Have you checked out the updated Avatars United yet?
After months of back breaking digital work we are finally releasing an updated Avatars United for you guys to enjoy. Though radically different, today’s release is far from complete, so do expect frequent updates these coming weeks. Here are some of the new features:
Applications: From now on you will be able to install applications (apps) to fit your specific interest and if you want you can even build apps for the whole of Avatars United to enjoy. Some apps can be installed to your profile page while others will be installed to your groups (think DKP apps)!
Our first apps, found today, are classic features from Avatars United Beta such as blogs, photos, and comments that now can be installed/uninstalled. A new app is the “Feed Reader” that allows you to scan all your favorite feeds and share quality posts with your friends on Avatars United. Since we have built an open platform (OpenSocial) anybody can join and build truly unique virtual world apps. We’ve got some really cool stuff in the pipeline! If you’re a developer and you want to get in touch with us mail us at developers@avatarsunited.com .
Customization: One really cool change allows you to design your own profile page AND group page selecting a background picture and theme. Today’s catalog includes our own homemade artwork but will within shortly allow you to contribute with your own stuff. Drag and drop boxes is also on our “to do” list and should appear soon.
select backgrounds and themes for your profile page
Currencies: We are introducing our own virtual currencies with the first being Avatars United Coins! Avatars United Coins allow you to buy stuff like backgrounds and themes and can be acquired by answering surveys or purchased via mobile phone. Soon you will even be able to get Avatars United Coins by creating cool backgrounds and apps and selling them to others. We will also soon be launching a second currency that will be 100% achievement based but still allow you to buy cool stuff. You will only be able to “earn” this currency by doing things on Avatars United!
Live chat: After having received hundreds of feedback requests for it we are proud to announce the launch of live chat functionality, in cooperation with Meebo, for all worlds. At last you can hang out and talk with likeminded people without having to create intelligent forum topics.
Virtual Gifts: From now on you will be able to send people you like, respect or praise virtual gifts as tokens of appreciation. Funnily enough the most popular type of events on Avatars United 1.0 was the creation of events around people’s birthdays and rezzdays. In this new version of Avatars United you not only be able to add your birthday to your account info, but we will also let your friends and group mates know when your birthday is coming up.
send your friends gifts as praise or appreciation
Improved Groups: Not only will groups now be able to install applications for all members to enjoy but each group admin will have lots of management settings to play with to enhance role management.
3rd party logins: Since many people visit a variety of Internet sites on a daily basis we have allowed people to connect the Avatars United accounts with some of the major account providers out there. Simply put you will now able to log into Avatars United with your Facebook, Google, Twitter, OpenID, Yahoo, MySpace, Windows Live (and many more) accounts. If your friends sign up they will be able to enjoy an express account creation through 3rd party logins. 
login using your accounts on other social services
PLEASE NOTE
As you probably know we’re just a team of 5 childhood friends working on Avatars United from a garage in the outlands of Scandinavia. Our limited manpower has not allowed us to finish building all of the functionality we had originally planned to include to this launch. Hence the event functionality, the videos application and the photos application for groups are not ready yet. But will be… someday! 
Rest assured, all of the old data is saved and will be included as soon as we complete these features.
Now that you’ve read through this painstakingly long blog post, go to Avatars United, check out the features and GO NUTS! We would have never made it here if it this far if it wasn’t for your belief in us, so join us in our pixel shedding combat to make this the best social utility for virtual worlds in the world! (pun not intended)
All the best
/The Avatars United team
