In Your Browser!

So you know, the whole "omg, SL in your browser!" thing has been talked about for a while. Personally, I always thought it sounded like a bad idea and I'd way rather have an IM service I can use with SL when I'm not in SL, or a better way to manage inventory & notecards while offline. But who listens to me, right?

Today I saw they opened up the beta for the browser thing. You can check it out over here if you wish to. You will NOT be with your own avatar. This is very very very beta and you'll join the world as a guest even if you put in your SL email.

These are straight screenshots from my computer. I didn't edit anything at all. Also, I didn't quite go in order with some of them because I just realized that I should have taken a screencap of the start-up page, and at one point my internet flickered slightly and I had to get a new guest avatar.

Okay, so, you go to the page and you are forced to watch this kind of cheesy little video while everything loads up. It makes SL look pretty damn fun, actually.




Just so you know, you won't be the first to discover music. Music was discovered a while ago.

After the video and everything loads up, you'll be asked to put in your email so you can start it up. No big deal, but they will send you an email after you log out so if you don't want the email, I guess use an account that you never check.

You'll show up as one of the default avatars, but if you press the avatar button, you'll be able to change into...well, one of the other default avatars. I chose the "Female Cosplay" av because I liked her pink hair. Oh, you also do not have a name at this point either. You're just a guest.

After choosing my avatar, I clicked on the Destination button and decided to go to the Eiffel Tower. Because why not, right?




[You might want to click through to go see the bigger size of the photo on Flickr.]


You cannot teleport anywhere except whatever is in the Destination guide, you do not have any inventory, and you can't take your clothes off. You know I tried!! So if you're thinking that you could use this to get your SLex on while at work - not in this beta. In fact, I don't think you can even private message anyone. At least, I did not see the option.

Oh, also? I realize this might be a big part of SL and maybe it's better to throw it at a newbie first thing so they know what's up, but I'm not QUITE sure that Linden Lab wanted this to be part of the new user experience.




Welcome to SL! Come get a Master!

I went to a few other places but there's just not a whole lot you can really do at this point. And hey, it's beta, I get it. I didn't expect to even be able to move, actually, so the fact that I could run around was pretty good. I did try to dance at some 80s club but that was a no-go. I could sit in a chair, though!

One of the funny things to me was the teleport screen.




Really, SL? You're getting dressed? Why bother? Most of your residents don't.

Anyway, it's kind of fun to just be a super-noob in your browser, but don't expect too much right now. I'm going to attempt to run it in my browser while I'm in world later to see if I can get a better photo of the guest avatar. But hey, give it a try. New stuff is fun to play with.