because we're not good enough for beta...

Seems like ever since Google started using beta on everything, they raised the bar for what the word means. For example, Google Maps (something we would have cut off our three favorite appendages to be able to build) is still in beta. After Google popularized it, other really great services emerged that seem to have spent their whole life in beta, even though they seemed pretty darned finished to us.

So basically, we're in alpha because we want you to know that this thing is still really EARLY. We fully expect it to break, and for weird things to happen, and we want you to expect it as well. So just be warned, fotochatter still has a long way to go, and as long as you don't mind a few bumps, it should be an interesting ride.

One more thing, we don't plan to stay in alpha forever. Once we can get some of the important new features implemented, and be sure the whole damn thing isn't going to collapse, then maybe, just maybe, we'll have earned our beta. But not quite yet...