[url=http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=9671.msg749324#msg749324]Re: >> UPDATES <<[/url][b]Reply #7765 on:[/b] [b]Today[/b] at 07:28 PM guys I disagree about one thing, your position about beta software. I think it matters to keep posting off and on about beta stuff here. As long as it's clearly mentioned that a beta is a beta, what's the problem really
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... many [b]are[/b] interested into beta testing (other than Avast), so
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Finally! Thank you logos the voice of common sense.
Beta software by its very name “BETA” is to be used with caution. It is after all, a personal choice, opt-in or no thank you.
If used in its broadest sense, ALL software is in one form or another continually evolving/developing,
user feedback is, IMHO an integral part of a Softwares Development Life Cycle.
Avast has used Beta Testing for… hell…forever, I would think? Perhaps used and implemented some of the suggestions put forward by its Beta users.
Beta does not imply “I’m in a developmental stage so you MUST install me NOW”. It does however suggest “Danger Will Robinson, Danger” User beware! "I am a new development in a Piece of existing or new software that may or may not cause instability or indeed render your system unbootable, “User Beware” nothing more nothing less.
Used in an extremely broad sense of the word is not true all software is in a continual development/improvement cycle, very loose use of the word “Beta”.
Hell Microsoft “Beta-us” every Tuesday of every month of every year if you Auto Update.
Some sensation software "Avast for one " evolves, grows, BOOMs as a result of Beta Testing, as well as being pretty good to begin with. It is a “Personal choice” for the thrill seekers among us, install it or NOT it’s up to you.
It all comes down to a little common sense, does it not?
IMHO,
I have never started beta testing because I noticed an announcement in the update section.
I get involved through the Software manufacturers website.
Feedback goes back to their website. Updates come from their website.
Program updates belong in the update section, Beta software announcements do not.
I never even read that thread anymore…every time I have gone to it, there is a load of pages just full of updates. The only ones that I am really interested in are Windows updates (I don’t always get update notifications, possibly because I hibernate and rarely reboot) but they are either forgotten or just swamped by the other posts…
I sometimes wish I could delete my posts in that thread just so it doesn’t show up in the unread replies list.
Oh I always check the updates thread. I find it very useful and I refuse to use things like the FileHippo thing or even Secunia. To me they’re just a waste.
As far as Betas go, we all know there have been many things released that should have still been classed as beta. I would agree though that Beta versions really don’t belong in the Updates thread. Especially not betas of security products.
There are very few beta applications that I will give disk space to, avast being an exception to the rule.
Whilst I always use the ‘Show new replies to your posts’ link at the top of the page, the >> Updates << topic will always be there (having contributed and I do follow it. But as I said I’m not too interested in links to beta software as I have little interest in installing it.
I don’t need those to know when there are updates available. The software itself will very often tell you and there is the Updates thread here. As to Flash, I just go to their page a few times a week to make sure I have the latest. I don’t need anything else, especially when FileHippo has given me inaccurate info when I tried it.
Beta posts are not neccesary imo, as i mentioned before in the update section if anyone is using beta software then they would be following the progress of that software through the manufacturer’s website.
I would agree though that Beta versions really don’t belong in the Updates thread. Especially not betas of security products.