Lumiya, Popular Android Viewer for Second Life, Gone from Google Play -- But Still Works (For Now)

Update, May 6: Lumiya still seems to be available on SlideME Android Marketplace

Frustrating and possibly bad news: Lumiya, the popular SL viewer for Android devices -- over 100,000 copies have been bought at $2.99 each -- is no longer in Google Play. This about a year after word that Lumiya, created by SLer Alina Lyvette, was removed from the official Third Party Viewer Directory.

The good news is it still works: I just logged into Second Life with my Samsung tablet, and the SL replica of Notre Dame Cathedral faithfully started to display. (And impressively well, for an Android client!)

I've reached out to both Linden Lab and Alina for clarity, and hope to update this story soon. I haven't received any message from Alina since 2014, when we talked about her real life as an LGBTQ person in Putin's oppressive Russia. But no reason as yet to assume anything -- it may just be a simple technical issue.

My personal hope is Linden Lab hired Alina, got her out of Russia, and she's happily working in the San Francisco office on a new, official Android viewer that will be published to Google Play soon. But standby for more on what actually happened when I get any update on what actually happened.

Hat tip: /SecondLife, where there's an interesting discussion of this news.

Comments

[MisterB1969]

I hope everything is okay, and becomes available again. I need to reinstall it.

[The Lunatic Fringe]

Removing it from 3rd party listings had to hurt sales- developer likely abandoned SL for opportunity were those they do business with are not overnight cutting off the ability to pay rent or put food on table- LL is WELL KNOWN to destroy a business overnight without warning that has made the mistake of becoming overly invested in the platform.

[Xannziee]

I mostly use this mobile viewer. Without it Its not likely I will continue sub.... 😢 Mobile connection is a MUST 2019...

[Sugami]

Well the good news is that gaming streaming services like Shadow are becoming more popular and with Shadow you can stream SL in ultra on your portable device.

[I identify as an attack helicopter]

Word of the street is Linden Lab filed a complaint of IP Infringement against her in the play store forcing her to discontinue the viewer availability and development.

[Ricardo Torres]

Hello, you can still get the viewer as an apk or from aptoide which is an apk withing a apk like the playstore.

[Jared]

I've played for nearly 13 years the last 6 on mobile. It's time to move on. You really dropped the ball on this one LindenLabs

[aqua]

what is shadow if so can i have link on how to get it?

[Whitegirl661]

Update. Lumiya is available for free on aptoid now.trusted and safe.i have downloaded and it works great.passed virus scan with avg too

[Stacy Whitney]

for those of you who may not have found out..Lumiya is available on slideme.com. You have to first download and join slideme, then purchase lumiya..yes this sucks for those of us who had bought it already on play store..but we have to do it again..then you purchase and download Lumiya. You will get pop ups saying your device wont allow you to download it, but will give the option to do it anyway

[Stacy Whitney]

p.s..there is a free version available on that sight as well, but is an older version

[Mike]

Lumiya viewer is still available on Aptoid