Over at Tech Digest, Stuart Dredge makes his case for 5 companies who ought to have virtual worlds of their own. It's an interesting list, and one could argue back and forth the benefits of any of the 5. Being a fanboy, I'll admit to being excited by the thought of a Nintendo space, and an Apple space.

In fact, the Apple thing could be its aborted 'eWorld' with a new lease on life. Nintendo could have a ton of different areas themed after any number of their more popular franchises: Mario, Metroid, Pokémon, Zelda, etc. Google is something I think everyone's curious about, and Microsoft is fearful of. The BBC has been interested in the whole virtual worlds topic for a while now, witness their various SL events. Nokia? Ehnh. Any companies we should add to this list? Send 'em in!

Matthew Traum is an engineer with a blog called Design News. He writes in this article that he's spent some time covering SL and its potential for benefiting engineers, who will be able to tinker with complex systems without having to actually build those systems in RL, thus saving time and money.

While he's correct about that, a commenter on the site also reminds us that it's a complete pain to have to recreate existing CAD models using SL's closed prim creation system. Not being a content creator myself, and having only limited experience with the building tools, I can't speak to how quickly the average user can get up to speed in creating a model of any complexity. However, as Spin Martin has been talking about a lot recently, the other burgeoning virtual worlds, including whatever it is Google's up to, feature the killer app of being able to import 3D models from other programs, like the 3D Warehouse.

I don't know if it's possible at this point to add this functionality to SL, but it certainly seems like something LL should be concerned about. In a platform that touts user creation, it seems foolish to limit the creativity of its users to a proprietary set of tools. Open us up, LL!

I think it's funny that Microsoft should weigh in against Sony in this article, claiming that Sony apparently didn't realize what it was getting into with the whole 'Home' business. Is this a message that Microsoft is working on their own virtual offering?

We know that they have dabbled a bit in SL, but are they ready to go whole hog? I can't decide if it's the sort of thing that they'd do, or feel pressured to do, given that virtual worlds are on the rise, with many different developers putting their irons in the fire. Would it be wise for Microsoft to spread themselves out further by offering something significantly different from their current suite of applications? They're still trying to build up their online apps to compete with Google ... what do you all think? What would a Microsoft virtual world be like?

(Via Joystiq)

Adam Reuters, with this article, brings to our attention Timeless Prototype's announcement that he's opening up his amazing Multi Gadget to be harvested of its ideas. Additionally, he's considering the possibility of selling the MG's IP to the highest bidder. To get a little more background on his thoughts behind doing this, I contacted Timeless and asked him a few questions, which he was kind enough to answer.

When did you create the MG, and why?

This is the thirty-fifth in a series of mini-interviews with the residents of Second Life. For the most part, I'll try to leave the responses unedited, except where editing will grant greater clarity.

Lucy is a sweetie with an edge. I knew I liked her when she and I began trading veiled insults in the Shelter that first day we met. You can always tell who your friends are by how much they abuse you.

How did you first come to SL?:
I actually heard about it from a newspaper online, but I still arrived in SL without knowing exactly where exactly I
was. The journalist in the article apparently became a lapdancer. I couldn't say if this influenced me at all.

How did you choose your name?:
I wanted something that went well with Lucy. Alliteration is never bad is it, and mine's at least easy to remember. Wish I hadn't Googled it though.

What's your favorite thing about SL?:
I think it might be the Karma. It seems to me in SL if you take the time to be nice to people then people will
be nice to you in return. Good things seem to happen to people who have the right attitude about SL -- meeting people and letting everyone do their thing. Before I break out into song though I should also mention the
shopping ... and the possibilities for exploring ... and the (20 minute speech deleted).

What do you like least about SL?:
Empty profiles confuse me -- It's not often you get a chance to announce yourself to the World, why not grab it? A few things drive me to drink but I try not to get too annoyed, and if God had wanted us to endure abusive morons he wouldn't have invented the mute button.

Favorite hangout/store?:
Are there enough pixels on the internet for this answer? Far, far too many stores I love but Paper Couture is unique and for dedication to design I think Midian City takes some beating. The 1920s speakeasy that I haven't built yet is also utterly fabulous. In my head.

Name one new feature you'd like to see added to SL:
Actually, I'd like to see SL features added to RL, can we try that? Actual physical walk-in inventories would make me smile. In fact, I could spend all day wandering up and down looking at all my clothes ... Am I coming off very very shallow now?

Shout outs:
To all the Pretty Larceniers and people of The Pearl ... Um, (ponders) keep it "real" people. (Or should that be "Second"?)

Joe Lewis at webpronews.com offers his thoughts on the current rumor that Google might be thinking about creating its own immersive environment. True or false, it's fun to think about, so here are my two ellz.

Whether or not you've seen/played with Google Earth, it's clear that Google has done a great job with making a fun application. Its popularity is probably what prompted Microsoft to offer their own version, and I'm surprised Apple hasn't followed suit. These apps, however, are less sophisticated than SL by many degrees; they do one major thing, and they do them well, but there is no interoperability as yet.

Innovate Forum have launched their inaugural Innovation Management Awards, to foster and recognise innovation and "to help businesses reach the goal of producing and leveraging innovation more effectively."

There are seven winners, ranging from the nation of China, to Google and Steve Jobs. Innovator of the year, however, goes to Linden Lab's own Philip Rosedale, "for his pioneering work in developing and establishing a virtual 3D world where residents and even conventional businesses can buy and sell property, work, play, and shop at brand-name stores."

That's Philip's second award in two weeks. He scored an inaugural EDGIE award earlier this month.

Adam Reuter has posted about an interesting take on SL's continuing hype levels. According to the Gartner Group, which analyzes trends in the marketplace, SL's current publicity follows a common trend. We've seen it before: initial interest, followed by a boom of rampant idealism, then the inevitable peak, with a consequent phase of disillusionment, then a return to normalcy. It remains to be seen whether or not SL itself will survive its own hype, though Gartner analyst Steve Prentice seems to think it will.

Near the end of the edited interview, mention is made of SL's desirability as a possible acquisition, with Mr. Prentice favoring Google as a prime candidate. We know that Philip and Cory have presented SL to Google once already; who knows what wheels were sent spinning in the minds of the attendees of that meeting?

(Via Reuters)

Marketers, take note. We all know you're keenly interested in your various target demographics. We're not disputing that. We don't mind. We're really used to being marketed at, both in the physical world and in Second Life and ... well, okay, everywhere.

You like to know where your target demographic is. You like to reach them. You like to look at a space and know who the demographics occupying that space are.

Here's a little tip for you, honey ...

O ... kay. While this isn't directly related to SL, it is unusual enough to post. On a recent the Consumerist post, someone asked whether the new YouTube/Google deal will encourage amateur video production in sweatshops across Asia. The reply from the Consumerist? Yes, " ... much in the vein of Chinese sweatshops that go around questing in WarCraft and having Second Life cybersex for their lazy American masters."

Now, clearly, this is meant as a tongue-in-cheek bit of sarcasm to the (possibly fake) question. Still, the two comparisons are completely inequal. Who would have cybersex for someone else? Got a girlfriend who just has to have it all the time? Trying to break your fraternity's record for hot av-on-av action? Still a virgin, but are too shy to even cyber on your own? This is one of the weirder things I've seen out there, but Yog Bless the Internet, I'm still glad it's there. It's given me a reason to post.

(Thanks, Sushi Bligh!)