Monday Backtalk

What's been going down with The Lab these past few days?

Originially noted at the start of last week, there was a Billing Processor Error. Specifically, residents experienced a "Red-X" error when trying to set up billing information. This has apparently been resolved. The short term solution was holding the shift key and clicking reload, maybe more than once. There was also an issue with PayPal "No Payment Source" errors the required customers to delete existing payment agreements and set up another. Also, particular numbered AmEx Gift Cards were not clearing through LL's payment processor.

The Linden Blog announced problems with search on April 12th. Substantially the same as search issues occurring just days prior. "As with previous problems, these should be intermittent and short-lived."

The Lab announced the removal of ratings in the upcoming Beta Test Grid. This is no great loss and it's good to see some of these functions left for the greater SL populace to take on via third party applications. However, I have never really understood the need to rate anyone on a personal level. It didn't really fit with the image LL seeks to portray for their product. On the flip side, a serious rating/trust system for SL businesses would be a useful tool, particularly for new residents. Unfortunately, due to the infantile nature of the entire human race, we will manage to mangle any such tool such that it resembles the personal ratings and is no longer a true measure of SL business. The Blog announcement included a list of resident sights seeking to provide just these types of services. One notable squabble has already popped up regarding one of the sites. Seemingly just another slickster trying leach a few dollars by forcing residents to pay to view comments made about them. No big deal, unless you run a business. Fortunately it seems there may be another option in the works, provided by someone that has been successful in tangentially related efforts through SLUniverse.

On the heels of the ratings removal, we have the April 13th announcement of the new Beta Test Grid. The new version hopes to fix rendering issues with 1.14.0, a tweak to the mature content flag in search that will allow for more granularity - noting a non-mature parcel despite it's location in a mature region, the previously mentioned ratings removal, and an LSL Wiki browser embedded in the viewer (for LSL Wiki Help). As usual, there is a full list of items and bug fixes. Buried in that list were bug fixes to fix avatar reverting to default appearance, fixed a case where you could not modify your modifyable object, and a number of viewer related display concerns. Let's all grab a seat and watch the implementation fireworks on the 18th.

Finally, on Saturday, April 14, there was the minor matter of inventory loss reports. Apparently some folks were experiencing inventory reverting back to default. In other words, losing all their items. The Lab Blog helfully noted that you should look in the Lost and Found, clear your cache, and look into region rollbacks as possible culprits. Of course, this is no comfort to those residents that actually lost all of their inventory, but The Lab was still investigating the reports and have helped a few individuals already. You probably needed to clean that inventory cesspool anyway. Additionally, now you don't have to pull ideas out of your tuckus as to what to do in SL. Go forth and shop. Fill those inventories.....and those economics stats.