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Google Considers Taking Beta Tag Off Gmail

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the in-your-lifetime dept.

Barence writes "Google is considering removing the beta tag from Gmail — and other online services — a mere five years after it was first launched. Google has become somewhat synonymous with seemingly endless beta cycles. Many of the company's most famous services, including Gmail, Docs, and Calendar all still carry the beta tag. Google now admits the eternal beta cycles could be damaging consumer and business confidence in its online apps. 'It's a minor annoyance and something you'll see addressed in the not-too-distant future.'"

6 of 180 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Google Beta by genghisjahn · · Score: 2, Informative

    The article is talking about gmail. Google search hasn't been in beta for quite awhile.

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    Sorry about the mess.
  2. Some background and Google's previous explanation by netbuzz · · Score: 3, Informative

    At last count (last fall) almost half of Google apps were labeled beta, so it's not just a few they're talking about. At that time, Google offered a convoluted explanation for the practice that included: "We believe beta has a different meaning when applied to applications on the Web, where people expect continual improvements in a product." More here:

    http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/33131

  3. Re:Tarnished reputation by drinkypoo · · Score: 4, Informative

    Nah, Google now has the "Labs" tag in settings, so you can try out "beta" Gmail features (or stuff they just haven't yet figured out how to stuff into the interface.) In actuality, the only difference will be more clicks to turn on the new, untested stuff.

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    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  4. Re:In other news... by bennomatic · · Score: 2, Informative

    Correct. Charlie follows Bravo.

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    The CB App. What's your 20?
  5. Re:Tarnished reputation by ragefan · · Score: 2, Informative

    Is email a service you can afford to lose because Google is playing with new features?

    If you can not afford to lose email service, then maybe you should not depend on Google to provide the service for free.

    It's not that hard to setup your own email server and backup it up.

  6. Re:Tarnished reputation by ragefan · · Score: 2, Informative

    But your complaint is about a free service provided by Google. If it is that critical and outsourced, then you pay for an SLA. Last I checked there is no SLA for the free version of Gmail, only the paid versions Gmail offer any SLA.

    The free version was perpetual beta because they were constantly testing new features.