April 21, 2010 Most Google applications are in “perpetual beta”
What is “beata” Mean?
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a beta is “a nearly complete prototype of a product.”, on the other words, the product not finished yet.
The perpetual beta is one of a web 2.0 applications feature. It is defined by O’Reilly (2005) as “Engage your users as real-time testers, and instrument the service so that you know how people use the new features”. He also stated that “the product is developed in the open, with new features slipstreamed in on a monthly, weekly or even daily basis”
With perpetual beta applications nothing is ever finished, and getting a pretty good out the door. Developer should consistently release new features which might not be fully tested to be sure we are still in the top of the market.
Google is web 2.0 application that always delivers it software as perpetual beta, and constantly being updates to provide additional functionality and enhancement.
Gmail, Google Docs and Google Finance are the most famous Google application and they are still in beta statues. Google spokesman (2007) said “ There’s no final version. Nothing is static, everything is changing. With every new iteration, small changes make you realize the creature is alive”
In fact, Google changed the meaning of “beta software” , it launch the applications in early stages and forgetting to remove the word “beta” even after years of testing. Google has decided to leave its product in beta rather than issuing updates in the familiar system of numbered software versions—1.0, 2.0, and so on. Google mail “Gmail” has been launched in 2004 and still as beta version for more than seven years of development and enhancement.
Google relies on adaption of the beta perpetual development, its user become as co-developer, they use they software comment on it and give their feedback. The users always assess the new features via their usual usage, also Google use some statistic and controlled experiment to make the decision about its products.
Also, Google incrementally create new products, it evolve the existing products via the user feedback and rapid release.
The Google Maps beta was release in 2005 as beta for more than eight months, during that time the software is running, the feedback collected from the user, and incrementally new feature and enhancement added to it.
References:
Henry, A. (2007, August 23). Is The BETA Invite System Flawed? Retrieved April 2010, from Mapping the Web
Wikipedia. (2009, October 26). Perpetual Beta. Retrieved April 2010, from Wikipedia
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:merriam-webster dictionary, 2010
- 10 comments
- Posted under Uncategorized
Hashem Almakrami 
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Gavin Jones
said
Hi Hashem,
Very interesting! Do you know the average length of time a Google product stays in Perpetual Beta before they class it Gold?
Gavin
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Hahsem Almakrami
said
Hi Gavin ..
Usually take long time to approved the last shape of its product ..
For example Gmail established at 2004 and stay in beta shape until 2008, for more than 4 years ..
So, Google changed the meaning of “beta software” , it launch the applications in early stages and forgetting to remove the word “beta” even after years of testing. The time depends on the customer satisfaction and getting happy with using the product.
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Amani
said
Hi Hashem
I have read what you wrote and I really like it
I can know understand why Gmail being perpetual beta for long time ..
Google always surprise us with developing its current functions to better
Thanks
Permalink #
Hahsem Almakrami
said
Thank you Amani ..
Actually, Google is web 2.0 application that always delivers it software as perpetual beta, and constantly being updates to provide additional functionality and enhancement.
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Ali
said
Google says it reached their “high bar for taking products out of beta”. Not quite sure what that high bar is, but there are probably a few enterprises out there glad to see the beta tag gone.
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Ali
said
Hi Hashem
I want to add somthing related to Google Chroms as perpetual beta
The FAQ reads: “Google Chrome is built on top of WebKit, so users will benefit from the CSS3 features being added to WebKit as those features are released.” It also touts Google’s tying of “Google Gears” into the browser, ” which allows webmasters to take advantage of APIs such as offline storage” and “allows your web application to look and feel like a desktop application, as users can launch Google Chrome in a mode with a minimalist UI, featuring nothing but a title bar.”
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Hahsem Almakrami
said
Yes Ali your right Google Chroms is another sample of Google is a perpetual beta.
Personally, I like it, it has more functions than what IS and Firfox browser have ..
It also give chance to specify the appearance and the color you like and more functions as well
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Wan
said
Do you think Zoho as a main competitor of Google as it offers more than 30 web apps to users FREELY?
Permalink #
Hahsem Almakrami
said
Hi Wan
Actually, Zoho is good example as perpetual beta, but I believe it does not reach Google level as web 2.0 perpetual beta.
Google changed the meaning of “beta software” , it launch the applications in early stages and forgetting to remove the word “beta” even after years of testing. Google has decided to leave its product in beta rather than issuing updates in the familiar system of numbered software versions—1.0, 2.0, and so on.
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Web 2.0
said
Hi,
I agree with you Google is a great example for this pattern; the web2.0 concept ‘Perpetual Beta’ is used by Google Company as one of its ‘corporation strategies.’ Google uses this strategy in plenty of its products.