Data is not available at this time – Google sitemaps

“Data is not available at this time. Please check back later for statistics about your site.”

Come on Google, start launching alpha versions, and keep the betas to yourself. I’m curious myself, but also a bit irritated by the bugs in your beta-versions. I know that the few people (hundreds, thousands) that use your betas are insignificant compared to the millions that will use your services in the future.

Normally Beta-testers are invited because they can contribute to the development-process. Usually beta-testers are rewarded in some way, some are paid, but most are given special privileges. Googles beta-testers are neither – except they may be able to satisfy their curiosity. A few hours are put into using the Beta-versions, contributions, feedback etc are given by many. But is it really that rewarding, is there any benefit in beta-testing and not waiting for the alpha? I don’t think any of Googles beta-testers, has yet been rewarded. That is, except for the “thank you, your feedback is appreciated” – mails that Google does send.

I’d like to suggest to Google, that you start rewarding beta-testers. Perhaps by scoring the feedback and then awarding point to beta-testers. It shouldn’t be too hard to build a tester-community and reward-system.

Just do it.