“And too much of it breaks on a semi-regular basis. This tarnishes everything else Google does.”

i see what you are saying but I think the “beta” tag is honest in my opinion. I like it. It speaks of the ongoing improvement that all software (life?) needs.

I’m thoroughly fed up with apps that are branded “released to manufacturing” or similar nomenclature when, in fact, they’re a load of crap and may as well be called beta or even alpha.

And from personal experience (I use Google search, mail, docs, pIcasa, reader), their apps are quicker, less bloated, and less prone to downtime.

I still have a trust issue with Google, but I’d trust Google uptime far more than any IT department in any of the many companies I’ve worked for (all FTSE 350).

I’m rambling now – but you get my point.

BR.

Go back and re-read my comment. I wasn’t specifically talking about Android – my point was about user perception of Google’s product line-up as a whole. And I think that point stands – too much of that line up is beta, always has been, and seems like it always will be. And too much of it breaks on a semi-regular basis. This tarnishes everything else Google does.

With Android Google might have produced a gold nugget, but many people will be (at least initially) sceptical that under the surface it’s simply a gold plated turd.

P.

What version of the SDK are you both using? 0.9b is currently available and the London demonstration is 1.0 that has already received T-Mobile’s army of lawyers blessing for legal liability and indemnity.

Last November’s “early preview” was lacking to be sure but from your above comments, it sounds like you haven’t upgraded to 0.9b.

They currently have the same problem with Chrome. For an initial beta, it isn’t bad. But it won’t make it onto my main machines at home, or the production machines in the office, until the beta phase has finished and a final release is available.

The Android will face the same problem with me. I am very interested in the concept, but if the code quality isn’t up to much, or the ‘phone is releaded in Beta form, I won’t be going anywhere near it.

A colleague here in the office has written a few simple apps on the emulator in the dev pack and wants to get one as soon as it is released… I’ll wait and see how it handles once he has one.

I’ve covered this in a bit more depth in the Mobile & Wireless column in issue 170.