NationStates Jolt Archive

When some web site, such as youbtube,
now has their new "beta" version.

What the heck does that mean?

Seriously.
Besides being "new"
and presumably "better".

Well wiki says... (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_release_cycle#Beta)

lol, noob.

:)

Well wiki says... (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_release_cycle#Beta)

Whatever Wiki says, it's still an excuse by Google to avoid stating that something is a finished product, which therefore absolves itself from claims that any release sucks.

"Well it's still Beta so we're working out the kinks'

Look at practically any Google product, they're all Beta.

Whatever Wiki says, it's still an excuse by Google to avoid stating that something is a finished product, which therefore absolves itself from claims that any release sucks.

"Well it's still Beta so we're working out the kinks'

Look at practically any Google product, they're all Beta.

Eggs not quite cooked today? Or you have it out for Google. If it will help, I know some people....

yup.

"beta" sure is new.


I don't mean like "beta" testing.
As in "beta testing" video games before the hit the market.


At least that's not what it sounds like at youbtube.
Unless it's just the same old, same old usage of the term.
Then why don't they just call it "our new page" or "proposed new page format"
or something like that, since they have got to know youbtube users are
the general public and "beta" as in "beta testing" isn't all that common outside certain circles.

I tried wiki, but it just led me to a disambiguation page with a couple good sounding possibilities.

Well "beta" contains four letters as opposed to the twenty-one letters and three spaces of "proposed new page format." People like efficiency, it's a European thing.

Eggs not quite cooked today? Or you have it out for Google. If it will help, I know some people....Well, that is what Google is doing. They are misusing the word in an effort to avoid blame when something goes wrong.

If it was really beta, there would be a warning about the possibility of it raping my mother. That is beta.

Well "beta" contains four letters as opposed to the twenty-one letters and three spaces of "proposed new page format." People like efficiency, it's a European thing.

youbtube is based in europe?

they're still mistaken if they think it's a word in the common lexicon.

Haha, this place makes me laugh. It's like burning ants with a magnifying glass.

Whow I am old !!!! Beta was the video cassette version that competed and lost out on the VHS video cassette. I even remember using "8track" audio cassettes ..... I guess retro is in !

Beta(β) is the second letter of the Greek alphabet. :)

Whow I am old !!!! Beta was the video cassette version that competed and lost out on the VHS video cassette. I even remember using "8track" audio cassettes ..... I guess retro is in !

Oh, I remember those.
A friend picks them up from rummage sales as well as any tapes available.
If they are decent show he keeps them, otherwise new ones are dubbed.


Also,
the Betamax recorder was far superior to the VHS,
as my friend kept telling me - his dad worked as head engineer at a tv station
so he knew what the f he was talking about.
Unfortunately the VHS was far cheaper and thus won out with the consumer.

Beta(β) is the second letter of the Greek alphabet. :)

We should change this,
just to avoid any future confusion.

No, not change the others uses of it.

But this one.

It will then really confuse all those weirdos who really do pay to have
friends at college. hahahar.
Ah, some people survive that systim and are not total goons like skull&bones graduates.

There is an alpha version, (first) which comes before the beta version, which is typically the test version before the kinks are worked out for mass release.

There is an alpha version, (first) which comes before the beta version, which is typically the test version before the kinks are worked out for mass release.

I'm sure I've seen pre-alpha too.

Most of my stuff could be considered pre-alpha quality :)

I'm sure I've seen pre-alpha too.

Most of my stuff could be considered pre-alpha quality :)An alpha version is a content complete proof of concept. A pre-alpha is not content complete, but enough to serve as proof of concept. Neither has been tested and are not assumed to be finished. A beta has been tested and is hopefully a finished product, but usually not.

In commercial terms, stuff like Windows/Vista computer games are beta releases, although a few are obviously alpha builds released for beta testing. That's why you'll need to buy broadband and download one or more 100MB patches, and then download a crack to beat the piracy protection that makes your machine lock up, after you've spend 30£ on a game.

It is, of course, also why The Pirate Bay exists, so you don't have to pay people to be their fucking beta tester. Q&A gets paid to do beta testing. No reason you should pay them and to their work or them.

they're still mistaken if they think it's a word in the common lexicon.

As far as programmers and your average net-denizen are concerned, it is.

As far as programmers and your average net-denizen are concerned, it is.Sayz the guy with a bloody Russian comment on NSG threads in his sig :p

But yeh, you's right.

Beta is the freebie "test" version of games that comes out before release proper, if you're lucky/suck up to the right asshole. :D

Beta testing products by mass releasing them is a good way for a company to get a lot of feedback and data very quickly. Of course if it's buggy and people ignore the NDA (Non-disclosure agreement) it can end up a losing proposition as people blab how horrid it is.

<Snip>Poor, naive n00b. But TPB is there for you when you've learnt your lesson ;)

In "Web 2.0", ie. the latest design fashion that every other company is desperate to follow, "beta" is the Obligatory Cheesy Label slapped on every site to mark how whizz-bang "cool", "new" and "bleeding edge" it is. Atleast they didn't go all the way, putting the word within a large gold star splashed onto the page like many others.

Sayz the guy with a bloody Russian comment on NSG threads in his sig :p

It's a (anime theme) song lyric actually. "No matter how many threads deception weaves, truth will show its face of light.", that's what I'm told anyway, usually when I tell people they can't make sense of it though so I usually just give them my interpretation.


Beta testing products by mass releasing them is a good way for a company to get a lot of feedback and data very quickly. Of course if it's buggy and people ignore the NDA (Non-disclosure agreement) it can end up a losing proposition as people blab how horrid it is.

Buying anything from Microsoft should have an NDA involved :p

It's a (anime theme) song lyric actually. "No matter how many threads deception weaves, truth will show its face of light.", that's what I'm told anyway, usually when I tell people they can't make sense of it though so I usually just give them my interpretation.Ahh.. I misunderstood it the deception weaves bit. But my Russian is pre-alpha :p

On topicedness: there's frequently a lot of pressure from publishers to release software, and as previously mentioned, alpha builds are content complete. The combination of those facts mean beta builds far too often goes gold. If you've ever had to download a patch within a week of the software release, that's probably the explanation. If you've ever bought the OS, fully expecting it to be only semi-stable/-functional until after one or more service packs, it's the same damn thing. Although the developers and publishers in that case, are one and the same.

nothing in real life ever leaves 'beta'. but artifacts do eventually get orphaned, or kicked out to go live on their own.

beta is when you've got the top spec finnally down to where you think you can live with it but haven't REALLY figgured out how to finish making it real. (ok, this is actually 'alpha' but if a product is shipped in this condition, like win95 was for example, it's called beta, that is if it's parents are responsible enough to warn you at all!)

ok it's like a finished product except that there are almost certain to be undiscovered failure modes, so you, the public, if you're feeling lucky, which is why you're being warned, get to be the ginnie pigs to discouver them.

(oh yah, and if it totally screwes up your life and everything in it, don't come crying to the people who made it, that's why they tell you its beta, so they can disclaim any responsibility incase their little darling turns out to have a hidden heart of secret monsterousness)

yes i'm stating the captain obvious for almost everyone i think. but since someone SAID they didn't know ...

=^^=
.../\...

There is an alpha version, (first) which comes before the beta version, which is typically the test version before the kinks are worked out for mass release.There is pre-alpha, which is basically the concept has been proved, but it is not goal complete like an alpha would be.

Then there is compiles, were it, um, compiles. It may do something, but probably not.

Also,
the Betamax recorder was far superior to the VHS,
as my friend kept telling me - his dad worked as head engineer at a tv station
so he knew what the f he was talking about.
Unfortunately the VHS was far cheaper and thus won out with the consumer.

And Betamax wouldn't allow companies to produce pornography for it, while VHS had no problem doing so. :rolleyes:

Eta Beta Pi.:D

"Beta" is a Greek word, meaning "This doesn't work yet."

mo betta beta