well, the new beta is whenever beta 2 opens. They are still on Beta 1B about to go to 1C last I checked, and their schedule calls for updates all they way to Beta 1G, which means for it to be "christmas" we have to go through D, E, and F (not to mention G) in a month for beta 2 to arrive.
Of course, they may open it up again before then, who knows. But other estimations I've heard, from the devs, is early 2010 for Beta 2, which I'd say was a much safer bet.
