A beta version of software is the final testing phase before the actual full version of the software is released.
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Beta 1.0
The beta version of Minecraft was released on December 20, 2010.* * Minecraft-beta came after Minecraft-alpha, but before Minecraft 1.0. You can play Minecraft-beta with the new launcher.
The Xbox edition's current version is about equivalent to version Beta 1.7.3 on the PC.
Alpha was an earlier version on minecraft beta, it has poorer graphics, less blocks and far fewer crafting recipes.
Not the retail version. There was someone who claimed to have it working on a beta build though.