What's with all the beta versions of online applications from major companies such as Google and Yahoo?
355218
There's a lot of competition on the internet. Usually these online applications do take a while to develop, but the competition pressures them to release them sooner. Therefore, they put out the beta version to try to get something out before someone else or to try and catch up as quickly as possible.\n\nAnother reason is simply public demand for the beta applications. It used to be only nerds or other people really interested would want to sign up to try out the new product, but now it seems that everybody wants to, regardless of whether or not it's finished.\n\nI don't mind, though. I like taking part and seeing how these things develop. It leaves me with a little sense of history.
24550
???? yahoo Mail beta is the Yahoo Webmail under work. It will be available to everyone in the near future.\nIf you are a Y!Mail plus subscriber you will soon get the new Yahoo Mail + the the Yahoo Mail plus features
989620
basically beta is the phrase used by software designers for "work still in progress"versions of certain software\n        you may have seen all the hype about the "vista beta" which is the next microsoft operating system due out next year,well the beta is just like the final version in look,but only 85% of the code is used,so there will be bugs,and crashes\n          beta,s are the only way software companies like microsoft can get their customers(joe public)to test their software,you may of come accross the "error report"in windows xp were you are asked wether to send or dont send error report,well that is how we have a xp today nearlly bug free,we send the error reports,microsoft fix the errors,and send them out to us in the form of "updates"\n        so the next time you get a error report,you should really send it as the more info microsoft receive ,the more bugs can be fixed and life will be easier for the xp user\n       yahoo betas are usually used for about 6 months before a decision is made wether to use it or keep to the old version(the new homepage is rubbish)\n       you can download the "vista beta" from http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/preview.mspx ,bear in mind it will take 18 hours on a broadband connection so if you want it you may be better ordering a dvd version of it\n           good luck
509025
Go to tools then Internet Optios and clear out your coookies and delete temp files. Go back to http://www.yahoo.com.\nI don't think it is in beta anymore.
504510
I like the Yahoo search better than Google.  I'm a stickler for what I'm used to.  Also, the GMail thing is still in beta form, isn't it?  Lame.  Yahoo rocks!  Oh, and Google doesn't have Yahoo Answers!
70566
The links belo will help u understand better\n\n\nA beta version or beta release represents the first version of the software that has passed system testing and regression testing. These tests were performed in a test environment using hardware and data constructed for the purposes of testing. The beta build is now ready for a beta test, in which it is tested through a limited roll-out to a production environment using live data and real users. The beta test is closely monitored by the software testers.\n\nSome development teams use the term beta informally to denote build of the software that is stable enough to be useful for internal demonstrations and previews to select customers, but not yet ready for release. Some developers refer to this stage as a preview, as a technical preview (TP) or as an early access. Often this stage begins when the developers announce a feature freeze on the product, indicating that no more features will be added to this version of the product and only software issues, or bugs, will be removed. Beta versions stand at an intermediate step in the full development cycle. Developers release them to a group of beta testers (sometimes the general public) for a user test. The testers report any bugs that they found and sometimes minor features they would like to see in the final version.\n\nWhen a beta becomes available to the general public it is often widely used by the technologically savvy and those familiar with previous versions as though it were the finished product. Usually developers of freeware or open-source betas release them to the general public while proprietary betas go to a relatively small group of testers. In February 2005, ZDNet published an article about the recent phenomenon of a beta version often staying for years and being used as if it were in production-level [1]. It notes that Gmail and Google News, for example, have been in beta for a long period of time and are not expected to drop the beta status despite the fact that they have been widely used. This technique may also allow a developer to delay offering full support and/or responsibility for remaining issues. Recipients of highly proprietary betas may have to sign a non-disclosure agreement.\n\nAs the second major stage in the development cycle, following the alpha stage, it is named after the Greek letter beta, the second letter in the Greek alphabet.\n\nsome examples of BETA\nGmail.com\nGoogle talk\nGoogle Suggest\nlive.com\nMicrosoft AntiSpyware
234868
As stated above, I don't think Yahoo is concerned with the Internet Browser market.  What many Internet companies are focasing on now is the concept of the "run from anywhere" application.  Look for example at the Yahoo Mail Beta interface... looks a lot like something you'd see with a desktop mail application.  I see Yahoo expanding with "office-like" applications, especially now that Google has hinted at their development of such things, plus the possibility for unlimited online storage!
387858
Beta versions mean that the product is still in the testing phase, companies need to release their products as beta so they can collect feedback from users with all the potential backwards of the product Then afterwards, they correct the bugs and release a final product
527792
well microsoft is going to work on all the beta stuff\nvista, ie7 and defender
1163009
Yahoo assures you that you're using the currently updated beta version. It might take some days for placing the new version online but this doesn't matter...
590336
http://dhvrm.blogspot.com/2006/04/what-is-beta-testing.html
439226
yes. some people have a beta page.
225241
This site is beta version and beta version still goes thorough some trials this isn't full and final version ......even full and final can't escape from bugs so may be this site got some bugs......
1015035
Beta is a test version to allow people to experiment/test what the maker is making. In most cases, it is software. It allows the maker to fix any problems the software may have on different systems to allow it to work without problems later on after the product has been fully released to the public.
611346
beta versions are free and instant....i guess.
239107
Well do you mean the new Yahoo! Mail Beta that has come out.\nIts a beta version of yahoo! mail where all the new features will be tried out until they are ready to come out in the final version.
433745
don't use beta softwares!!