Not exactly. There's usually a lull period of a few months after a version is released. During that period they're working on the next major version, but there aren't any public betas. At least that's been the pattern since I've been here.
Well...
After they sober up (and get back from their well-deserved vacations), they start working on the next version. But yeah, that's how it generally goes.
Once they decide that a version "is done", they'll go into a "bug hunting mode" (meaning that no new features are added -- despite all the complaining to the contrary -- and they just find problems with the new versions). These are generally called "release candidates" (well, that was the pattern for v11 anyway), and that will continue on until all the bugs are gone (ha ha). It's during this time that they also generally ask for some help updating the help file, and I would guess they start prepping the web site for info about the new version (though it looks like it's mostly already prepped now).
Then, some random day, word will come down from On High (JimH) that It Is Done
TM and they will "release it". This basically entails changing the title of the build thread from "Release Candidate" to "Final". They take a short break, and then they resume releasing builds fixing all the bugs that didn't get fixed before...
It appears that a new beta version of Media Center 12 is uploaded to this site every other day or every couple of days. Am I right?
Yes. This is important because some of us go into fits and convulsions if we don't get our Daily
Bread Build.
If so then do you think that the final version of MC12 will be released soon? Because I have never seen new beta vesions of a piece of software become available so quickly!
No. I'd say we have some time yet, though this one does seem to be "maturing" a bit earlier than last time. As far as the new betas? You've never dealt with JRiver's betas before then! Jim keeps his developers chained to their desks (
like EA but time off for good behavior I'm told). Just kidding, of course... That's actually the beauty of their method. No firm due dates. No real "crunch" (not for "us" anyway -- other customers might not be so kind).
Also do you people believe that the final version of MC12 will be released before New Years 2007, if it is released soon?
Magic Eight Ball says "Doesn't Look Good".