Difference between revisions of "Login screen"

Revision as of 09:57, 2 June 2011

add versioning

The login screen (aka "splash screen") is aptly named, because it's the point from which you enter the Second Life experience. Its contents have changed over time, but it (minus the actual login form) can currently be viewed at http://secondlife.com/app/login

Now here's some Q&A about stuff that keeps coming up! This is not policy, just casual info to help you understand:

Who takes the pictures that appear on the login screen?

Mostly Torley, and the aesthetic web masterminds at Linden Lab have the final cut.

What format are they in?

Cropped 1280x786 JPGs. This makes them appear undesirably stretched on widescreen (like 16:10), but it's what we have for now.

How many pictures are there?

Usually 16 or so, which get swapped every now and then (the intention was "seasonally").

Each time of day (of which there are 4) has 4 or more screenshots, and they rotate. Restarting SL or refreshing enough times will show you a new one.

Where can I see all the pix?

Including ones that didn't make the cut:

Second Life Splash-Login Screens - Summer 2011 Refresh!
Second Life Login Screen Flickr group - Look back in the archives, the group isn't moderated and newer pics aren't related.
Spring 2009
Winter 2008
Summer 2008
Some of you may remember the WindLight preview splash

How can I visit where these pictures were taken?

2011-06-02 - Attributions page.
2011-03-15 - Torley replied to this question in the forums.
2009-04-06 - There aren't SLurls on the login screen. Torley explains related usability trickiness.

In the meantime with related intrigue, look at Torley's Flickr stream for OMG AWESOME ADVENTURES, where just about every pic has a "Visit..." link you can click on to teleport to... and keep reading.

Can I submit my own pictures?

No, not as of this writing. However, you're more than welcome to make submissions to the Destination Guide instead, which appear prominently on our website and within the viewer's Search window in the Destination Guide tab. The Destination Guide has a FAQ, too.

Why don't you just combine the login screen with the Destination Guide?

Great Minds Think Alike!

As of this writing, this is still a future hope on the big list o' things to-do.

So where else can I show off my pictures?

Many places. (Add yours!) There are several Resident-run snapshot sites.

And Torley might fancy seeing your pix, contact Torley directly.

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 The '''login screen''' (aka "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splash_screen splash screen]") is aptly named, because it's the point from which you enter the Second Life experience. Its contents have changed over time, but it (minus the actual login form) can currently be viewed at http://secondlife.com/app/login
-[[File:Second_Life_Login_Screen_2011-03-15.png|640px]]
+[[File:Second_Life_Login_Screen_-_2011-06-02.png|640px]]
 Now here's some Q&A about stuff that keeps coming up! This is ''not'' policy, just casual info to help you understand:
@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 == Who takes the pictures that appear on the login screen? ==
-Mostly [[Torley]], and the aesthetic gurus of Linden Lab's Creative Services Team have the final cut.
+Mostly [[Torley]], and the aesthetic web masterminds at Linden Lab have the final cut.
 == What format are they in? ==
-Cropped 1280x960 JPGs. This makes them appear undesirably stretched on widescreen (like 16:10), but it's what we have for now.
+Cropped 1280x786 JPGs. This makes them appear undesirably stretched on widescreen (like 16:10), but it's what we have for now.
 == How many pictures are there? ==
-Usually 16 or so, which get swapped seasonally (or thereabouts, this is still fairly new).
+Usually 16 or so, which get swapped every now and then (the intention was "seasonally").
 Each time of day (of which there are 4) has 4 or more screenshots, and they rotate. Restarting SL or refreshing enough times will show you a new one.
@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 Including ones that didn't make the cut:
+* '''[http://www.flickr.com/photos/torley/sets/72157626744684593/with/5790281055/ Second Life Splash-Login Screens - Summer 2011 Refresh!]'''
 * '''[http://www.flickr.com/groups/secondlifeloginscreen_/ Second Life Login Screen Flickr group]''' - Look back in the archives, the group isn't moderated and newer pics aren't related.
 * '''[http://www.flickr.com/photos/torley/sets/72157616222566082/ Spring 2009]'''
@@ Line 33: / Line 34: @@
 == How can I visit where these pictures were taken? ==
-[2011-03-15] [http://community.secondlife.com/t5/Favorite-Destinations/Log-in-Screen/m-p/752363/highlight/true#M317 Torley replied to this question in the forums.]
+* '''2011-06-02''' - Attributions page.
+* '''2011-03-15''' - [http://community.secondlife.com/t5/Favorite-Destinations/Log-in-Screen/m-p/752363/highlight/true#M317 Torley replied to this question in the forums.]
-[2009-04-06] There aren't [[SLurls]] on the login screen. [http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20090212135313/http://torley.com/why-i-dont-consistently-post-slurls-with-hi-res-snapshots Torley explains related usability trickiness.]
+* '''2009-04-06''' - There aren't [[SLurls]] on the login screen. [http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20090212135313/http://torley.com/why-i-dont-consistently-post-slurls-with-hi-res-snapshots Torley explains related usability trickiness.]
 In the meantime with related intrigue, [http://www.flickr.com/photos/torley/sets/72157605740036376/ look at Torley's Flickr stream] for ''OMG AWESOME ADVENTURES'', where just about every pic has a "Visit..." link you can click on to teleport to... and keep reading.
-== Aren't you concerned about attribution? ==
-Heck yes. You'll notice on [http://www.flickr.com/photos/torley/sets/72157605740036376/ Torley's Flickr stream] that he/she/it endeavors to attribute as much as possible in the absence of an auto-attribution mechanism. If you're ready to geek out, he even came up with [http://torley.com/make-a-macro-to-save-keystrokes-sending-sl-postcards this macro] to automate including parcel name + description.
-In the future, we'll hopefully have better ways — after all, it's a win for everyone to discover awesomeness in Second Life.
 == Can I submit my own pictures? ==
@@ Line 53: / Line 48: @@
 ''Great Minds Think Alike!''
-Various people have brought this up independently. We've considered ideas on this front. That's not a commitment to implement, but yes, we're aware. Enthusiasm rules, excessive overhead sucks — certain stuff like legal issues, a low-maintenance queue, and soforth need to be figured out.
+As of this writing, this is still a future hope on the big list o' things to-do.
 == So where else can I show off my pictures? ==
-Many places. (Add yours!) There are several [[Resident]]-run snapshot sites; [http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20100103171222/http://torley.com/show-off-your-newest-second-life-postcards-automagically Torley notes some here].
+Many places. (Add yours!) There are several [[Resident]]-run [[Snapshot_resources|snapshot sites]].
-Furthermore, the Second Life Blogs link to the [http://www.flickr.com/groups/secondlife/ biggest Second Life Flickr group], which is run by Residents. Also [[List_of_Second_Life_Groups_on_Flickr.com|this list of all Second Life Flickr groups]].
 And Torley might fancy seeing your pix, [[User:Torley_Linden/Contact|contact Torley directly]].
 [[Category:Culture]]