SlashGear

Second Life is quaking in their virtual boots today with the launch of Lively, a virtual world add-on for Explorer and Firefox browsers. The service lets you customize your avatar and embed rooms into web pages to chat in using GTalk. Google is hoping to service users who aren’t interested in installing a full software program, but instead a single plug-in.

Although it does not fully compete with Second Life, the intent is undeniable. So far, the main difference is Lively’s lack of a single world where all users can converge and move about. I’m sure this is next up on Google’s to-do list. When it comes, look out for the targeted advertising that Google is so known for.

Besides needing less software, Lively allows you to view YouTube videos in your virtual room and post Picasa pictures on the walls. Now you and your friends can GTalk in your virtual mansion while watching the best of Stewie Griffin. Isn’t virtual life grand?

[lively via: techcrunch]