When it says that askville.com is in Beta, what exactly does that mean?

Not yet done" The term beta has been around software development for quite a while and its definition has evolved over time, especially within the past 5 years or so. Software goes through several phases before being considered a finished project. Generally, in the earliest, or alpha phase, the software is evaluated by the developers themselves to identify any potential bugs or pitfalls.

Once the software is deemed ready for more extensive testing the modern practice has been to release it to the general public, sometimes on a limited basis, as a beta release. The term beta essentially acknowledges that while the software should be fully functional, there may still be kinks to iron out, or even new features to be implemented based on the feedback received from the test users. Netscape is well-known for releasing its web browser software as beta releases over an extended period of time - the Firefox browser remained in beta for over a year.

Google's Gmail service also retains its beta label despite having been available for almost three years now! ZDNet published an article titled "A long winding road out of beta" back in 2005. Many of the newer "Web 2.0" sites seem to think that it is cool to label their sites as beta. I personally think it's just a case of herd mentality following the latest fad.

But whatever the reason, a valid case can be made that websites, unlike software products, undergo constant upgrades and improvements so in that regard the description is apt. There's actually a fairly good article on this phenomenon, dubbed Perpetual beta, on Wikipedia.So I think in Askville's case there are two basic reasons for the beta: This service is still under heavy development, as evidenced by the continual tweaking of the topic system and even the introduction of new features such as the super powers. All the other cool Web 2.0 sites are doing it, so they're doing it too to appear hip.

If you're interested in a more detailed article on the software development cycle and the various alpha, beta stages you could check Wikipedia's article - Software release life cycle phototakeouter's Recommendations Plush Marble Guinea Pig 7" Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 5 reviews) Guinea Pig - Adult T-Shirt Large Amazon List Price: $16.95 .

Usually it means testing "beta" usually means that something is in a testing status. They are still working out the bugs before it goes online 100%. Beta testing is done with just about everything, it's just not always called that.

Microsoft beta tested the crap out of their new operating system "Vista". Video game companies beta test their games to make sure everything flows, the graphics are good, etc. Sources: Me .

Beta" means "not perfect" Actually, it's very trendy to put the "beta" mention to any website at it's launch. It's kind of an excuse to be buggy, or slow, or changing from one day to another. For example last week on askville they changed the topic system when you ask a URL1 make it short, "beta" means they're still working hard to improve the website.

Beta means Askville is in it's second level of testing, in this case by the public In essence, we’re bug testers :) -*- "A beta version or beta release usually represents the first version of a computer program that implements all features in the initial requirements analysis. It is likely to be useful for internal demonstrations and previews to select customers, but unstable and not yet ready for release. Some developers refer to this stage as a preview, as a technical preview (TP) or as an early access.As the second major stage in the release lifecycle, following the alpha stage, it is named after the Greek letter beta, the second letter in the Greek alphabet.

Often this stage begins when the developers announce a feature freeze on the product, indicating that no more feature requirements will be accepted for this version of the product. Only software issues, or bugs and unimplemented features will be addressed.... When a beta becomes available to the general public it is often widely used by the technologically savvy and those familiar with previous versions as though it were the finished product. Usually developers of freeware or open-source betas release them to the general public while proprietary betas go to a relatively small group of testers.

Recipients of highly proprietary betas may have to sign a non-disclosure agreement. A release is called feature complete when the product team agrees that functional requirements of the system are met and no new features will be put into the release, but significant software bugs may still exist. Companies with a formal software process will tend to enter the beta period with a list of known bugs that must be fixed to exit the beta period, and some companies make this list available to customers and testers.

As the Internet has allowed for rapid and inexpensive distribution of software, companies have begun to take a more flexible approach to use of the word "beta". Netscape Communications was infamous for releasing alpha level versions of its Netscape web browser as public beta URL2 February 2005, ZDNet published an article about the recent phenomenon of a beta version often staying for years and being used as if it were in production-level 1. It noted that Gmail and Google News, for example, had been in beta for a long period of time and were not expected to drop the beta status despite the fact that they were widely used; however, Google News did leave beta in January 2006.

This technique may also allow a developer to delay offering full support and/or responsibility for remaining issues.In the context of Web 2.0, people even talk of perpetual betas to signify that some software is meant to stay in beta state. " Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_software#Beta .

Your answer To say something is in Beta means in the most simple of terms, its under testing, seeing what peeps think of it, how it works... Sources: personal knowledge .

" "Next to the askville sign, it says "BETA". What is BETA? " "What is going on with Askville?

" "askville" "How long is Askville going to consider themselves in "beta"?" "Why should I use Askville? " "How long is Askville going to be in BETA? " "Why Askville?" "What happened to Askville in the past few months!?

Are they out of beta?

Next to the askville sign, it says "BETA". What is BETA?

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.