Microsoft changes the Insider program of Windows 10

[GoodBytes]

Microsoft announces that it is changing the Windows 10 Insider Program with a new model/approach. Under its new leadership, it now aims to change how the program runs to better suite the current times in terms of development of the Windows 10 OS, which has changed.

 

Amanda Langowski, a prominent developer at Microsoft who pushed the idea of the Insider Program for years, is now in charge of the program, is changing how the program was original designed. In the past, at a public level, users had 2 rings to choose from: Fast Ring and Slow Ring.

 

 

In the above diagram, the green rings are the ones available to the public. Unless there was a problem or holiday, essentially, the rate of release was weekly for the Fast Ring, and Slow Ring was on a monthly basis (they picked the best fast ring release, which often times was the or near latest). A third ring was added later, but was more considered a 'channel' release, which was Release Preview. This was the release of Windows 10 version in Release Candidate stage. There was also a fourth ring that was in between Microsoft ring and Fast Ring that came and went called "Skip Ahead", which was only availible for those who didn't want to stick with the polishing releases of Windows 10 of a release, and jump ahead to the next version, but, from what I recall, there were never new features, it was all backend stuff for setting up the ground works of new features.

 

Quote

We are transitioning and converting our current ring model, based on the frequency of builds, to a new channel model that pivots on the quality of builds and better supports parallel coding efforts. In addition to this change, Insiders will also find similar offering names and expectations across Windows and Office programs and soon Microsoft Edge and Microsoft Teams. Our goal is to not only make it clearer for existing Insiders to choose the experience that’s right for them, but also for new Insiders to pick the right channel as they join. The Insider community is very important to us all and we’re working to align how all our Insider programs work better together across Microsoft.

 

So this is now changing to a new model. The model is full on channel base.

There will now be 3 channels to picks:

• Release Preview (remains)
• Beta (replaces Slow Ring)
• Dev (replaces Fast Ring)

 

On the surface they looks like a rename, but that is not accurate.

 

They are defined as follow:

 

 

Microsoft notes that those on the Dev Channel, may get features that will NOT reach the coming up version of Windows 10, but rather later, or much later. Technically, although not specified, it cut off all together (poor reception, for example), which has happened in the past. This is important to note and not to forget.

 

Microsoft recommendation and target for each channel are essentially as so:

• Dev: For "highly technical users". In other words, people who can live with issues and don't mind dealing/troubleshooting them to access the latest APIs and feature set.
• Beta: For current Insiders and IT Professionals who want to test the coming up version of Windows with its feature set reaching closer to polish stages. 
• Release Preview: Same as now. So great for anyone who needs to or want to do validation of the release candidate type release before it hits the official channel.

 

If you are part of the Office Insider program, the above looks very similar. The only difference is that Office doesn't have Dev channel.  So now Office and Windows Insider are now aligned.

 

Current Insiders don't need to do anything. On the next release (now, actually), Fast Ring will be moved to Dev Channel. When a Beta release will be ready, Slow Ring users will be moved to it.

If you want to change channels, now, for Insiders, simply go to: Settings > Update & Security > Windows Insider Program, and click on your Ring, and pick the ring that will join you to the channel you want).

 

For those who want to jump in now. As it just got started, you'll still see the old rings until everything get migrated to the channel, which Microsoft aims to be at the end of month.

 

Source: https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2020/06/15/introducing-windows-insider-channels/

 

[SansVarnic]

Hmm, nice. This is very similar to the model used for Edge and Office, I can appreciate this change.

I guess I will be on the Beta Channel moving forward [currently in the Slow Ring].

[Alex Atkin UK]

The wording is amusing.  Seeing Beta claiming as "reliable" and Release Preview as "advanced quality updates", when even public releases haven't been either of those things!

Although at least with the latest update they seem to have caught it before it caused too much trouble.  Though not sure why they felt the need to tell me there is a new update coming but its not ready for my PC yet.

[GoodBytes]

35 minutes ago, Alex Atkin UK said:

Although at least with the latest update they seem to have caught it before it caused too much trouble.  Though not sure why they felt the need to tell me there is a new update coming but its not ready for my PC yet.

Ah, you see, in the past, it didn't tell you this. They added this, because people where wondering why they didn't get an update, while they were just not delivered to them due to a known compatibility issue. Many, forced update, not knowing that that was the reason, and they faced the known issues.

[Alex Atkin UK]

2 hours ago, GoodBytes said:

Ah, you see, in the past, it didn't tell you this. They added this, because people where wondering why they didn't get an update, while they were just not delivered to them due to a known compatibility issue. Many, forced update, not knowing that that was the reason, and they faced the known issues.

I figured so, but wouldn't the better option be to not allow someone to force an update that is broken in the first place?

I believe even the install ISO is now the new version which seems very premature if using it would result in a broken OS.

[GDRRiley]

2 hours ago, Alex Atkin UK said:

I figured so, but wouldn't the better option be to not allow someone to force an update that is broken in the first place?

you forced it over them recommending you not, kinda on you the user.

 

cool what really just seems to be name changes with some small changes

[TrigrH]

Broken updates are still hitting home users wayy before they are ready. Had to uninstall KB4560960 from two machines this week as it completely broke the ability to print.

[WereCatf]

All these changes mean absolutely nothing, if Microsoft continues to ignore the feedback they're getting from the Insiders. The issue with printing that @TrigrH there mentioned, for example, had been reported by Insiders months ago already. Actually, all the issues with the patch had already been reported months ago by a large number of Insiders and....nothing. Nada. The devs at Microsoft ignored all the feedback.

 

This all seems to me like just management trying to make themselves look important and nothing more.

[mr moose]

1 hour ago, TrigrH said:

Broken updates are still hitting home users wayy before they are ready. Had to uninstall KB4560960 from two machines this week as it completely broke the ability to print.

They always will, there is no possible way MS (or any company for that matter) can release an update for an OS that won't fail at all.   There is nothing MS can do to avoid this, if they could they would.

[Doobeedoo]

So kinda more streamlined and in line with rest, that's good. 

[porina]

I guess I can live in hope they also make some changes at the other end of the scale: make LTSB available to individuals.

[Alex Atkin UK]

14 hours ago, mr moose said:

They always will, there is no possible way MS (or any company for that matter) can release an update for an OS that won't fail at all.   There is nothing MS can do to avoid this, if they could they would.

You seen to have missed the post where its explained most issues are well reported by insiders so COULD have been avoided.  This is literally supposed to be the whole point of the insider programme.

[mr moose]

1 hour ago, Alex Atkin UK said:

You seen to have missed the post where its explained most issues are well reported by insiders so COULD have been avoided.  This is literally supposed to be the whole point of the insider programme.

I didn't miss it.    The person I quoted made a comment that shows an observation from within a specific environment that highlights specific issues, I am just saying if we move outside of that environment and consider the whole the number of issues e.i windows does not appear have more broken updates than any of the other major OS like ios, android or Mac os.  

 

So the question of does the insider program work,  obviously it doesn't work as well as they'd like or they wouldn't restructure it, but just because some people have problems with it doesn't mean the whole thing is a failure and updates are always broken.

 

 

[FirehawkV21]

11 hours ago, mr moose said:

So the question of does the insider program work,  obviously it doesn't work as well as they'd like or they wouldn't restructure it, but just because some people have problems with it doesn't mean the whole thing is a failure and updates are always broken.

That, I can agree. Especially since Windows has a lot of components and they have to maintain it for both consumer and business customers.

 

Looking at the 20H2 and the return on the optional updates, they have done some changes there as well. Mainy, 20H2 features will be available for testing to all (no A/B testing) and the optional updates will have a preview attached (I think insiders with receive an early preview first before making it a public preview). I guess they are are improving how they test updates slowly.

[Fnige]

On 6/17/2020 at 5:29 AM, SansVarnic said:

Hmm, nice. This is very similar to the model used for Edge and Office, I can appreciate this change.

I guess I will be on the Beta Channel moving forward [currently in the Slow Ring].

office?

 

Also do you know if theres a changelog for canary/whatever builds out there?