"Beta" annoyance

Has anyone else noticed the recent slew of things tagged with "beta" that are around recently? Google, Digg, Flickr (though Flickr uses "Gamma) and Famster are just a few. I don't understand why they are calling these sites "Beta" when they seem nearly 100% stable! It's some kind of web pop culture movement maybe.

Anyway, I was having a look at new releases on the ITMS and I came across another shiny beta tag (see attached). This was the straw that broke the camels back for me. Why would something be called "beta" that is being blatantly released to the general public with 0 expectation of feedback? It boggles my mind.

Shiira seems to be about the only true beta software around these days.

/endrant

#411635

While it's part fashion (an absurd one at that), i also think it comes largely down to the whole liability issue with a lot of things. If something is titled beta, this implies that the author is not responsible for any issues that occur because it is still work in progress. Still irritating though.

#411639

Yes. It is somewhat annoying.

As for liability most of these places are doing legally questionable activites elsewhere. The last thing they need to worry about is the site.

#411640

While it's part fashion (an absurd one at that), i also think it comes largely down to the whole liability issue with a lot of things. If something is titled beta, this implies that the author is not responsible for any issues that occur because it is still work in progress. Still irritating though.

you're right

it began with the good'ol ICQ

i remember these days..

#411646

if people stopped complaining about free services having bugs and stuff i bet you half the web services that are "beta" wouldn't be.

#411649

the "just for you" section of the ITMS is in beta...it doesn't mean that it isn't complete...because beta also means "test product"

Thus, they are testing the "just for you" idea to see how people adapt to it. It doesn't always have to mean "buggy" software. And just because you are used to USING betas and reporting problems back....it can also go the other way. THEY are testing software, website, etc.

Also, by putting a beta tag on it, they are watching their backs, because if they decide to stop using said service, or change it in anyway, it brings to peoples attention that it might not always be the same or even available.

so...simma down :-)

#411705

I'm annoyed with this beta epidemic as well. Google uses it far too extensively, and Google is successful, ergo its imitators use the beta tag in an attempt at being successful too. It's inane.

#411713

Haha, I like this Group on FlickR- related to the problem:

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=yay2dot0logoparody&page=3

#411733

The whole BETA tag thing, yeah i agree it is a fashion trend, I think its all to do with liability if you release your website for the first time, you entitle it BETA as its new and something may go wrong with it, but Google use BETA for their Labs projects for essentially that, they are BETA and are not quite up to the grade yet, but with propper useage and feedback they will be.

Or .. Maybe he just simply made a spelling mistake, and meant to say BETTER .. ? i dunno

AJR1

#411772

I have been wondering why Gmail is still in beta. It's been around for at least a year now.

-NC

#411875

Gmail is in beta, so they can change features whenever they want, delete accounts no questions asked, and force people to use cell phones to sign up. Basically so they can do whatever they want and have a good excuse. (its still in beta)

Google's real beta stuff in in their Labs. And even then its near finished.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Development_stage#Beta

Apparently beta is first version released with all of the features. (someone should tell google that)

#411882

thats funny, the other day i realised that gmail was still a beta and i said wtf, and did a little research, and i guess its to limit the number of accounts spamers can register for.

but yeah, all this beta stuff just came out of no were. did they just not release betas before that, or just call them version 0.9?

#412123

but yeah, all this beta stuff just came out of no were. did they just not release betas before that, or just call them version 0.9?

There were plenty of betas. The issue is that Google transformed the term into a combined tool of marketing and disclaiming.

#412150

its a web 2.0 fad.

#412271

I wouldn't nessesarily call it a 'fad'. Desktop software has been using greek letters to signify what stage an application is at for what seems like eons now. Alpha typically means 'preview, highly unstable, no support', Beta typically means 'Mostly stable, bugs may exist, don't put all your chickens in this, little to no support, but I would like some feedback'

It's far less popular to go beyond the first two letters into Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, ect..

Rumshot and Nubs (my two active projects) are both in beta at the moment because my time on both projects is sparse as is the support I can provide to people. While both are stable, bugs exist for some users.

Hope that helps.

#412818

Gmail is in beta, so they can change features whenever they want, delete accounts no questions asked, and force people to use cell phones to sign up. Basically so they can do whatever they want and have a good excuse. (its still in beta)

Google's real beta stuff in in their Labs. And even then its near finished.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Development_stage#Beta

Apparently beta is first version released with all of the features. (someone should tell google that)

LOL! Instead of complaining about it among our selfs, shouldn't we all just write an email to the company? We could use the help of this great forum service, and our passion for complaining and griping about every one and everything that's on the internet, and do something! WOooooHoOooo....

I bet if we come up with some letter, together. And every one sends it, something mite happen...

#412836

LOL! Instead of complaining about it among our selfs, shouldn't we all just write an email to the company? We could use the help of this great forum service, and our passion for complaining and griping about every one and everything that's on the internet, and do something! WOooooHoOooo....

I bet if we come up with some letter, together. And every one sends it, something mite happen...

I wasn't complaining. The telling google that remark is a reference to the fact gmail keeps getting new features added.

Also petition letters don't ever work, you need an easily verifable petition. Like the old school signings on the street.

#412851

OMG, there is a million betas out there!!!! Google has, like, 5 betas, flickr is in "gamma," whatever that means. osx-é looks like it's in a beta, and.....ugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111111111111!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#413214

"11-year-old member" is right.

#413219

flickr is in "gamma," whatever that means.

Look at the wikipedia link, I posted above. Release Candidate is also known as gamma.

also ! is typically used in amounts of one. and the 1 in groups was introduced as joke to make fun of people who accidentally did it.

If you promise to improve, you can have the a screenshot of the first appearance of the o rly owl (I hear he's popular among teens) Link

#413255