More on Project Skylight, the SL web beta. I tracked down perspectives from the Metaverse Journal, Tateru Nino, and Fawkes Allen; Daniel Voyager pulled together half a metric ton of video footage of what it's like on the ground with the client; the Ambrosia Dance Club blog coverd the FAQ in depth; and part five of the Tinfoil Hat Theory goes into Project Skylight in a good, business-minded overview.
What's it all mean? Yet another step away from existing residents by the Labs. Yet another move to gain potential new eyes on Second Life, long after those potential new eyes have turned away for things that seem like a better deal. More pressure, more layoffs, more changes, and more US-centric policies.
That being said, I don't think it's a terrible idea--domestically, at least--but I think it vastly misses the point. You have to have a top-of-the-line system to access it; you can only travel to Labs-approved spots; and it doesn't give you a lot of options. Is it the start of technology that may allow your mobile phone to access the grid? Sure. But it's baby steps yet.
And by the time the Labs are willing to take off the training wheels, will they realize the train's left the station? That's the big question, isn't it?
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My first mention, I'm flattered. Anyway, though I'll agree that right now it's a demo designed for guests and not current residents, I don't think that means it's a step away specifically. Most of the technology involved with this is likely coming from GAIKAI, so I doubt it's putting too much strain on their coders, especially with the rather nice release rate plans they have for Snowstorm.
Also, I will say that you don't need a top of the line system. That's the point. You could run this just as easily off any computer as you would Youtube or Hulu. It really comes down to Connection Speed, http://www.onlive.com/support/performance gives an idea of OnLive's requirements. Which come down to, "Have a computer with a pulse" and a 4-5 Mbps connection. That's wha-
t'll catch a lot of people, especially not in the US, but HD streamed over the net is taking off, Youtube, Netflix, Hulu, and a host of others less well known.
GAIKAI might be different, I admit, but top of the line isn't needed specs wise. Just a solid good connection. And there's sadly nothing that can be done to fix that, the client can physically get no lighter short of some amazing advance in codec compression. (Which requires decompression, which requires better processor.)
Either way, thanks for the link, and honestly I have a lot of hope for this. if only because I know so many others won't. I just pray they don't lose that potential.
It's not their ideas that are lacking, is the thing. It's that they're still ignoring basic stabilization of the main structure for the bright, shiny fun stuph. This needs to stop. Group chat needs to work before introducing the new and shiny. Overall grid stability. The Marketplace needs a total overhaul. SEARCH. Dear gods, search needs to work, and YESTERDAY.
And if it doesn't come down to system age, then again, I'm still out because I don't have the connection speed to run it, nor do many others. So it's still a wipe for current residents, while at the same time reaching out to potential residents who've already dismissed SL as has-been tech waiting to die of old age.
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