Peek Into Second Life From The Web!

That’s right - you can now go to a web page and view almost any location in Second Life!

I received a note from Chenin Anabuki, Founder and CEO of Avatrian, LLC, who’s built a new service that let’s you do exactly that. The service is quite simple to use:

• Go to http://www.avatrian.com/Peek360/index.php 
• Enter your region and coordinates, and type in a short description
• Enter your email address
• Hit “Send Request”

That's when the fun starts. The service sends a bot to the specified location, which slowly rotates taking pictures. The images are stored on Peek360's server, and then are melded together into a seamless 360 degree panorama. The panorama is loaded into a unique URL that is then sent to the email address you specified earlier. Then just hit the URL and you'll see your own panorama!

Some ideas for using the service:

• Show your non-SL friends at work what your virtual home or business looks like
• Email the link to relatives so they can see what you're up to in Second Life
• Check on your virtual premises while you're at RL work

I suppose spying is also an option, as you could send the bot to any public location at any time. So if you're up to no good and suddenly see "Pararazzi Artful" appear and slowly rotate, you'd better disappear quickly!

Getting Ready for Winter!

Somehow I had some time this weekend to build some new effects, including an entirely new line of Teleportation effects.

Geez, I think I need a coat in this picture! Brrr! These three winter effects are now available at Electric Pixels:

• Snower Personal, which produces a vast amount of snowflakes around you when you wear the effect.
• Snower Subtle, which produces a much smaller amount of snowflakes. I am not sure which one is best for you, but now you have a choice.
• WinterKit, which includes not only Snower Personal and Snower Subtle, but also the new Breath effect. It produces a frosty breath every seven seconds and when combined with the snow effects makes the scene look very cold!

I've also produced three new Teleportation effects. These are worn like many other effects, except they are inactive until you teleport. Then when you rez they will activate for two seconds. What happens next depends on the effect:

• RaveRinger TP produces a small blast of multicolored streaks along a randomly angled plane. It goes off only once when you teleport, like all of these teleportation effects.
• NightFog TP instantly produces a 10m area of complete darkness. The effect slows after two seconds and the darkness gradually lifts. This would be great for a spooky halloween entrance!
• SuperFog TP instantly produces a 10m white cloud all around you. Again, it disperes in about two seconds.

A word of warning: the teleportation effects might be considered rude in some areas, so be very sure that you will be well received when you teleport!