Bye, bye Beta
March 5, 2008
It has been pointed out to us by several people and from various perspectives, that people don’t like to use Beta software - like SupplierSource Beta. The fear is that the label “Beta” implies that the software is still flaky and unreliable.
Well, in my experience, that condition applies to all software, all the time. So, if anything, we’ve just been more honest. Like everything else: sometimes we break (Yes, the SupplierSource site is currently down and up and down again) and then we fix it (Whew! Holding steady now).
Another implication of having a “Beta” label is that a “Big, NEW version with All the Features You’ll EVER Want!” is just around the corner. Well, we don’t do that either. When something good is developed, we test it and then we release it and then we tell you about it.
After all that having been said, we would like to make an announcement:
Since we don’t have any royal trumpeters and the cannons are away being polished, the end of our “Beta” phase goes like this: “SupplierSource Beta is now SupplierSource”. Try not to hyperventilate.
There is a contest involved though. The first 10 people who can tell me, in 25 words or less, what the difference is between the following two images, will receive a great big “Thank you for paying attention!” from me.
    
Bye, bye Beta.
P.S. Just to help keep you comfortable, we will still occasionally have things that happen that we have to fix.
March 5, 2008 at
Are SupplierSource staff eligible for the contest? =)
March 5, 2008 at
As long as you keep it under the 25 word limit!
March 5, 2008 at
Those two images look the same to me. Is there another word on the first one. hmm.
I think you guys are good to go.
March 5, 2008 at
We have a winner (as long as I don’t count the smiley face as a word)!
THANK YOU, JOSH, FOR PAYING ATTENTION!
March 5, 2008 at
I think the logo police found you and asked you to remove the offending UPPER CASE word. You complied
March 6, 2008 at
Winner #2! And in only 19 words.
This one seems like an inside job. How else would Lynne know about Section 43{64799-A}; sub-paragraph F of the International Logo Penal Code, which does clearly state that “Upper Case words shall not be used in any manner, form, or place where something more confusing could be used instead.” We thought we had it beat by just plain being confused in all other ways, but that didn’t work.
THANK YOU, LYNNE, FOR PAYING ATTENTION!
March 6, 2008 at
From a purely graphic (visual) standpoint the BETA portion of the previous logo looked like an anchor. That anchor has been hauled and the SupplierSource ship is set to sail…
March 6, 2008 at
Thank goodness! And thank you, Per, for helping us with your keen observations along the way. You’re welcome on the poop deck any time at all.
March 7, 2008 at
To quote “Rockin’ Don”, bye-bye Beta.
March 7, 2008 at
Winner #3! And the shortest yet - 7 words.
People who know me will be mystified that I have any “Rockin’” in my life. Peg and John at Surface Solutions are the real Rockers!
THANK YOU, PEG FOR PAYING ATTENTION!
March 11, 2008 at
I haven’t received my secret decoder ring in the mail yet?
March 11, 2008 at
That’s because you were too busy out doing Parkour to read your “THANK YOU, JOSH FOR PAYING ATTENTION” message a while back.
The true source for secret decoder rings is the cereal aisle. For an absolutely stunning ode to the geekiest-ever eating of Captain Crunch check out page ~580 in Neil Stephenson’s book Cyptonomicon. If you want I’ll get the exact pages tonight.
Special thanks to Matthew Cummins at Tacton for pushing me past Snowcrash and into Cryptonomicon!