT blocking Phoenix Viewer from logging in.
- We are NOT breaking Phoenix!
- You MAY continue to use Phoenix as long as you want, but be aware.. it will become more and more deprecated over time.
- LL is not intentionally killing Phoenix but be aware, there are changes coming in the new year that will break some key aspects of its usability. 

We will remove the download links on our main website to Phoenix in the new year, but it will remain available from our "Other Downloads" section of our wiki. We will not remove any documentation or JIRA issues reported against Phoenix.

Please watch the video recording of that office hour here and that should answer all your questions as to why we have made this decision.
You can also read the speech here, which I had prepared and read during the Office Hour that explains our reasons for making this decision.

I realize this decision will not be popular among our Phoenix users, and I apologize for that, but I ask you to please watch the video or read the speech BEFORE complaining or asking why in the blog post comments. Our reasons are sensible, responsible and logical. If, after you've watched the video, you still do not agree with our decision, THEN please feel free to complain and vent.

Jessica Lyon
Project Manager
The Phoenix Firestorm Project, Inc

Phoenix Firestorm Office Hour - Dec 15.

It's been a while since we held an Office Hour with our users and it's become apparent that one is certainly needed and overdue. For those of you unfamiliar with our office hours they take part both inworld and via a live video stream/chat where I address your questions and concerns on a live broadcast. The broadcast is also recorded for future viewing.

When:
Dec 15th, 2012 at 1:30pm until 2:30pm Second Life Time.  You will absolutely want to be there, or on the stream at least half an hour early to ensure you make it.

Who:
Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend but I especially want to see Phoenix Viewer users in attendance as the primary topic will be about Phoenix and its future. I also would like to see all you angry people who have been flaming and hating on us in our blog comments. I'd like to address your complaints so please at least be on the stream if you can.

Why:
Because the lack of Phoenix Viewer development and in fact the future of the Phoenix Viewer itself needs to be discussed and your questions/concerns need to be addressed.

Where:
Inworld at our Support Island. Here is the SLurl.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Phoenix%20Firestorm%20Support/169/128/4002
The region will fill up very fast so the alternative is the live stream here
http://www.phoenixviewer.com/stream.php

This is an especially important meeting for you to attend if you are a diehard Phoenix Viewer user.

Hope to see you there.

Jessica Lyon
Project Manager
The Phoenix Firestorm Project, Inc

Reports of Pink with 31155

We've had some reports of pink screen in the release of 4.3.1.31155 from people on ATI cards. This is a driver issue with ATI and there are ways to fix it. Please see the following link if you have pink screen issues.
http://wiki.phoenixviewer.com/ati#the_world_is_pink

Firestorm Major Release 4.3.1.31155

The time has come once again to deliver to our users another "major" update of the Firestorm Viewer. We may not have the shortest release cycles compared to other TPVs, but our updates do carry a LOT of value. This release is certainly no different, with a HUGE list of new features, bug fixes and improvements.

Major Release Feature Highlights...

* Fully integrated Phototools & Cameratools for photographers and machinima makers by Paperwork (our newest member):
    - Phototools is a phenomenally powerful interface for creating visually stunning and breathtaking environments best suited for Photographers and Videographers.
    - Cameratools gives you far more control over your camera, including the ability to save camera position presets.
    - Click to see examples of what can be done.
    - Click for documentation on Phototools.
    - Click for documentation on Cameratools.
    - Or best of all... click for the amazing video tutorials!

* V1 Search functionality revival by our newest developer, Cinder Roxley:

    - Cinder wasted no time making her mark on the project by bringing to Firestorm one of the single most requested options since V2 came out.

    - V1 Search is available under the Content menu as "Legacy Search" and as a Toolbar button.

    - Ability to search People, Groups, Places and Classifieds. 

    - This optional search method is a work in progress, more to come!

    - Click for Documentation

* Script recovery by Kitty Barnett of Catznip Viewer:

    - Open scripts are auto-saved locally every 60 seconds. 

    - In the event of a viewer crash, backed up copies of the scripts are presented to the user and returned to the Lost & Found folder if the user chooses. (More info)

* New Area Search, completely rewritten and vastly improved by Techwolf Lupindo:

    - Lightning fast results

    - Improved interface.

    - Loads of filters and options.

    - Click for Documentation

* Fully customizable Viewer Sounds by another new developer of ours, Panterapolnocy:

    - Find them in Preferences > Sound & Media > "UI Sounds 1" and "UI Sounds 2."

    - Allows you to change the default viewer sounds to anything you have in your inventory via Copy > UUID. 

    - Gives you options to play or not play particular sounds as well. 

    - Click for a Short video on how it works

    - Report collision messages to scripts;

    - Texture refresh on sculpties;

* Flickr snapshot upload improvements and fixes by Katharine Berry of Exodus (ty!);

* New Toolbar buttons;

* and on and on and on... 

RELEASE NOTES See our Change log for a complete list.

IMPORTANT: Because of the many skin and settings changes/improvements/adjustments we've made it is especially important that you perform a clean install of this build.

OpenSim

OpenSim has a build, too, with lots of improvements and fixes as well! 

Opensim release notes here:
http://wiki.phoenixviewer.com/firestorm_release_4.3.1.31155_change_log?&#opensim_new_features_and_improvements

Get the OpenSim downloads here:
http://wiki.phoenixviewer.com/fs_downloads_opensim

Enjoy!

The Phoenix Firestorm Team