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Public Hardware Beta Tests

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the first-one-is-free dept.

orangerobot writes "Commercial software companies have performed public beta tests of their products for quite some time but more recently Philips Electronics has started holding public betas of new consumer hardware gadgets. A few months ago it was the Streamium MC-i250, and now it's their iPod clone the HDD-100. Public hardware betas seem like a great way to do a bit of marketing and user testing at the same time maybe more companies will pick up the same idea." This seems like a great idea for a company wanting to collect usability data on their interfaces, so that the release version can be tweaked.

2 of 131 comments (clear)

  1. Beta Testing is good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    I've been developing computers (laptops and now tablets) for a while, and I love the idea of beta testing.

    For the most part, I find that beta testing allows us to get extended product use cycles in a short amount of time, allows people to find problems that we wouldn't otherwise find right away, etc etc...

    By allowing people to beta test, it is like hiring a X number of person QA department for free. And usually, those beta testers are more energetic in finding problems cause it makes them feel important and they approach the product unlike my engineers do who have been looking at it for months. Personally, I get (sometimes get) sick of staring at my product after I leave work since I've been staring at it, and its problems all day long. But beta testers find beta testing a challenge to themselves to try all possible combinations and procedures in hopes of finding a bug.

    So, as far as I am concerned, from a eningeering manager stand point, the beta testers for the most part are extremely helpful, so long as they return useable data.

  2. Read the Fine Print First and Shudder by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative


    6. Privacy
    Beta-test participants grant the right to use and publish their name and state online and in print, or any other media, in connection with the beta-test. Acceptance of a Philips HDD100 Recording Audio Jukebox constitutes permission for Philips and their advertising and promotional agencies to use beta-test applicants' names and likeness for advertising and promotional purposes without additional compensation. You further agree that Philips can use your personal information as described in Philips Privacy Policy.