New UI Changes & UI Fixes For Second Life Mobile Private Alpha – May 2024 Update

New Android Alpha builds and iOS builds are now available as of 10th May 2024 bringing a more clearer organized Settings menu, displaying the latest version numbers/licensing info along with many user inferface fixes.

In the latest builds it is no longer possible to visit Adult-rated regions using Second Life mobile app. Favourites are now marked visually to indicate if the chosen location cannot be visited.

New Settings menu

General Settings

Developer Tools

Feedback

About – New version numbers

Public Beta Coming Soon

The lab are now planning the big transition of the Second Life mobile app from Private Alpha phrase to the Public Beta phrase very soon. It’s not clear on if Public Beta will launch before or after SL21B. I think Public Beta will most likely start end of Q2 2024.

The Public Beta phrase would include Premium members and Basis members I would guess and then more developments/new features will be rolled out later in 2024/2025+. There is a lot to still look forward to with Second Life mobile.

• Q1 2024 – 1st January – 31st March
• Q2 2024 – 1st April – 30th June – 98% chance
• Q3 2024 – 1st July – 30th September – 95% chance
• Q4 2024 – 1st October – 31st December – 80% chance

The lab have said that “expanding the audience for the app means that we must comply with app store requirements, including limits on the types of content that can be displayed in apps”. The lab are working on finer controls for content maturity in order to allow maximum freedom while complying with app store requirements

---

What’s New ?

UI changes

• Menu > Settings is more clearly organized
• Menu > About Second Life displays version number and licensing info

UI fixes

• Timestamps no longer display while typing messages
• Text in the title bar no longer wraps, so you can close groups with very long names
• Automatic login when app is opened
• Display “Unnamed parcel” when parcel name is empty
• Keyboard no longer obscures text fields (Android only)
• Sorbon Beach (The Lost Gardens of Apollo) removed from Mobile

---

Early Days Of Alpha Testing

Overall good progress has been made since the lab first announced (5 months ago) for Private Alpha on 13th December 2023. It’s good the lab have been informing the Second Life on a regular basis on the progress it’s making.

I have been currently testing out the early access versions of the Second Life Mobile Private Alpha since late January 2024. So far the mobile experience has been getting better since the start of 2024 with really useful improvements and fixes.

The UI changes recently have improved the mobile experience a lot but there is a ton of things missing (not yet rolled out) like add the SLT time, Linden balance, group notices, mini-map/world map, option to take snapshots, inventory much more. The lab are working hard through the roadmap for Second Life mobile and soon everyone will be able to use it.

I am looking forward for when new improvements are made to the Second Life mobile app and when the wider audience can start using it.

New SL21B Multiple Areas On The Map

Since the start of May 2024 there has been good progress made for the upcoming SL21B event scheduled for 21st June through until 21st July 2024. There are now new multiple areas that new development is taking place for SL21B. It appears there are stages in progress. some water regions and that there is a new template for general exhibit regions. One of the regions is called “SLB Spicy” which is interesting as this was mentioned on the SL blog at the end of last year.

The first batch of SL21B regions arrived back on the grid back in mid March 2024 with two build regions along with a group of planning regions and since then it’s been steadily progressing. There are now 31 “SLB” regions in total on the grid. This overall number here may be lower at the grand opening due to the planning regions etc which may or not be used for the public.

There is now roughly 40 days remaining until the grand opening day of SL21B. As we get closer to the opening day the big merge will take place where all the “SLB” will come together in one big land mass. More region map transformation and more build development is to be expected within the next five weeks.

Here are the latest SL21B map previews as of Monday 13th May 2024….

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Applications For SL21B

• Shop & Hop Application – Applications close on May 12th, 2024
• Performer Application – Applications close on May 31st, 2024 (Announcement)
• Volunteer Application – Applications close on May 12th, 2024 (Announcement)
• Exhibitors Application – Applications close on May 12th, 2024 (Announcement)

Stay tuned for more SL21B news and developments very soon.

New Developments In The North East Of The Ranch Continent

Swell Waves – 13th May 2024

Last week six new Ranch regions were added on the grid in the north east part of the Ranch continent in Second Life. The new six regions are called Urchin Sea, SSPNeva Missbehavin, Starboard Drift, SSPCedar Bluff, Swell Waves, Swill. The Moles are working to finish these new regions for the Second Life community to enjoy and explore.

It will be great once the Ranch sub continent joins with the Sansara continent in the north west corner. Everyone is still watching this area and waiting for new regions to be addd to finally connect both the continents up together.

Six new regions added north east corner – May 2024

There is now a new railway bridge and double railway tracks that has recently been built along the coastline. Loads of new Ranch Linden Homes will be built in the days/weeks ahead with new interesting areas to explore.

Starboard Drift – 13th May 2024

More development updates soon on my blog. Stay tuned for that.

Lab Gab: Tilia Acquisition

On Friday 26th April 2024 there was a special Lab Gab (27 minutes / 6 seconds) on the new Tilia acquisition hosted by Strawberry Linden and Oberwolf Linden (Executive Chairman, Brad Oberwager). For anyone that has not watched it yet then the full session is above to watch again. I think many found the lab gab to be very useful as many questions were answered and concerns addressed.

Oberwolf talked about user fees for payment processing and he has no intention to change fees any which way as the result of the new deal with Thunes. LindeX is expensive to run and maintain so there may be changes made on a business benefit basis in the near future. I thought it was interesting to get a glimpse into Oberwolf’s thought process and it’s in line with what was said in previous years about what the plans for Tilia were.

The Thunes deal has gone ahead because this is apparently good for Linden Lab/Second Life. There is nothing negative about this new deal. Oberwolf still remains fully supportive of Second Life and he is willing to put more money from the sale back into Second Life which is great news.

I think many are now looking forward to the upcoming Community Roundtable hosted by the lab and this meeting will take place at 9am SLT on 20th May 2024. The location will be announced nearer the community roundtable meeting date.

Oberwolf Linden and Grumpity Linden will be at the first Round Table meeting where there will be an open Q&A part and further discussion on the Tilia acquisition and mention on the new upcoming Second Life Policy updates.

For the latest discussions check out the Second Life Forums in the General Discussion Forum section to hear what the community thinks about the news.

New Community Roundtable: 20th May Possible Date ?

In the recent lab gab (24mins/14secs) held on 19th April 2024 Grumpity Linden talked about the new upcoming Community Roundtable with Second Life Leadership which is due to launch in late May 2024. In this new roundtable Linden Lab executives will be regularly available to meet directly and in real time with the Second Life community like the weekly user office hours. Linden Lab are looking for ways to improve communications with the Second Life community.

This new community roundtable will be more of a general purpose user group for the community to provide input to the leadership with ideas on how to improve Second Life. More details for how to participate in the new community roundtable will be announced soon. The lab are working hard now to improve Second Life from the inside out.

The lab had said this on 23rd April 2024 “This is good news for Second Life residents and creators. More options without additional costs. We are having an open meeting on May 20 and can discuss in detail”. This was posted just after the press release for the recent Thune acquisition.

20th May 2024 could be the official date for this new community roundtable to take place in Second Life. We will have to wait and see.