Newsletter Archives

• Microsoft Insider: Pros, and the many cons

  Posted on December 5, 2022 at 02:45 CST by Peter Deegan • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 19.49 • 2022-12-05

  MICROSOFT 365

  

  By Peter Deegan

  Microsoft pushes its Insider versions of Office software very hard, promising the latest features faster than the public at large receives them.

  But it doesn’t mention the downsides of using beta software, the confusing and ever-changing labels, and the real reason why the company promotes the Insider editions of Office and Windows so strongly.

  Anyone can become an Office or Windows Insider. Microsoft pushes the various levels of test software for Office and Windows with phrases such as “Get the scoop on our newest builds and features” and “Help shape the future of Office.” As usual, that’s stretching the truth, hiding the real purposes of Microsoft’s Insider program.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (19.49.0, 2022-12-05).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  Microsoft 365 Beta Tesring, Microsoft 365, Newsletters, Office Insider, Windows Insider

• Windows Insiders: If you’re in the Slow ring, you’re about to get pushed to the next-next version of Win10, version 2003 (a.k.a. 20H1)

  Posted on October 22, 2019 at 07:40 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  Paul Thurrot caught this – it went right over my head.

  If you’re one of the (16 million?) folks in the Windows marketing beta… er, Windows Insider program… you should check which ring you’re on. If you’re in the Slow Ring, and are currently beta testing Win10 version 1909, you’ll be switched over to testing Win10 version 2003 (or whatever they’ll call it) “very shortly.”

  Paul nails it:

  Last night, Microsoft updated a blog post that was originally posted 11 days earlier. This marks the second time they’ve released news to this post by editing the post, and the company seems to be clueless about the fact that these updates are basically sent into a black hole: Without issuing a new post, no one will ever be alerted to the news.

  Although I subscribe to the Windows Insider Twitter account, I didn’t notice the tweet. One of my test machines is on the Slow Ring — and it’s about to get pushed to version 20H1/2003. Oh boy.

  Anyway, word to the wise, and thanks Paul.

  Windows 10 Releases Slow Ring, Win10 2003, Windows Insider

• If you’re beta testing Win10, you probably want to change branches

  Posted on April 5, 2019 at 14:00 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  Microsoft just posted a warning that it’s about to change the meaning of the different branches.

  I love it when that happens.

  Per Brandon LeBlanc:

  Now is the time for you to verify your desired Windows Insider Program settings by going to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Insider Program to ensure you’re on the ring you want to be on before this change occurs.

  I’ll admit that I had a hard time parsing his note, but here’s what I think it means. There are only four choices:

  Skip: You’ll be moved automatically to Fast at some undefined point in the future.

  Fast: You’ll start receiving test builds of the next-next version of Win10, version 2003 or 20H1 or whatever they call it. If you install a 20H1 build, you won’t be able to move back to 1903 (or 1909) unless you reinstall Windows.

  Slow: You’ll start to get 1903 test builds. (That’s where I’m heading.)

  Release Preview: In the not-too-distant future, you’ll start to get 1903 test builds. (In other words, it doesn’t look like MS will use Release Preview for testing the April second monthly Cumulative Update for Win10 1809.)

  That’s kind of a weird scorecard. If you have a better interpretation of the announcement, I’m all ears.

  Windows News rings, Windows Insider

• Heads up: If you’re a Windows Insider and you want to stay with Win10 1803, you need to get out of the program

  Posted on May 2, 2018 at 21:07 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  Dona Sarkar advises:

  #WindowsInsiders: if you don't want to start receiving RS5 builds, you should switch to Release Preview TODAY. Both WIP Fast and Slow will see RS5 builds….why, yes, SOON ™ pic.twitter.com/I9oHGDNIyq

  — Dona Sarkar (@donasarkar) May 2, 2018

  To stick with 1803 and stay out of the beta testing process (for a while anyway), click Start > Settings > Update & Security. On the left choose Windows Insider Program. Click the button to Stop Insider Preview builds. When asked, confirm that you want to stop the beta builds. Then you’ll have to reboot.

  You can move to the Release Preview if you really, really want to. Microsoft has a detailed description of the Ring and how to get into it on the Windows Insider blog.

  Windows Patches/Security RS5, Windows Insider

• Microsoft warns: The Win10 beta pace is going to pick up: “Fast is about to get faster”

  Posted on March 13, 2015 at 07:07 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  Hold onto yer hat.

  InfoWorld Tech Watch

  Windows News Windows 10, Windows Insider