Every software maker under the sun, it seems, is offering up their software for free when it reaches beta, from web browsers to online calendars to photo organizing tools. In the six months since we last asked for your favorite beta, there's been no shortage of intriguing pre-release software to check out, and we're eager to see which releases have kept you interested. Read on to see the contenders and choose your own champion. Photo by arriba.

Note: We're including the latest betas for three browsers in this poll, but we're not asking you to vote on which browser is your favorite—that is, of course, a never-ending but ever-changing debate. In this context, we're asking which specific beta brought the coolest new features, or best interface improvements, or just general better-ness to each browser.

• BumpTop for Windows (direct link)
• Firefox 3.1 Beta (direct link)
• Google Chrome for Windows (direct link)
• Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 for Windows (direct link)
• Picasa 3 for Windows and Linux (direct link)
• Ubiquity Firefox extension (direct link)
• Windows Live Wave Betas (direct link)
• Wuala for Java platforms (direct link)
• XBOX Media Center "Atlantis" for all platforms (direct link)
• Yahoo Calendar Beta (direct link)

What's your favorite beta right now? ( surveys)

Did we miss any worthy betas in the nearly six months since our first show-down? Tell us in the comments.