Cisco launches ISPN, 3d world for global channel partners

Cisco Industry Solutions Partner Network a 3-d world based on a trade show theme, was launched today, to permit it’s global channel partners (c40,000) to meet and exhange information with application providers adn manufacturers.

Loosely based on sites, such as Second Life, ISPN is easier for the user to operates, as itcomes with no download desk top application, no currency and no avatar to customize. It is also closed to members of the general public.

Cisco, is no stranger to the virtual world, having run a virtual space called Bandwidth Amphitheatre, for several months in Second Life.
Unisfair Inc, from California designed and house the servers for ISPN. Visitors click buttons to navigate as they move around the trade show. Currently communication is thorugh text, but Cisco do plan to add voice communication shortly.

Three months in development, with relatively modest start up costs, Cisco, plan to use the site for other purposes over time, adding a significant infrastructure, to support it.

Take up by vendors has been rapid, with 20 software vendors already on the site. The aim being to enable channel partners to actively investigate applications and those in development, in far greater depth than previously possible.

While providing a serious business platform, the idea behind ISPN is to create a more collaborative, engaging and fun environment, than the typical medium of interaction.

In a statement, Cisco said the ISPN will also support channel partners with industry training and Web 2.0 collaboration tools. Product discounts are already offered to channel partners when they collaborate with developers on new software applications through Cisco’s Solution Incentive Program, and the company hopes the new ISPN will expand on that initiative, a spokeswoman said.

Cisco partner are being invited to a video launch today 15th September

Link here, (don’t bother clicking if you are not already a partner)

virtual hair dyes and styles

Saw this today, which demonstrates the ways in which use of technology and web2.0 is an ever growing market.

The tool is for creating a new personal look, based on a photograph of yourself. Once you have uploaded the image you can play around with thousands of different looks, eventually creating your own space which you can share with others.

By using web2.0 in a focussed way, the creator of the ‘new look’ can get votes cast or comments posted, before heading down to the salon and getting it for real.

I think this kind of blending between social networking, web tools and personal profile is a cool approach. It isn’t viral, it isn’t widely talked about, but it is a cool application.

hair dye colors 

Freeworld3d 2.3.0 released

Freeworld3D 2.3.0 has been released, which will make it a more attractive tool for Second Life developers.

The following features have been added.

Second Life RAW heightmap loading/saving support.

- only heightmap channel editing is supported

- terrain MUST be a multiple of 256×256, as stated in the Second Life documentation

- access import/export heightmap feature by using the Terrain menu

Second Life RAW heightmap loading/saving support.

Freeworld3D is a fully interactive 3D terrain editor specifically designed for game development. FreeWorld3D gives you the ability to produce complete 3D terrain and environments in a matter of no time. FreeWorld3D’s and intuitive interface makes it extremely easy to use.

Freeworld3D 2.0 supports a new water rendering system with dynamic reflections using the OpenGL Shading Language. Don’t wait to see how your environment will look once its ported into an engine…see it instantly with Freeworld3D 2.0.Take a look at freeworld3d

Embeded video in Google earth 4.2

When adding a Youtube video, you can now provide co-ordinates for it. This will create a placemark you can embed in google earth, which displays an overlay of the video. Google maps does have the ability to show videos in placemarks, but requires i/frame and it can’t be long before either Google Maps supports KML or videos are enabled in google earth placemarks.

To push this forward the browser plug-in for Google Earth would be a cool move.

BidSL launches in Second Life

For auction addicts, who want to keep on bidding, without leaving the wold that is Second Life, BidSL have just the right idea.

Avatars can attend inworld auctions, placing a bid via any BidSL location and if that isn’t enough adrenaline for one day, live auctions are also on the agenda. Enabling the immediacy of the auction house without the incovnvenience of leaving the room.

Who said you need a First Life?

BidSL went live on Friday, though things look a little slow at the moment, with a total of one posting on the forum and 16 views.

Avatars will have the opportunity to buy and sell both First Life and Second life items through the auction house.

Good luck to BidSL, keep on bidding

Second life goes walkabout (again)

“*[2:44 a.m. PDT 6 Sept. 07] *

*Approximately six minutes ago, inworld services such as mapping, teleporting, and L$
balance display stopped performing reliably. *

Our Operations Team is responding as rapidly as possible, and we’ll keep you posted until
services are restored.

We apologize for the inconvenience.”

Linden Lab are having a problem maintaining the service on Second Life. The continual outages and service disruptions are doing no-one a favour and are reminiscent of the problems after release 8, when the grid remained unstable for about a month.

While a developmental platform is inevitably going to have problems, and Second Life is really still a Beta product, these continued failures are a disaster for Linden Lab, who want to position themselves at the forefront of the new wave of 3d virtual spaces.

New platforms are springing up all the time, some of which plug in to the Second Life construct.  (see deepgrid on this blog)

With pressures on in-world residents, such as recent land price collapse, the ban on gambling, thanks to the nanny state called the USA and derogatory remarks from the business community, the inevitable call that Second Life is doomed, will be shouted loudly.

I hardly think this is likely, but the very strong growth of the resident base in Second Life, will be harmed and developers will continue to search for a more stable and user friendly platform on which to develop their services.

The new secondlifegrid website launched yesterday, will not alleviate the problems and the continual reliance by Linden Lab to provide support services outside the 3d platform can only lead to further confusion about what Linden Lab really are all about.

Investors in Linden Lab, must be considering exit strategies, as the leading light of Second Life, continues to tarnish and it’s high profile, only hurts the more.

Second life LindeX errors

Having had a problem with purchases of Linden Dollars, an announcement was posted that all was well, but in typical Linden Lab style, this wasn’t quite what was meant.

A note was circulated…

LindeX purchases have been restored to both the Website and the in-world tool.

If you attempted to make purchases earlier today and received an error message, there’s a
chance your funding source’s validity is now being challenged by our payment processor.
If you find yourself unable to purchase L$, please visit your account page, drop and
re-enter your funding source information, and then wait fifteen minutes before attempting
to transact.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

A few brave residents tried the advice and some were met with….

A locked account being flagged for fraudulent behaviour.

It is heartening to know, LL are on top of their own virtual space.

Touchgraph google, facebook and amazon

Touchgraph, a visualization web2.0 company, have developed applications which operate with facebook, google and amazon, to create graphical interrelationship visualizations of networks.

As an example, google demonstrate the following inter-connectivity from www.anarchyintheuk.com a 3d web development business.

The software permits continuous investigation of links, creating useful or fun networks, for the casual user, or the dedicated professional..

Internet Marketing Wish List

A site, which does as it says on the tin.

IMwishlist, provides two tools for internet marketers. The first is a directory submission tool, there is a free version or a paid version. Currently the free version has 350 directories on its database. An easy tool for directory submissions for every internet marketer.

Article submission, also a free and paid for version, provides a database for article submissions, again something every internet marketer should consider.

A worthwhile resource. The premium versions provide greater visibility and effectiveness.

Submit Your Website To Thousands Of Website Directories Instantly!

Orkut gets a faceflift

Google have had a busy week with releases and updates, they now announce a facelift for Orkut. Orkut? what’s that many may well ask.

Google’s social network, which never caught on in a big way in the USA, has a massive following in Brazil and has just won the Pepsi-MTV Youth icon award in India and ocer 30 million registered users.

Narayan Kamath, a google software engineer,  writes on the Orkut blog,  “The change isn’t live yet, but starting soon, we will start rolling-out the new look.  To start, we will roll it out to a small group of users randomly selected, and will continue to do so until everyone is on the new site.”

Thanks Rodrigo for the screenshot of the new look Orkut