Microsoft begins switching to its new Windows Insider channel names
Last week, Microsoft announced that it was gearing up to rename its various Windows Insider rings, and today those changes are starting to roll out. Gone are the Fast, Slow, and Release Preview rings. In their places are Dev, Beta, and Release Preview channels.
In actual execution, Windows Insiders won’t notice any changes outside of the new names. Functionally, each channel will continue to operate as its corresponding ring did previously. However, Microsoft opted to make this shift to better realign its Windows Insider testing channels with its other products.
From Microsoft’s original blog post explaining the changes:
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.
Hey Folks – Channels have arrived! Expect the changes to land in your #WindowsInsider settings over the next few hours. Remember, we’ve done the mapping for you, so there’s no direct change you need to make. Check out blog for details! ^AL https://t.co/auc8wvrxRy
— Windows Insider (@windowsinsider) June 29, 2020
In addition to the name changes, Microsoft stated that the new Insider channels will get new builds and updates frequently. That should come as good news for people enrolled in the Slow ring, which could go months between updates. This hints that Beta channel testers will get updates more frequently.
The new channel names are rolling out starting today, so you may not see them update right away. Whichever ring you were already enrolled in will automatically switch over to the new, corresponding channel.
Xbox July 2020 event expectations: Games, event date, and more
In July, Microsoft will showcase its first-party roadmap in full, with confirmed reveals from Xbox Game Studios, including the likes of Halo Infinite. What else can we realistically expect, and when exactly does the event go live? Here’s what we know and expect so far.
A love letter to Diablo II on its 20th birthday
Feel old yet? Diablo II is 20 years old, yet it still pulls in new players and delivers a jolt of nostalgia to long-time veterans of the series. Here’s what made Diablo II so great two decades ago and why it’s still enjoyed by many people to this day.
Acer’s Swift 3 is a cheap way to get your hands on AMD Ryzen 4000 power
The refreshed Acer Swift 3 is a relatively lightweight 14-inch notebook packed with AMD Ryzen 7 4700U CPU. It’s well within the budget range, but the display takes a hit to keep the price down.
These are the best PC sticks for when you’re on the move
Instant computer, just add a screen! That’s the general idea of the ultra-portable PC Compute Sticks, but it can be hard to know which one you want. Relax, we’ve got you covered.