Phoenix Viewer Release Candidate 1.5.2.1050 is now live. Release candidate means that while the release has been thoroughly tested by our Quality Assurance Team and passed, we want to make sure that it is as good as it possibly can be. Your feedback over the next few days on this version will help us determine whether we get to change it to an official release. Although this is a release candidate, it is official and we will be providing support for it.
Where to download?
From our website links on the right -->
or from here:
http://wiki.phoenixviewer.com/doku.php?id=downloads
Change log here:
http://wiki.phoenixviewer.com/doku.php?id=change_log_1.5.2.1050
Why should you update?
- This build is expected to be our most stable ever, we have fixed dozens and dozens of crash bugs and spent a great many hours on stabilization.
- We have resolved many more sculpt rezzing issues.
- Most importantly... The Client Bridge prim has been updated.
About the Bridge update and why it is so important to update your phoenix viewer to this release.
The client bridge is an object the viewer creates and attaches to your avatar. This prim expands the functionality of the viewer for things like double click Teleports and greater accuracy for positional data of avatars on the built in radar.
The bridge was invented long before Phoenix and was created using a bug which allowed the prim to be 100% invisible. This is not the same as being transparent or made transparent with a texture, it is truly invisible. However if you could see it, you would see a default sized spherical prim attached to your waist.
Linden Lab is fixing the bug which was used to create this invisible prim and this fix will quite possibly cause the prim to render with a plywood texture. Effectively if you don't update, you will be seen wearing a plywood sphere around your waist when this fix is implemented by the Lab.
More info on this fix here: https://jira.secondlife.com/browse/SVC-6782
We have created a new bridge prim in this release using a very small micro prim, made fully transparent. When you first log into this release, please log into a region where you can build so the viewer can create the new bridge object. Once created the object should go to your Objects folder first, then be automatically moved to the #Phoenix folder in your inventory.
Remember that if you have problems with this release our Support Staff will be standing by to help, but please be patient and understand that they will be very busy over the next while.
Note: RLVa has not been updated due to time constraints.
Enjoy!
The Phoenix Viewer Project, Inc
Thursday, 21 April 2011
Friday, 1 April 2011
Gotcha! Happy April fools Day!
Our Phoenix Viewer users have all noticed on logging in today that there is a Neko avatar staring back at them on the login page. This is my avatar, Jessica Lyon, Project Manager of the Phoenix Project. There has been some concern that the viewer has been hacked, this of course is incorrect. Unfortunately our Legal department email address has been inundated with concerned residents. As some may not realize the login screen is loaded dynamically from the web and can be changed at any time, just as the LL login screen changes almost every time it's loaded. While most of our users got the joke, some were offended by it. I'd just like to point out at this time that there are websites all over the internet participating in jokes on this day including Wikipedia, Google, Microsoft, WoW and many many others.
There's a big list here http://aprilfoolsdayontheweb.com
I apologize if you were offended by the prank, it's all in good fun and tradition!
You can download the 12 different login page images here:
http://wiki.phoenixviewer.com/doku.php?id=april_1_textures
On another note.. and this is NOT a joke.. our fund raiser for Japan relief has generated over $1700 US so far thanks to you! Thank you all SO much! It's important to remember that while we may not have much.. we have more than they do right now. Keep those donations coming!
Sincerely,
Jessica Lyon
Project Manager
The Phoenix Viewer Project, Inc
There's a big list here http://aprilfoolsdayontheweb.com
I apologize if you were offended by the prank, it's all in good fun and tradition!
You can download the 12 different login page images here:
http://wiki.phoenixviewer.com/doku.php?id=april_1_textures
On another note.. and this is NOT a joke.. our fund raiser for Japan relief has generated over $1700 US so far thanks to you! Thank you all SO much! It's important to remember that while we may not have much.. we have more than they do right now. Keep those donations coming!
Sincerely,
Jessica Lyon
Project Manager
The Phoenix Viewer Project, Inc
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund
As the entire world knows by now Japan has been devastated with a massive Earthquake, Tsunami and now serious nuclear issues. Many coastal towns have been completely wiped off the face of the earth. It's time to step up and recognize how fortunate we are in comparison and share some of that fortune.
We have decided to hold a fund raiser, 100% of proceeds will go to http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/japan-earthquake-tsunami-relief/ whom will divide the proceeds to various rescue and relief organizations specifically for Japan relief.
We are making a call to action here, please donate Generously! This ChipIn will remain available for 1 month at which time we will make the big donation. You can donate in world to our donation bot named "PhoenixViewerDonations Memo" in world, or from our chipin below.
We have decided to hold a fund raiser, 100% of proceeds will go to http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/japan-earthquake-tsunami-relief/ whom will divide the proceeds to various rescue and relief organizations specifically for Japan relief.
We are making a call to action here, please donate Generously! This ChipIn will remain available for 1 month at which time we will make the big donation. You can donate in world to our donation bot named "PhoenixViewerDonations Memo" in world, or from our chipin below.
Saturday, 12 March 2011
Phoenix Viewer Public Beta 1.5.2.977
(Download links at the bottom of this blog post)
There are two reasons we are pushing a public beta out so soon after our 908 release.
1/ We've been spending a lot of effort and time trying to determine the instability issues which were/are present in our 908 viewer update for some residents. We think we have narrowed down the causes but need to test it on a larger scale than our QA team can provide. With more users on this beta, we'll have a better idea in a week or two if we have identified the stability issues. If you have stability or performance issues on 908, we would highly encourage you to try running this beta for a few weeks or longer.
2/ We wanted to get the Media Filter feature out to the public sooner rather than later. This Public beta has the Media filter and you can read the documentation here http://wiki.phoenixviewer.com/doku.php?id=media_filter. While the filter is still not yet 100% complete, it is fully functional for it's purpose which is to give you the ability to control the connections the viewer makes to the Internet. This feature is ON by default.
NOTE: This build will clear your cache before logging in for the first time. This is to ensure you don't have texture cache corruption issues.
Aside from the above, below is a short list of some of the other changes we've made since 908.
Change Log
Interface translation fixes
Media filter
Updated GPU table for video cards
Adjusted login screen for low resolution screens PHOE-717
ParcelWL, Apply new settings without delay on TP
Texture memory fixes
Improved Jira link parser for jira links in chat.
Show/hide tp offers in Prefs> Popups> "Show teleport offer popups"
Small Improvement to failed logins
Fixed right click > export inventory only displays for scripts and notecards.
Fix for ATI related stars in the sky
Fixed "Let scripts to control my play button" in Prefs> Audio & Video
Fixed PHOE-2581, Copy prim torture settings from sculpt map to regular boxed prim bugged
DOWNLOADS:
*If unsure if you can use SSE2, please use the SSE.
Windows SSE: http://downloads.phoenixviewer.com/windows/Phoenix_Viewer-1.5.2.977_BETA.exe
Windows SSE2: http://downloads.phoenixviewer.com/windows/Phoenix_Viewer-1.5.2.977_BETA_SSE2.exe
Mac: http://downloads.phoenixviewer.com/Mac/Phoenix_Viewer_1.5.2.977_Intel_Beta.dmg
Linux: http://downloads.phoenixviewer.com/Linux/PhoenixViewer-i686-1.5.2.977.tar.bz2
There are two reasons we are pushing a public beta out so soon after our 908 release.
1/ We've been spending a lot of effort and time trying to determine the instability issues which were/are present in our 908 viewer update for some residents. We think we have narrowed down the causes but need to test it on a larger scale than our QA team can provide. With more users on this beta, we'll have a better idea in a week or two if we have identified the stability issues. If you have stability or performance issues on 908, we would highly encourage you to try running this beta for a few weeks or longer.
2/ We wanted to get the Media Filter feature out to the public sooner rather than later. This Public beta has the Media filter and you can read the documentation here http://wiki.phoenixviewer.com/doku.php?id=media_filter. While the filter is still not yet 100% complete, it is fully functional for it's purpose which is to give you the ability to control the connections the viewer makes to the Internet. This feature is ON by default.
NOTE: This build will clear your cache before logging in for the first time. This is to ensure you don't have texture cache corruption issues.
Aside from the above, below is a short list of some of the other changes we've made since 908.
Change Log
Interface translation fixes
Media filter
Updated GPU table for video cards
Adjusted login screen for low resolution screens PHOE-717
ParcelWL, Apply new settings without delay on TP
Texture memory fixes
Improved Jira link parser for jira links in chat.
Show/hide tp offers in Prefs> Popups> "Show teleport offer popups"
Small Improvement to failed logins
Fixed right click > export inventory only displays for scripts and notecards.
Fix for ATI related stars in the sky
Fixed "Let scripts to control my play button" in Prefs> Audio & Video
Fixed PHOE-2581, Copy prim torture settings from sculpt map to regular boxed prim bugged
DOWNLOADS:
*If unsure if you can use SSE2, please use the SSE.
Windows SSE: http://downloads.phoenixviewer.com/windows/Phoenix_Viewer-1.5.2.977_BETA.exe
Windows SSE2: http://downloads.phoenixviewer.com/windows/Phoenix_Viewer-1.5.2.977_BETA_SSE2.exe
Mac: http://downloads.phoenixviewer.com/Mac/Phoenix_Viewer_1.5.2.977_Intel_Beta.dmg
Linux: http://downloads.phoenixviewer.com/Linux/PhoenixViewer-i686-1.5.2.977.tar.bz2
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
Media filter
Media Filter
Many of you who watch our bi-weekly office hours are aware that we have had planned for some time to implement a feature into the viewer which would improve security in regards to connections the viewer makes to the internet. We have recently commited a "Media Filter" feature in Phoenix and in Firestorm viewers respectively, although neither viewers have been released yet with this feature.
There have been many accusations that the media filter has been implemented to specifically target Redzone. While this is untrue, it WILL have an effect on Redzone, however we've intended to make a feature like this long before Redzone was on the grid.
For those who are unaware of what Redzone is.. It is a product used by land owners to aid in detecting, banning and preventing greifers from accessing their land using several means including alt account detection. Alt accounts are detected by recording and referencing your IP address and account names via your media stream into a database which can then be cross referenced by Redzone Owners.
There has been copious amounts of controversy and drama surrounding Redzone, but to break it down there are two main argumental points in regards to this product. On one side of the argument is (that land owners should have the ability to protect their land and the current "Report abuse" tool is ineffective). On the other side of the argument (Users have the right to protect the identity of their alternate accounts and their privacy).
Both arguments are true and accurate. And while we do have team members who represent both sides of the arguments the official stance of the Phoenix Viewer Project in regards to Redzone is Neutral. We do not wish to get involved, period. The decision to implement media filter was based on the fact that users SHOULD have the ability to control the connections their viewer makes to the internet. This is no different in principle than any firewall built into your operating system or otherwise.
I would kindly ask you to not discuss the Redzone debate in our in world support groups or contact our support people in its regard as it cripples our ability to provide support to our users who need it and has nothing to do with our project. Instead, discussions about Redzone should be taken to the Redzone Forums here: http://isellsl.ath.cx/madsci/forum/viewforum.php?f=8&sid=f38c40179f37209231be6a3f63c254eb .
Now, more about the Media Filter..
When enabled, the feature works by informing you of a connection attempting to be made by providing you the URL it is connecting too and gives you four options (Allow | Deny | Blacklist | Whitelist). There has been a significant amount of drama in regards to the URL being displayed so we made a compromise that it would only display the domain and obfuscate (mask) the rest. It would look like this "http://mediaurl.com/....../..... " and this is how it sits currently in our repository right now. HOWEVER, recently LL has made a decision to remove the ability to hide media URL's from within the viewer... in that.. media URL's will be visible to everyone under about land. You can see the JIRA for this here https://jira.secondlife.com/browse/STORM-1037. While we have not made a final decision on whether media filter will display the full URL there will be no point in us obfuscating (masking) it should that change be made final by LL. We WILL follow LL's Lead on this matter.
I would kindly ask that discussion about Media URL's be kept out of our in world support groups and support personnel as it cripples the ability for support to do their job. Any complaints please take up with Linden Lab on the above Jira link. This is their decision far more than it is ours.
When will Media Filter be available?...
We will very likely have a Firestorm Preview 2 release before we have another Phoenix Viewer update. We are aiming for a Firestorm Preview 2 release around middle too late March. If you would like to get a copy of it, please join our in world group "Phoenix-Firestorm Preview Group" and watch for the group notice.
We hope to have a Phoenix Viewer update as soon as possible however that release is being held up while we investigate and try to resolve the stability issues present in version 908. We also hope to have RLVa updated as well.
If you have issues with, or complaints specifically about our policy in regards to following LL's lead, feel free to contact me directly via email at jessica.lyon@phoenixviewer.com. Please direct all other issues to the corresponding locations listed above. IE. The Redzone blog, or the LL Jira.
Sincerely,
Jessica Lyon
Project Manager
The Phoenix Viewer Project, Inc.
March 8th Phoenix Office Hour Recording where I discussed and answered questions regarding Media Filter, Redzone, Greenzone and more..
For more information and an unbiased objective look into the topics discussed above please feel free to refer to the following articles.
Article by Doc Grun - Part 1
Article by Doc Grun - Part 2
Many of you who watch our bi-weekly office hours are aware that we have had planned for some time to implement a feature into the viewer which would improve security in regards to connections the viewer makes to the internet. We have recently commited a "Media Filter" feature in Phoenix and in Firestorm viewers respectively, although neither viewers have been released yet with this feature.
There have been many accusations that the media filter has been implemented to specifically target Redzone. While this is untrue, it WILL have an effect on Redzone, however we've intended to make a feature like this long before Redzone was on the grid.
For those who are unaware of what Redzone is.. It is a product used by land owners to aid in detecting, banning and preventing greifers from accessing their land using several means including alt account detection. Alt accounts are detected by recording and referencing your IP address and account names via your media stream into a database which can then be cross referenced by Redzone Owners.
There has been copious amounts of controversy and drama surrounding Redzone, but to break it down there are two main argumental points in regards to this product. On one side of the argument is (that land owners should have the ability to protect their land and the current "Report abuse" tool is ineffective). On the other side of the argument (Users have the right to protect the identity of their alternate accounts and their privacy).
Both arguments are true and accurate. And while we do have team members who represent both sides of the arguments the official stance of the Phoenix Viewer Project in regards to Redzone is Neutral. We do not wish to get involved, period. The decision to implement media filter was based on the fact that users SHOULD have the ability to control the connections their viewer makes to the internet. This is no different in principle than any firewall built into your operating system or otherwise.
I would kindly ask you to not discuss the Redzone debate in our in world support groups or contact our support people in its regard as it cripples our ability to provide support to our users who need it and has nothing to do with our project. Instead, discussions about Redzone should be taken to the Redzone Forums here: http://isellsl.ath.cx/madsci/forum/viewforum.php?f=8&sid=f38c40179f37209231be6a3f63c254eb .
Now, more about the Media Filter..
When enabled, the feature works by informing you of a connection attempting to be made by providing you the URL it is connecting too and gives you four options (Allow | Deny | Blacklist | Whitelist). There has been a significant amount of drama in regards to the URL being displayed so we made a compromise that it would only display the domain and obfuscate (mask) the rest. It would look like this "http://mediaurl.com/....../..... " and this is how it sits currently in our repository right now. HOWEVER, recently LL has made a decision to remove the ability to hide media URL's from within the viewer... in that.. media URL's will be visible to everyone under about land. You can see the JIRA for this here https://jira.secondlife.com/browse/STORM-1037. While we have not made a final decision on whether media filter will display the full URL there will be no point in us obfuscating (masking) it should that change be made final by LL. We WILL follow LL's Lead on this matter.
I would kindly ask that discussion about Media URL's be kept out of our in world support groups and support personnel as it cripples the ability for support to do their job. Any complaints please take up with Linden Lab on the above Jira link. This is their decision far more than it is ours.
When will Media Filter be available?...
We will very likely have a Firestorm Preview 2 release before we have another Phoenix Viewer update. We are aiming for a Firestorm Preview 2 release around middle too late March. If you would like to get a copy of it, please join our in world group "Phoenix-Firestorm Preview Group" and watch for the group notice.
We hope to have a Phoenix Viewer update as soon as possible however that release is being held up while we investigate and try to resolve the stability issues present in version 908. We also hope to have RLVa updated as well.
If you have issues with, or complaints specifically about our policy in regards to following LL's lead, feel free to contact me directly via email at jessica.lyon@phoenixviewer.com. Please direct all other issues to the corresponding locations listed above. IE. The Redzone blog, or the LL Jira.
Sincerely,
Jessica Lyon
Project Manager
The Phoenix Viewer Project, Inc.
March 8th Phoenix Office Hour Recording where I discussed and answered questions regarding Media Filter, Redzone, Greenzone and more..
For more information and an unbiased objective look into the topics discussed above please feel free to refer to the following articles.
Article by Doc Grun - Part 1
Article by Doc Grun - Part 2
Sunday, 13 February 2011
Phoenix Viewer Release 1.5.2.908!
Phoenix Viewer Release 1.5.2.908 is out! There have been a lot of bug fixes and improvements on this version... It is definitely the version you want to be on!
Just a few of the many things we've fixed.
- Improved overall performance and stability!
- No more RLVa Assertion Failure errors!
- 42 group auto detection, no more tinkering with settings, it just works!
- Showcase TP links have been fixed to work properly now for Windows & Mac, Linux in our next release.
- Updated Webkit helping webpages load faster in the web browser, improved memory handling etc.
- The momentary viewer lockups experienced on 373, 725 and 818 should be a thing of the past.
- Texture jumping issues where textures load, then unload, load, then unload.. resolved!
- Updated Viewer tags are in this release. You'll be able to see all the viewers out there more accurately
- Built in IRC client has been fixed! No more ??? ??? names in IRC rooms.
- Huge improvement to 'De-render', which now permanently de-renders items until they are removed from the Asset Blacklist.
- Skin downloader fixes
- Improved installer, no more downloading additional files during the install process.
- So much more!
This is ONE of the last Phoenix viewer releases we'll be putting out, grab it while you can!
If you have any problems updating, please remember to contact our 24/7 Support Team for help!
Windows SSE:
http://downloads.phoenixviewer.com/windows/Phoenix_Viewer-1.5.2.908.exe
Windows SSE2:
http://downloads.phoenixviewer.com/windows/Phoenix_Viewer-1.5.2.908_SSE2.exe
Mac:
http://downloads.phoenixviewer.com/Mac/Phoenix_Viewer_1.5.2.908_Intel.dmg
Linux:
http://downloads.phoenixviewer.com/Linux/PhoenixViewer-i686-1.5.2.908.tar.bz2
The Phoenix Viewer Project, Inc.
Just a few of the many things we've fixed.
- Improved overall performance and stability!
- No more RLVa Assertion Failure errors!
- 42 group auto detection, no more tinkering with settings, it just works!
- Showcase TP links have been fixed to work properly now for Windows & Mac, Linux in our next release.
- Updated Webkit helping webpages load faster in the web browser, improved memory handling etc.
- The momentary viewer lockups experienced on 373, 725 and 818 should be a thing of the past.
- Texture jumping issues where textures load, then unload, load, then unload.. resolved!
- Updated Viewer tags are in this release. You'll be able to see all the viewers out there more accurately
- Built in IRC client has been fixed! No more ??? ??? names in IRC rooms.
- Huge improvement to 'De-render', which now permanently de-renders items until they are removed from the Asset Blacklist.
- Skin downloader fixes
- Improved installer, no more downloading additional files during the install process.
- So much more!
This is ONE of the last Phoenix viewer releases we'll be putting out, grab it while you can!
If you have any problems updating, please remember to contact our 24/7 Support Team for help!
Windows SSE:
http://downloads.phoenixviewer.com/windows/Phoenix_Viewer-1.5.2.908.exe
Windows SSE2:
http://downloads.phoenixviewer.com/windows/Phoenix_Viewer-1.5.2.908_SSE2.exe
Mac:
http://downloads.phoenixviewer.com/Mac/Phoenix_Viewer_1.5.2.908_Intel.dmg
Linux:
http://downloads.phoenixviewer.com/Linux/PhoenixViewer-i686-1.5.2.908.tar.bz2
The Phoenix Viewer Project, Inc.
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
Upcoming Viewer Releases
Yesterday during our office hour we discussed an upcoming Phoenix Viewer release scheduled for this weekend, reviewed the Firestorm Preview #1 release, and talked about what to expect from the Firestorm Preview #2.
You can watch the office hour here: http://rezzed.tv/2011/02/the-phoenix-hour-8th-february-2011/
However I'll review some of the details here.
Phoenix Viewer Release update scheduled for this coming weekend. Some of the things you can expect to see in this update..
Firestorm Preview #1 was a huge success especially considering it was a pre alpha build. There are many people already using it full time! We're also very proud to say that it has an even lower crash rate than Phoenix 818!
Firestorm Preview #2 Is on track for the end of February and will be classified as an Alpha.
Some of the things we're working on for Preview #2 are...
We're very much looking forward to getting these viewers out to you and look forward to hearing your feedback.
The Phoenix Viewer Project, Inc.
You can watch the office hour here: http://rezzed.tv/2011/02/the-phoenix-hour-8th-february-2011/
However I'll review some of the details here.
Phoenix Viewer Release update scheduled for this coming weekend. Some of the things you can expect to see in this update..
- - 42 group auto detection from the server
- - Showcase links now work for Windows & Mac
- - Momentary viewer lockups have been improved
- - Texture jumping (where textures load and then unload) has been improved
- - Updated client tags, in the last few phoenix releases the client tag list has been failing to update, this will contain all the latest viewer tags
- - Build in IRC functionality has been fixed so that names show up properly again.
- - Many other bug fixes and performance improvements
Firestorm Preview #1 was a huge success especially considering it was a pre alpha build. There are many people already using it full time! We're also very proud to say that it has an even lower crash rate than Phoenix 818!
Firestorm Preview #2 Is on track for the end of February and will be classified as an Alpha.
Some of the things we're working on for Preview #2 are...
- - Radar to some degree
- - Bridge and llMoveToTarget teleporting
- - Completed Parcel WL settings/options
- - Login manager
- - Spell check (if we get time)
- - Cmdline prefs page
- - Preferences re factoring
- - Right click > wear on inventory folders
- - Temp Uploads
- - Broad cast viewer effects options
- - V1 style communications floater fix ups
- - Re designed profile panels
- - Accordions in many of the panels replaced with Tabs v1 style
- - Buttons in prefs> network; to open chat log, settings, crash log location folders
- - Proper Clear Cache button
- - Metaharper skin has a sidebar option like grey skin does
- - KDU for greatly improved performance, stability and texture rendering.
- - A variety of bug fixes found in preview 1
We're very much looking forward to getting these viewers out to you and look forward to hearing your feedback.
The Phoenix Viewer Project, Inc.
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