What is Beta? I want to update my Yahoo Messanger and I run across 'download Yahoo Messanger 7.5 Beta'. Well, what the hell is Beta? And do i want it? Help. Thanks.
2006-06-22 20:19:47 · 12 answers · asked by Red 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Internet
Damn I feel like a total freak for not knowing this.
2006-06-22 20:30:05 · update #1
Software development is an ongoing process. There is always a possibility to add additional features into any software. That's why you see a new upgrade of every product every now and then. You had Windows 95, the Win 98, then WIN ME and so on. Such things you will see in all softwares.
Yahoo also keeps on upgrading its products, the messengers specially. Now before a product is declared fully fit it needs to be tested. So when a new product is developed it is tested in house by a smaller team of testers around the developers. Such a version is called the Alpha. Next it is sent out to the actual intended users. Such a version is named as BETA.
BETA versions may not have all the features in the final product but still is close to the final product. When a new version of Yahoo messenger is being launched you will find a BETA version, which is intended to get a feel and feedback from the intended users. There is no problem in using them. Go ahead and try them. I for one is always hunting for BETA versions to know in advance what new is coming.
Happy BETA times
2006-06-22 20:28:02 · answer #1 · answered by buddy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The word Beta refers to a development stage of the software. There are usually stages in developing computer softwares. The first being Pre-Alpha, the third (sometimes the fourth) being Beta. The Beta release of a certain software includes most -if not all- basic features of the software, but it usually misses some other additional features which are to be added to the software in the next stages of development, upon receiving some feedback on the Beta release. That's pretty much a small conclusion of what I know. I guess Wiki has some more if u are interested. Let me check..... Oh yeah! Here's the link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Development_stage#Beta
2006-06-23 03:31:44 · answer #2 · answered by MR. POLITICS 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A software is said to be in the beta stage if it has been almost fully developed, but has not been tested for bugs thoroughly. It is released to the customers and other developers for testing purposes. It may be almost same as the final product, with some bugs which will have been corrected in the final release of the software.
2006-06-23 03:29:50 · answer #3 · answered by akaustav 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are 3 main phases to releasing a program:
1. Alpha - An early working version that is likely to have bugs and compatibility issues. (a rough draft, if you will)
2. Beta - A near complete version that may possibly still have bugs, however most major issues have been addressed.
3. Release - The final release version.
2006-06-23 03:26:51 · answer #4 · answered by sixstring9702 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Beta software is software that hasn't been released yet and is offered on a trial basis with the knowledge that it may have bugs and beta users may or may not report these bugs, which will be used by the software developers to correct them and create a final released version of the software.
2006-06-23 03:22:56 · answer #5 · answered by p.g 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its like the software is still under construction.The alpha and beta versions are part of the final software.You can download them and test (help improve the software)
But the final version is more likely to have more features than the beta version.
2006-06-23 03:24:31 · answer #6 · answered by karthikeyan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Beta means it's in testing - there are still bugs in it and it may crash often or may cause your computer to crash occasionally or otherwise interfere with other programs. I do not run beta software as I prefer a STABLE computing experience.
2006-06-23 03:23:27 · answer #7 · answered by lwcomputing 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Beta means that the product is in a test phase. t is made available prior to the "official" release of the application.
2006-06-23 03:23:07 · answer #8 · answered by Susan G 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Beta means it's in experimental mode, and sometimes when a game says BETA it means a trial size and only a certaiin amount of people can play.
2006-06-23 03:28:09 · answer #9 · answered by Suzy Suzee Sue 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
beta is a symbol for that a software is in it's experience mode for people if it has good action they release alpha or primary.
2006-06-23 03:25:49 · answer #10 · answered by shahabworks 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋