Alpha Beta

7/7/09 8:09 PM

Google just announced that Google Apps, Gmail, Google Docs and Google Talk are ALL out of beta, according to the company's blog. They recognized that some of the products in the Apps suite have been in beta for some time -- Gmail first launched in April 2004. "We realize this situation puzzles some people, particularly those who subscribe to the traditional definition of 'beta' software as not being yet ready for prime time," Google project manager Matthew Glotzbach wrote in the blog entry. ... excuse me? Let me share with you the definitions of "beta" culled from, well, Google. Google, I love you, but this is silly. I'm glad you finally came to your senses....

The Other Other Mile-High Club

7/2/09 11:12 AM

My travels today are taking me to Los Angeles via Virgin America. One of the self-styled party airline's many perks is wi-fi available for purchase onboard. This isn't revolutionary in itself, but having it on every plane everywhere is. It's something that older carriers like Southwest, Delta and United are working on. Ever since Boeing's here-today-gone-tomorrow Connexion service, well, came and went in 2005, the idea of in-flight internet sounded pretty cool. If the in flight entertainment sucks, or you want to chat with friends on the ground, it's really cool. Of course, it's probably not as cool for businessmen, who will be expected to respond to any email that comes their way during what used to be a long period of peace. So here I am, at 38000 feet, somewhere over Arizona, as we...