- 4chan hell raisers finding fame brings heat?
- The 10 dumbest mistakes network managers make
- NetApp quits bidding war in face of EMC opposition
- CompuServe closes after 30 years
- Google to launch open-source Chrome OS this year
Google has entered yet another space with the launch of Lively, a tool for creating 3D social spaces on Web sites, which is now available in a public beta test.
The platform lets users create and personalize their own character, so-called avatars, and their own rooms, which is nothing new: Second Life does as much.
But a key feature of the Lively platform is integration with the regular Internet. Users are able to create a room, and embed it with their web site or blog, writes Niniane Wang, Engineering Manager at Google, on the company blog.
Rooms can also be integrated with both MySpace and Facebook pages, and there is also support for playing YouTube videos and showing photos in virtual TVs and picture frames, according to Wang.
The inspiration for the platform was the realization that the current social world is too static, according to Wang.
With Lively she wants users to be able to interact using words, 3D graphics and gestures. The furniture users pick for their room should give visitors an idea of who they are, and it is more poignant to receive an animated hug than seeing the text "[[hug]]" displayed on the screen, according to Wang.
To be able to use the Lively beta, users need a computer running Windows, and either Internet Explorer or Firefox (the browser is the client), and be older than 13.
Immediately after the launch comments are starting to appear, and it's a mixed message. The fact that the platform only supports Windows, at least so far, annoys some, especially Mac users.
Users are also complaining about the interface, which they say is too clunky, and questioning whether there is really a need for another platform. There are also reports of the Firefox version crashing. So Google seems to have its work cut out for it, but it is after all only a beta, although some suggest it should only be an alpha version.
But at the same time there are also those who think Google will dominate the field, and the cartoon-style graphics are also given a thumbs-up.
The Leader in Network Knowledge
Partner Content
Explore the Ultrium Edge
The powerful tape technology can address data security with tape encryption as well as long term data protection.
Find Out More
Disk and Tape Square Off
Discover what disk and tape really cost and which solution provides lower total cost of ownership and optimizes energy use for your organization
Download this White Paper
Don't Fall for the Myths
The Clipper Group explores the truth behind the myths of tape, digging into the misconceptions in the disk vs. tape debate.
Review this information
information examination
An examination of information security issues, methods and securing data with LTO-4 tape drive encryption
Read this analysis
Comments (8)
No, idiot. It's just a bitBy Anon on July 10, 2008, 8:49 pmNo, idiot. It's just a bit of fun. It's a game. Society isn't 'becoming' cartoons in a social world. Jeez.... you sound like people who said 'we'll loose the...
Reply | Read entire comment
Googles 3D platformBy Anonymous on July 9, 2008, 3:26 pmNice stab at a 3D platform that is browser-based. I will be evaluating it deeply and posting at StevenGroves.com
Reply | Read entire comment
So no Linux, no Mac?By Anonymous on July 9, 2008, 11:03 amMicrosoft isn't the only horse in this rodeo, surprising they didn't try to build something that was more platform agnostic. What about Mac? Linux? iPhone?
Reply | Read entire comment
Alpha version for sureBy Anonymous on July 9, 2008, 10:04 amI just installed it and ran it in Firefox. About 1000 error-dialogues started popping up. I had to use my taskmanager to kill the application. I might try it again...
Reply | Read entire comment
Unless you've actually played in Second life and either made thiBy Anonymous on July 9, 2008, 10:00 amyou can't understand how it could be so rewarding. I'd made friends with people in SL who were unable to walk but could FLY and more in SL. If Google can make...
Reply | Read entire comment
View all comments