Private Beta Underway

I’ve kicked off the private Gravatar beta by opening it to the 32 volunteers that helped rate gravatars in the olden days. I’d like to thank them for all the time and effort they put in to help you get your gravatars rated in a timely manner.

In less than a week I will expand the beta to include anyone who has left a comment on this blog’s first post, so if you want in early, make sure to get your comment in. Spread the word!

One of the biggest changes for 2.0 is that you will be responsible for rating your own gravatars. This means no more waiting to get that image live! This was a big decision, but is essential to the growth of Gravatar. I can no longer support the overhead involved in rating every single gravatar that comes in. I’ve placed a prominent “Abuse” link on every page to make it easy to report inappropriately rated content. Having you rate your own gravatars will also allow you to (in the future) use the Gravatar API to update your gravatar at will and from your own programs (can you say “Dynavatars?”)

More details coming soon. I’m starting to get excited!


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Comments

143 responses to “Private Beta Underway”

  1. Kyle Korleski Avatar

    Nice! I can’t wait to get my hands on the beta and on the Gravatar API.

    Like

  2. monaxle Avatar

    This is good news. Just found out about gravatars recently. I came here just as you’ve been updating. Be happy to the the new beta a spin.

    Like

  3. Julia Avatar

    Yay, me want Gravatar too!

    Like

  4. yoshi Avatar

    I can’t wait to see everything that’s going for gravatar. Hopefully final release will be soon. I’ve changed my email address since the old gravatar and haven’t been able to change it. Keep it up!

    Like

  5. kainita Avatar

    I need it!!

    Like

  6. Sajid Avatar
    Sajid

    I would like to test this as well. Include me 🙂

    Like

  7. bart Avatar
    bart

    I would like..! 😉

    Like

  8. Ken Hughes Avatar
    Ken Hughes

    Blantant attempt to get onto the extended beta… 😉

    .. KenH

    Like

  9. Borghal Avatar

    “Less than a week” for beta! Let’s hope it’s not too much longer for going live!

    Good work!

    Like

  10. Hikaru Avatar

    WOW I also can’t wait to see the new gravatar beta! 😀
    Good work! 😀

    Like

  11. Romi Avatar

    I’m looking forward to the new gravatars! =D

    Like

  12. Mary Avatar
    Mary

    I’m so happy gravatar is coming back !! ^_^ can’t wait to use it again !!!

    Like

  13. Nan Avatar

    I am very excited each time my sage returns an update from here. Count me in!

    Like

  14. Corinne Avatar

    I hope the email is what matters because I’ve moved my site.

    Like

  15. Jared Avatar

    beta tester too

    Like

  16. Casey Avatar

    Nice! These new features sound great! I’d like to get in on the beta as well…

    Like

  17. Jason Avatar

    Look forward to seeing the new changes.

    Like

  18. Ben M Avatar

    Getting excited. Thanks for all the hard work.

    Like

  19. Aragorn Invent Avatar

    Wow, im excited too. I want to see what is new on the next Gravatar Version. I can’t wait anymore! 😀

    Like

  20. Indelibrella Avatar

    I miss my Gravatars!

    Like

  21. jinny Avatar

    Oh…May you recover soon!

    Like

  22. Andrew Flusche Avatar

    Please include me in the beta as well.

    Like

  23. Valerie Avatar

    This is great! I’ll implement them on my sites again when I get home tonight. Thanks for allowing us the sneak preview 😉

    Like

  24. Queeny Avatar

    Yeah – me want gravatar!!

    Like

  25. Luc Latulippe Avatar

    Sweet! Count me in.

    Like

  26. Equipe TV No Ar Avatar

    I would like to test this as well. Include me please.
    Best regards

    Like

  27. Reyson Avatar

    Cool!! me too ^^

    Like

  28. badillo Avatar

    see good and new functions well

    Like

  29. Shuugo Avatar

    If you have any free slots yet it would be awesome to test it.
    Keep it up the hard work!

    Like

  30. Natti Avatar

    Amazing, can’t wait to change my gravatar picture. Thank you bunches for this wonderful service.

    Like

  31. Torley Avatar

    I’m really looking forward to the new Gravatar! My current one has been stuck for months and it’s soooo out-of-date. I look forward to the service coming back, better-than-ever-before!

    Best of hope! 🙂

    Like

  32. timwizard Avatar

    I think you are taking this in the right direction. I think your ideas are scalable and have promise to be adopted by more people.

    Hit me up with a beta invite when you go public with it.

    Like

  33. B.M.B. Avatar

    Count me in.

    Like

  34. Ymode Avatar

    I will love to help, besides i really need to change my gravatar, so please hurry up!!!

    Like

  35. Lilly Avatar
    Lilly

    cant wait for the new site!

    Like

  36. Test Avatar
    Test

    Still the old ones work? Nice

    Like

  37. Tabatha Avatar
    Tabatha

    Count me in! Me! Me! Me! Pick me!

    Like

  38. Ulf Avatar
    Ulf

    I’ve been wanting to change my photo for a long time.

    I’ve actually been wanting to change it since the day after I uploaded it. But I was very unfortunate and the service was down. So ever since, whenever I post somewhere that employs Gravatar, I get this old photo 🙂

    So I would very much appreciate a beta invite! I’ve given some beta feedback before too (The Venice Project, some web 2.0:s)

    Like

  39. Mindy Avatar
    Mindy

    Huzzah!

    Like

  40. kevin Avatar

    操,没完没了了
    整天测试个什么劲啊

    Like

  41. Heiko K. Avatar

    Cant wait! Let me be a beta-tester! 🙂

    Like

  42. Coming soon Avatar
    Coming soon

    Oh how fun. The king of missed deadlines won’t have Gravatar go primetime in early February as promised. In fact, he originally promised it by February. Werner, please stop with the promises. You’re pathetic! No, the above losers are actually more pathetic. March, April, May anyone?

    Like

  43. Laughing Muse Avatar

    I wanna play, too! 😀 I’ve done software testing, both as a QA engineer and as a beta tester. And I’m a nitpicker – which is helpful only in situations like this one.

    Like

  44. Dariana Avatar

    I want in. Was a Beta tester for AOL for 6 years, also Beta tested BlogMad and some others. I have been checking the blog here and the Gravatar site EVERYDAY to see the new launch. I can hardly wait! Include me PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! 🙂

    Like

  45. 6pence Avatar

    Count me in!

    Like

  46. ~A~ Avatar

    Ohhhhh, anxiously awaiting. If there’s still room for me, let me know.

    Like

  47. Slowfinger Avatar

    Desperate for giving it a whirl myself! Thanks.

    Like

  48. c Avatar

    I can’t wait to try what is coming.

    Like

  49. Markus Avatar

    yippee ka yay! Can’t wait anymore…

    Like

  50. Sascha A. Carlin Avatar

    Nice not to see this great idea die. Add me to the beta 😉

    Like

  51. Frédéric Roland Avatar
    Frédéric Roland

    I would like to test too.

    Like

  52. Julien Simery Avatar

    I cannot wait to have the gravatars on wordpress. Sounds really exciting! I would really really like to be in the beta as well ^__^

    Like

  53. Frank Hamm Avatar

    Thanks alot for keeping us on tenterhooks 🙂

    Like

  54. Arwen Folkes Avatar

    Hurry Hurry … I must get rid of my awful avatar and replace it with one much nicer …

    Like

  55. Ken Welsch Avatar

    I would love to be included in the second round of new Gravatar testing. Count me in!

    Like

  56. Hazel Avatar
    Hazel

    Glad to see its nearly ready for release.
    Will be awaiting the public release, I beta test enough software.;)

    Like

  57. Maros Avatar
    Maros

    I can’t wait for the new Gravatar!

    Like

  58. Chryssy Avatar
    Chryssy

    Hurry Hurry Hurry. CAN’T WAIT…Thanks

    Like

  59. James Snape Avatar

    Would love to help out…

    Like

  60. Cofyc Avatar
    Cofyc

    Beta tester,Thanks.

    Like

  61. jimmy die tulpe tedeski Avatar

    i don’t know what gravatar is but i want it now 🙂

    Like

  62. Vinny Carpenter Avatar

    Great to hear Gravatar will be back – Would love to beta test if you still need volunteers. Thanks

    Like

  63. Celeste Avatar

    How can I change my gravatar? I got it about 2 years ago and have since split with teh guy in my gravatar so would like to change it!!!

    Like

  64. Venu Avatar

    Please do include me in the beta test 🙂

    Like

  65. Dennis Morhardt Avatar

    I love Gravatar, include me in the betatest

    Like

  66. BloodyWhore Avatar
    BloodyWhore

    I need a new avatar!! HURRY!!!

    Like

  67. c.a. Marks Avatar

    Would like to be beta tester.

    Like

  68. Dakini Avatar
    Dakini

    Count me in. 🙂 Thank you.

    Like

  69. Aqeel Avatar
    Aqeel

    Cool, Can’t wait 🙂

    Like

  70. Gmartintin Avatar
    Gmartintin

    Some visitors on my website are waiting for the rating for september … What about it ?

    Like

  71. Thomas Avatar

    Why You let your users wait?
    Cannot understand that!

    Is there an alternative?

    Like

  72. suexID Avatar

    In my opinion, giving users the rights to rate their own avatar is a very wrong idea. My own website has the acceptable rating set to the highest one, so it isn’t a problem for me, but for children-friendly and strictly “non-adult” content websites. The abuse link is a good idea, but I’d rather use it WITH a centralized rating system and not instead of it.

    Like

  73. Peter Avatar
    Peter

    good luck in the new web 2.0 age! Looking forward to the new gravatar having it’s place there.

    Like

  74. webmotion Avatar

    Agree with suexID. BTW, interested in the beta, of course!

    Like

  75. JavaMonkey Avatar
    JavaMonkey

    Awesome idea. I’m looking forward to the larger beta.

    Like

  76. Gaco Avatar

    Excelente…i cant wait more!!!…Saludos desde Chile!!!

    Like

  77. Johnny Avatar

    me wantssssit.

    Like

  78. Asuka Avatar
    Asuka

    Can’t wait until gravatar is back online again!

    Like

  79. Echilon Avatar

    Can’t wait!

    Like

  80. chi Avatar

    I`d like to be on board too – curious me!

    Like

  81. Heather Avatar
    Heather

    Oh pleassssssse hurry!!! I have been a blank gray head for too long!!! HURRY!!

    Like

  82. Brian Kuhn Avatar

    I would like to be part of the beta as well, looking forward to seeing the next version.

    Like

  83. Mike Vitoroulis Avatar

    The new features of gravatar 2.0 look great, I can’t wait. Mine needs some major updates. 😀

    Like

  84. Sascha Loebbert Avatar
    Sascha Loebbert

    Hey, good news. I will be using gravatar in my blog and in a user authentication I am using in a RoR application I am just developing.

    Like

  85. skepticlawyer Avatar

    Count me in – at the moment our blog is expanding rapidly and people have been wanting gravatars. The sooner the better!

    Like

  86. slackerman Avatar
    slackerman

    Yeah!!! Giddyup!

    Like

  87. nonozone Avatar

    Yay, me want Gravatar too much!

    Like

  88. Brendan Rankin Avatar
    Brendan Rankin

    Ok…about time!

    Like

  89. Pia Avatar

    Yeah 🙂

    Like

  90. Benfante Avatar

    I would like to beta-test too…

    Like

  91. Kimberley Avatar
    Kimberley

    I want in!!!
    Can’t wait … 🙂

    Like

  92. Aryslan Avatar
    Aryslan

    Well lets see what this new version bring us XD

    Like

  93. paskal Avatar

    ooopppssss…i think its already (and almost half of) February… lolz no offense 😛

    Like

  94. Patrick Avatar

    Can’t wait – I just… can’t… wait :p

    Like

  95. Kirsten Avatar

    I would like to test too! 😉
    Include me ! ^^

    Like

  96. Jowah Avatar

    Count on me ♥

    Like

  97. Jenny Avatar

    nifty. i can’t wait. i must see teh new gravatar!! wee!!!!

    Like

  98. caligurl Avatar

    i SO can’t wait!!!!!!

    Like

  99. Miguel Avatar

    I would like to test this as well!! 😀

    Like

  100. beth Avatar

    I would like to be included 🙂

    Like

  101. esotericsean Avatar

    sounds awesome! i can’t wait!

    Like

  102. kaihsyn Avatar

    Can’t wait anymore!!

    Like

  103. NAKADAI Avatar

    ME ENCANTA EL USO DE LOS GRAVATARS, PERO ES UNA LASTIMA TODO ESTE TIEMPO, ESPERO QUE PRONTO SE RECUPERE LA WEB Y TENGAN TODO LISTO, ASI QUE SOOLO PUEDO DECIR BUENA SUERTE, Y QUE SIGAN HACIENDO SU MARAVILLOSO TRABAJO.

    GRAVATARS ES GENIAL.

    Like

  104. jishui Avatar
    jishui

    I miss my Gravatars! Can you give me an invation?

    Like

  105. toby Avatar

    hey coming soon… it’s real. and it’s good.

    Like

  106. Alpesh Avatar

    Hey Get me in ;-)!

    Like

  107. aNt1 Avatar

    Really exited about that!

    Like

  108. christian Avatar

    Cool! At long last, gravatar is back!

    Like

  109. The Exit Avatar

    The new Beta is great! It is a pleasure!

    Like

  110. dip Avatar

    And I want to test it, please get me in!!!

    Like

  111. Nathan Avatar

    Sweet, I can’t wait!

    Like

  112. nick cetacean Avatar

    I too would like an unproven untested jury-rigged new gravatar!

    Like

  113. Filipe Rocha Avatar

    As Halloween say: I want in. 🙂

    Like

  114. katychan Avatar

    I can’t wait to see it. 🙂

    Like

  115. Susanne Avatar

    Great! 🙂

    Like

  116. Indigo Avatar

    Can’t wait!

    Like

  117. Joey Esquivel Avatar

    It looks fantastic! The simplicity and ease of use will be excellent!

    Like

  118. Keith Solomon Avatar

    I’ve been putting off adding Gravatars to a couple of sites I’m developing until 2.0 is launched. It’s great to see you’re making progress! 🙂

    Like

  119. Evil Genius Avatar

    Sweet! Can’t wait to be one your beta testers!

    Like

  120. Jason Shao Avatar

    Glad to see this service is picking back up.

    Like

  121. Charlotte Avatar

    Thank goodness.. I did this avatar for a blog I no longer have and I’ve been wanting to change it for several months now. A ghost just doesn’t go with an armymom blog now 🙂

    Like

  122. Mark Hewitt Avatar

    Me too! Me too! Pweeeeeeease?

    Like

  123. figgy Avatar
    figgy

    I am thrilled that this will be coming soon! I have been waiting for months!

    I do not know if I will need to resubmit my picture… it was in the process of being rated when Gravatar went down. Whatever, I’m just so pleased it’s almost ready!

    Like

  124. Carolinas CW Avatar

    Great work… can’t wait to see the new and approved gravatar.

    Like

  125. Todd Avatar

    sweet! can’t wait to get in and be one of the cool kids.

    Like

  126. Josh Avatar
    Josh

    Hey, i’d love to be in the beta. Count me in!

    Like

  127. Sascha Avatar
    Sascha

    Any chance to get into the beta (and will there be a new MT plugin)?

    Like

  128. Satsuma Avatar
    Satsuma

    been waiting for this, any chance i could get a chance to test it as well?

    Like

  129. jeremy Avatar

    when you posted about leaving a message to be contacted or not if you were a user, i didn’t leave a message. i wish i would have now so i could have gotten in on the beta testing!

    Like

  130. Stephanie Avatar

    I can’t wait either.

    The only problem with having users rating gravatars is that they may misrate them. You should give a bunch of staff members with the power to rate gravatars as they’re changed and made, etc.

    Like

  131. Lasse Havelund Avatar

    The beta is just great–look forward to it, guys 🙂

    Like

  132. Lubos Motl Avatar

    Curious whether I can still be invited. 😉

    Like

  133. Matt George Avatar
    Matt George

    I would like to test this out, please.

    Like

  134. oliver Avatar

    Wow gravatar rocks! Look forward to seeing what it can do.

    Like

  135. SisterX Avatar
    SisterX

    I am looking forward to the public release of Gravatar and any beta testing that might still beIavailable! Thank you!

    Like

  136. Carman Avatar

    Looking forward to it.

    Like

  137. PTey Avatar

    Also looking forward to it!

    Like

  138. Lily Avatar
    Lily

    Looking particularly forward to it. My avatar never shows up through the main site.

    Like

  139. jrphelps Avatar

    Any update on when we might have an API for uploading new images to Gravatar? It would be a lot of fun to write an app to work with it!

    Like

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