Version 1.8 New Features

Version 1.8 was released on November 2, 2013. This is a relatively minor new release, primarily about adding support for some new products. It also introduces a few new features, fixes some minor bugs, and gives the HUD a more polished look.

There will also be an upgrade available for Remote Controls shortly, but not yet.

Upgrade instructions.

New Products

Version 1.8 includes support for the following new products:

  • CCU Simulated Training: When you purchase a new CCU, it now comes with a guided tour that points out many of the major features of the CCU, helps you do some initial configuration (like setting your owner and root password), and suggests how you can customize yourself or be customized by others.
  • New Mesh Access Panel Editions: Previous Access Panel editions are built from prims and include invisiprims, which are no longer supported by SL and do not work as expected for those with good graphics cards who use Advanced Lighting Model. Four new editions – Arch Edition, Mesh Iris Edition, Mesh Lightbox Edition, and Ring Edition – have been introduced that use mesh for a more detailed appearance at lower display cost, and look good to all current viewers. They are resizable and have features to help make them look great on a wide variety of avatars. Look for the “Perfectly Positioned Panels” vendor in the Installation area for a walkthrough guide to setting up your panels so they make you look your best.
  • Remote Access Chip: This device contains the same functionality as the current Remote Control, in a design meant to be installed in a construct and interface directly with its cognitive systems. That is to say, it’s a HUD-based Remote Control. The Remote Access Chip is compatible with a ACS CCU units, Nekobots, and Cinis Skism’s power core. You must have one of these systems installed, or the Remote Access Chip will not work for you. Support for other construct control systems may be added in the future if their makers provide information about how their system can be identified.

CCU Changes in Version 1.8

Version 1.8 also includes the following new features and improvements:

  • The default program modules included with the CCU have been redesigned for improved organization, to clarify some comments, and to add new settings that have been added in recent versions (remoteok, effectshutdown, effectstandby). When you upgrade from an older version, you will be given a folder containing the new program modules, but if you’re happy with your current programming you do not need to use the new ones.
  • The “removeondress” setting added in 1.7 has been removed (it was too confusing), and is now automatically set to the same folder as “clothingfolders.” This means that when someone puts clothes on you, they always have “Put on” and “Replace with” options.
  • You can now add to the configuration notecard for your Access Panel a list of people who are always authorized to open it, even if it is locked. (Format: canopen:username1,olduser.lastname). You yourself are automatically on this list. You might add your owners, for example.
  • A new “setnowarn:” action has been added for program modules. It works exactly like “set:” except that it will never trigger a warning that there is a conflict with another value for that setting. Use this when you are intentionally programming a potential conflict (e.g. when setting the title in a personality module, which may be overridden by a “This unit is frozen in place” message sometimes). Use “set:” instead when you think there is no conflict, and you will be warned if there is.
  • Support added for new attachments to the CCU, such as a Remote Control Chip.
  • Occasionally the CCU will flash when the rule reminder changes, to draw your attention to it.

Version 1.8 also includes the following bug fixes and minor improvements:

  • CCU textures have been improved
  • Connection indicators on CCU HUD dim when unit is shut down or in standby.
  • Frozen animation is preserved through upgrade and CCU restarts.
  • The Hardware menu (accessible from the Workbench) now gives a little more and better information.
  • When an info notecard is requested it is given only once, not twice
  • Access Panel now goes dark when unit is shut down.
  • Eliminate a spurious “You cannot operate yourself” message that occurred when you allow someone to open your locked Access Panel.
  • If you respond “Not ever” to a request to allow someone to open your locked Access Panel, you will no longer be asked again the next time they try.
  • The text of the notecard that comes with the ACS AO Stopper has been clarified.
  • If you use the “blind” effect for shutdown or standby, hovertext remained off even when you are reactivated. It no longer does.
  • The main text of the CCU (name, owner, and control settings) sometimes failed to appear when you reattach the CCU or log in. This should no longer happen.
  • Some menu options that were useful on the old Workbench but are no longer needed on the new one have been eliminated.
  • A new feature recently added to SL caused units to start playing a walking animation while being carried when frozen. This has been fixed.

See also the changes in Version 1.7.

New Remote Control

The new Remote Control version 1.8 offers the following new features:

  • The names offered on the connect list are now sorted.
  • If there are specific units you frequently connect to, you can add a notecard to your Remote Control whose name is that unit’s username (e.g. “brattle”) and whose contents are a single line containing that unit’s password. After doing that, you will automatically be logged in with that password whenever you connect to it. Be careful, though – if you allow others to use your Remote Control, this feature will also work for them, and may give them more access to your unit than you want them to have!
  • The Remote Control now offers a Detach option to simplify putting it away.