Abuse of “beta”
The term “beta” for software, like so many other words, is being misused. An opinion piece at Computerworld discusses how the term no longer means what it once did:
Once upon a time the term “beta” meant that the software was very close to release, but the developers were still seeking feedback. Betas were typically only distributed to a limited audience of a few customers who understood the risks inherent in using software that might break, and who would report bugs. Those bugs would then be fixed and the final version released for sale.
Today, betas are instantly available to everyone worldwide; there are rarely limits. They are used to attract free publicity, or to drive user demand through “invite only”-style launches. And a beta is not a one-time event. The software changes frequently; new features are added constantly. If problems occur the answer is often not to fix them, but to state that “the product is only in beta”. But people use the product as if it were final. At best, the service might not work exactly as advertised. At worst, your data could be lost, destroyed or leaked.