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Educators looking for OpenSim alternatives to Second Life are currently limited to ReactionGrid or Jokaydia Grid, which is operated by ReactionGrid - or have to set up their own grid. That changed this week when Houston-based FireSabre Consulting, a virtual world developer focused on educational and non-profit clients, launched its own Starlight grid.

Have you ever had enough to create shortcuts again and again on your desktop, type and retype the login URIs again and again ? Just put them to the trash and install OpenSim Launcher ! Now you can choose the grid you want to connect to among dozens of others, and choose the viewer you want to use among Second Life viewer and RealXtend ! Never retype your avatar name again ! It reminds them for you. You may have different avatar names on each grid. Just select the grid and the corresponding avatar name shows up ! Your passwords are never stored anywhere for more security. You can also clear your stored identities.

An OpenSim grid.

PixieTec, a virtual worlds development company based in Germany, released the preview version of its browser-based PixieViewer today, which allows users to visit OpenSim grids without installing any software or plugins. PixieViewer is based on HTML 5 technology, and runs in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and other modern browsers. It loads instantly, and is fast and responsive. To access it, all users have to do is go to the login page and create a new user account.

Owen Kelly, Lecturer in Online Media, Arcada University of Applied Sciences, Helsinki talks about: the origins of the idea of virtual worlds in science fiction; the launch of Second Life and what it set out to do; why people want to live a virtual life; buying and selling virtual goods; different identities with avatars; the US tax authorities' interest in gambling in Second Life; how OpenSim evolved as a competitor to Second Life; and the attempts to create a universal software (hyper grids) for virtual worlds.

Lumiya Viewer is a Second Life and OpenSim grid client for Android phones and tablets.

Teachers and librarians explore the potential for immersive learning in virtual worlds.

Designing Digitally, Inc., the web-based training firm that specializes in E-learning, virtual worlds, and 3D simulations, was recently awarded a 2011 Air Force Virtual World contract from the United States Air Force Research Laboratory located in Dayton, Ohio. This means the simulation experts at Designing Digitally, Inc. will dedicate the next year to creating an OpenSim virtual world grid, called Virtual Discovery Lab (ViDL), in which high school and college students can explore these technical topics in a hands-on, educational environment.

Havok allows free use of the physics engine for anyone who doesn't charge for the games built on the platform. There are no non-profit OpenSim grids yet that use Havok.

An article about how to design the best central landing spots in a region, and how to avoid other common mistakes.

Staff ICT trainer at an independent K-12 school who had explored Quest Atlantis, OpenSim and Second Life Teen Grid. She has just esablished virtual 3D space for their school with OpenSim + ReactionGrid.

"Waymarker 88221 This build located on the Kitely Grid is dedicated to teaching the basics of Open Sim Blender skills and other related tools. Please see list for tools you will need to take our classes, tutorials and workshops. "

A good collection of free OpenSim content.