Comments on: Half baked: 45 percent of Google projects in beta

Several Google projects really are prototypes, but a Pingdom tally finds 45 percent of Google projects are labeled beta. Time to commit, Google.

[ROPO5]

Pingdom forgot to add GrandCentral in this list of betas by Google. This company had such promise and innovative ideas which seem to have been shut down once Google bought them out.

Sad to see.

[artie V]

I think this reflects an "experimental culture" and I don't mind it. On one hand, they set the expectation that this stuff is in flux and can change at any second, on the other, they hold themselves to a standard that the beta tag won't leave until they're happy with it. What's not to like? As long as there's a choice, then let them do what they want. The users will decide!

[joetesta70]

Let's face it, Google does search and advertising and that's it. The rest of the company is dead weight (except for maybe Android).

Google craps on a newspaper and the press drools, but Google apps are all hype and will never compete with Microsoft IMHO. I see a lot of parallels of the 1999 dot com boom and the trajectory that Google is on today, beginning with the elimination of subsidized childcare for employees.

At the end of the day they have to run a business and the apps don't make any money.

[shadfurman]

Thats total bs. (though I think they bought it) google earth (and maps) is already one of the most popular online maps available. (by my speculative count) and I have used almost all of their apps in one case or another. I just went to a microsoft conference and almost everybody I could see taking notes on their laptops (7 or 8 people) were using google docs. Gmail was an INSTANT big hit! Half of my friends traded in their yahoo and hotmail accounts for a gmail account. (I got one, but didn't like the interface change). Granted (so not TOTAL bs) microsoft has a LOT more complete package applications, but you compare that with the integration of Googles apps, Google IS a complete application. Everything is crossreferenced and linked to just about everything else (albiet not as much as I would like). Oh and I almost forgot Google analytics, what used to be expensive for many small businesses is now free. MOST of their services are free, and they are able to make a fairly large profit off them.

Lets face it, this article is just BS! Taking the beta tag off a piece of software won't make it better. And I'm glad they have a higher standard. (Isn't that what everybodies been mad at microsoft for?) Gawd (my apologies to the author, point made and taken) but this article in it's criticism is pathetic.

[nobdoy_knose]

I'm concerned about Google's commitment to GrandCentral, too. They could pull the plug at any moment and I'd have a heck of a time letting everybody know that my phone number changed.

[timstl]

@joetesta70 - not sure how you can say GMail is dead weight. other than that I can see your point.

[cyberusfaustus]

I would take a Google beta version over a MS production release any day.

[jusben1369]

Yes but it is a valid point. Google continues to a get a free pass - very similar to Apple - for tactics that others would get roasted for.

The real question of course is how much would it really matter if it has or does not have "beta" on it?

[norcalrivercat]

What other tactics have google and apple "gotten away with."?

[saintseminole]

I don't know if googlepages was beta, but I sure wish they weren't closing it down. When it's fully replaced by google.sites, then I can no longer upload html webpages. Once again, searching for a good host for a website.

[YankeePoodle]

We should applaud the public experimentation of Google. Unlike other firms that either think what ever they create is piece of innovation or rely on focus groups. I love Google and certainly their betas are actually more bug-free than lot of production software out there.

[Magallanes]

For a business and/or a company viewpoint:
can you trust on Google's cloud?.
I don't think so.

And more generally :can you trust on any cloud?

[bubazoo]

It doesn't. its just that, people see the word "beta" and assume that means "broken, with bugs, use at your own risk", so when people see a project in beta for so long, they think negitively about the project thinking it will never come out of beta, never be a useful project, just some rough idea that someone had that doesn't really work that well to begin with.

Gmail, for instance, would have major issues with SPAM if it came out of beta. I think if Gmail does come out of beta, it should remain an "invite only" service, because if you can register for an account online in a few easy steps, that only means spammers will hit it hard with yet more spam in our email boxes. I like the idea of keeping it invite only, unless you have a cellphone and can sign up that way, that way it takes away from spammers signing up for multiple accounts and using it to send out their dirty work. thats whats so bad about yahoo mail right now, and hotmail, and why gmail doesn't get anywhere near that. I mean yeah u get spam in gmail, but not nearly as much, and the spam filtering in gmail is much better then the other email services, for that very reason I think. I just think more people aren't using gmail because people are afraid of just any psycho being able to search thru their email, but I think of gmail no different then yahoo mail, sure it may be email by a search engine provider, but that doesn't mean u can search thru other peoples email at google.com, I just think google was just trying to get on the email offering bandwagon just like any other company.

As for googles other services, some of those will always be in beta just because there always works in progress. like the google translator, I doubt that will ever work. translate, talk, and some of those others I highly doubt will ever work, so I think google puts together some of those things to see what the general public thinks of those, and I think some of the less popular ones just die off one by one really.

[skillingssucks]

You have no idea what you're talking about. Gmail hasn't been "invite only" for several years now. You also have no idea how spam is generated. Very few spammers sign up with web based services in order to spam.

[In-Cyde]

Professionals may have been frightened by the word "beta" 5 years back.

Now the kids flock to the nearest beta in the hopes of being cool.

This beta status has nothing to do with usability or stability, simple marketing tagline.

-Ben

[fuzbears]

I think most are missing the point of a Beta tag... It means in most environments, go ahead and use it, but don't count on it for real work. For google to still be saying that Google docs and Gmail can't be counted on at same time they are promoting it to business is sending a mixed message.

Allowing people to store years worth of mail on their servers, and imply that you could lose it at any time, is just irresponsable. Do they stand by their work or not?

[shadfurman]

Better to say it's beta and give people that UNinsurence than to "stand by their work" and have it fail. Nobodies forcing people to use their apps with beta tags on them. And people are perfectly capable of educating themselves on what that means. I LIKE the higher standard. Keep beta on till it's believed perfectly stable.

[Mister Winky]

The issue, as others have pointed out, is one of mixed messages. Google calls us frequently trying to get us to outsource e-mail and use Google Apps, but how can I commit my users' resources to a company who won't commit to the applications/services themselves?

Google has a huge lead on search -- that is assured. At some point, for some reason, search won't be the cash cow it is today, and Google will be pressured to cut the dead weight, non-core assets to keep the stock price afloat. If 90% of all of Google's offered applications/services are unprofitable (and I'd bet that's a good guess), watch out. This is dot com ville all over again.

Everyone thinks grandiose free projects are great until the cost is fully realized. How long will Google continue to give away free multi-GB Gmail mailboxes when their profits are shrinking? They'll have to trim the program, make the advertising more inasive or find new ways of monetizing your private information.

-Mister Winky

[shadfurman]

Its my guess that the cost of those "multi-GB Gmail mailboxes" are shrinking faster than we can fill them. Those "free" programs make money in many ways (how do you think napster made money?) It's possible they crash, but thats what all the feelers of beta projects and andriod are supposed to do, expand their profit base. Besides, considering their search market share, it'll be quite a few years before anybody takes them down, even IF they have a better product. (Google is now a verb in the dictionary for cryin out loud!)

[renGek]

Boy, people complains when software doesn't come out fast enough. And when its rushed out and full of bugs like microsoft products you complain again. Sound like my users. Don't really have a clue at how software development works. Whats the hurry. Do it right the first time.

And for those couple of users who thinks google is dead weight because they only see search engine and gmail...wow you guys are incredibly narrow minded. Obviously not in the technical field either because if you are, you would know about the tons of tools they provide developers to do a variety of things. Google have provided me a whole lot of robust tools (technical and non technical) that have made my job much easier and I am more than grateful for it.

Wait ... gmail is invitation only? How did go to gmail.com and register for an account then!? Maybe I have a (beta)beta email accont!

[hawkeyeaz1]

Microsoft developed a habit of pushing beta software out on end users (and making them pay for it!) and thus lowered the bar of what beta was. Google acknowledges what really is beta, and keeps to it. When Google takes off the beta tag, you know it should work as reliably as can reasonably be expected. Microsoft on the other hand, you can guarantee it will be a few years after the 'release' before the product works reliably.

So, where is the problem with being accurate?

[shadfurman]

granted, but in due consideration, microsofts applications are a lot more code heavy, and often a lot more technical. Google focuses more on simple innovation (which I think is better anyway)

[Stoney229]

I also noticed GrandCentral missing from the list. I didn't notice anything "shutting down" since Google acquired GrandCentral... I still find the service extremely useful (and unparalleled to boot) and use it every day. I did notice, however, that progress/work on the project seems to have halted since Google came in, which is perhaps what you mean, ROPO5.

[In-Cyde]

"Beta" became trendy halfway through last year, much like you'd see 2.0 up next to site logos.

In general the internet took off as a cultural tool over the last year or 2 and it has become very trendy to be the first person your block to be a part of the newest site or social network.

Thus "Beta" is used to draw people in to participate with the special feeling they get from being early adopters.

It's marketing, not code status.

-Ben

[shadfurman]

nice Ben, I hadn't really thought of that, but whether or not it's true I'm sure their marketing dept has noticed.

[In-Cyde]

Comment lag here sucks, doesn't make for a community anyone can get involved in.

cyas

-Ben

[vk mahajan]

I think and these are my personal views, that to keep a program in Beta like gmail, it is of immense help to company financially. You cannot take the company to court as it is Beta and still under testing. Company does not have to issue any Update for similar reasons. Company reaps the rich harvest by advertising through it. Lastly Company can close it as and when it becomes burden financially. Google it indulging in this unfair practice and some one has to stop it. Beta version if released has to become normal Version in laid down time say 6 Months.

[shadfurman]

We should force companies to do things because they FORCE us to use their products. Your BENEFITING from their products you retarded sue happy freeloader. You have just as much right to go out and by a non-beta piece of software that will probrably do the same thing. (Or you could make a better one and become rich) But I swear this country need a coalition of lawyers to sue, sue happy people for ruining our economy and taking away our freedoms (like the freedom to drink hot coffee at mcdonalds) You REALLY irk my the wrong way! SOMEONE SHOULD STOP YOU!