Important updates on Second Life Mobile App

Second Life is constantly pushing the boundaries of digital interaction and community building. Over the past year, this platform has gone through significant changes and improvements that have redefined the user experience – and there are still more ideas on Linden Lab’s agenda with the main goal of providing the most incredible virtual experience possible. There is no term for comparisons so far, Second Life platform being a clear unsurpassed benchmark in the virtual environment – and understanding Linden Lab’s vision, I am confident there won’t be any from now on either.

On Friday, December 6, 2024, Linden Lab hosted the second Zoom meeting with Second Life bloggers. A fantastic initiative, with benefits for both sides. The reason Linden Lab holds these meetings on Zoom, as mentioned, is to ensure a level of clear, accurate, broad-based information that reaches as many residents as possible. The Second Life blogger network is constantly growing and everyone’s contribution is considerable in all these efforts. Not to mention the constructive, trust-winning effect of an open, face-to-face dialogue.

MEETING STAFF

The meeting was hosted by: Brett Linden

Linden Lab management: Executive Chairman, Brad Oberwager / CTO Philip Rosedale / VP of Product and Engineering Grumpity Linden / Pluto Linden (Mobile UX)

MEETING TOPICS

The main topics discussed were:

The purpose of Zoom meetings.
Delay in replying Tickets/Emails.
Important updates about SL Mobile App and upcoming improvements.
Marketing Second Life and top-level goals for the platform.
The desktop viewer, accessibility and performance levels.

The purpose of Linden Lab Zoom meetings

As explained right at the beginning of this meeting, many residents may not read the posts/updates on the official website secondlife.com, but they may follow one or more bloggers. Doing this for a long time, the bloggers have created their own audience of readers compatible with their way of writing and sharing information – so LL is experimenting with routes of engagement with the broad user base of Second Life.

As a personal addition i would only wish to add that meetings hosted on Zoom platforms are successfully practiced in many multinational companies precisely for the real and important contribution they have in strengthening communication, bringing ideas and suggestions from different people who have experienced, in our case Second Life, in different ways – but also in strengthening mutual trust.

As mentioned in the Linden Lab Zoom meeting, these communication sessions will not replace other forms of meeting/channels gatherings. LL is experimenting with multiple ideas for improving their overall communications with residents, giving in the same time the extraordinary opportunity for bloggers to get involved in the process. The advantages highlighted in the meeting were: a) A face-to-face interaction between users and Linden Lab management and representatives; b) Bringing together around the same table different bloggers according to the core subjects the Linden Lab would like to discuss and receive feedback on.

What`s New from December 2024

“We’re trying to break down barriers of people coming in-world.” Pluto Linden (Mobile UX)

While talking about the important updates on SL Mobile App, Pluto Linden shared with us a presentation with some of the upcoming features scheduled to be implemented starting with December 2024 – and going through Quarter 2, 2025. A promising new feature for users of Second Life mobile application is that from December 2024 they will be able to create a new account directly from the application itself. Of course, this is the first step and maybe there will be voices saying that this option to create a new account does not (yet) offer all the facilities that we have directly from the Second Life web page. Right – and yet not. Any improvement process takes time, so let’s be patient and greatly appreciate each step forward, towards the final objective we all wish for.

As Pluto summed it up: “… a lot of the really exciting stuff is to come“.

Push notifications for select groups

Well, that is a good news indeed! Personally, I use Push Notifications for important applications on my phone: it’s practical, less time consuming while checking messages – so efficient. For residents who do not use email on their phones, this is an important feature that allows them to reply in real time to important messages, and thus maintain a high level of professionalism for their businesses or a more efficient communication with their group of friends.

IMs conversation remains saved

“If you come in [on mobile] today and come back tomorrow” … “that conversation will still be there…” Pluto Linden (Mobile UX)

Up-coming in first quarter of 2025

Address Bar

Another new feature meant to make it easier and efficient to use the mobile app that will allow residents to: a) Search/Save LMs; b) Share SL`Urls with users from other apps like: Messenger, WhatsApp, Discord etc.; c) Use maps.secondlife.com from mobile browser.

Focusing on providing a better experience to all residents while using the mobile application and paying great attention to residents using lower/mid-tier mobile devices , Linden Lab will add this new feature that will allow people to visualize – while the App is still loading – their friends list, to receive/see and reply to incoming messages.

Coming up – Q2 2025

In conclusion, considerable efforts are being made and the main focus is on Second Life residents. “So that means making Second Life easier – high priority; giving a better experience for current residents – high priority, because if you can satisfy that, then you can have those current residents bring-in lapsed residents. So everything that we’re thinking of goes in that lens.” – Executive Chairman, Brad Oberwager

However, to get “there” we have to start from “here“, so let’s keep an open mind, focus on sharing constructive feedbacks and keeping the passion and energy to invest in Second Life. I will return with more information in future articles. In the meantime – enjoy your Second Life and don’t forget to check the SL New Destinations opened by SL residents in the spirit of these winter holidays!