When Microsoft releases Windows 11, the Windows Insider program will see a significant increase in participation. During its presentation of its strategy for 2022, the firm revealed that it will be adopting a new approach with respect to future releases to Insiders, which will focus on “testing out different concepts” with Microsoft’s features and services in order to “improve the overall user experience.”
Currently, the Windows Insider program is being led by Amanda Langowski, who recently stated in a blog that Microsoft is aiming to revamp the Dev Channel to serve as a “place to incubate new ideas.” Microsoft will now be able to work on long-term items as well as oversee the current status of particular features thanks to the Dev Channel, which was previously unavailable.
The fundamental concept is to simply increase the number of features and services that are being tested. Microsoft will do this by putting out new features in phases, allowing them to check quality and input from Insiders. It will also test several variants of features, which is referred to as “A/B testing.” Once these features have been determined to be ready, they may be included in a future Windows update to be made available.
Langowski, on the other hand, points out that in certain situations, these innovative ideas and concepts may never ever be introduced to the general audience. According to Langowski, with additional testing, “we can better improve experiences, and create solutions in Windows that actually enable our customers to do more,” he said on his blog.
In contrast to the Dev Channel, which will be dedicated to these trials, the Beta Channel will provide previews of experiences that are more in line with what the ordinary Windows user would eventually experience. The fact that the Dev and Beta Channels will operate in parallel means that there may be situations where features and experiences surface in the Beta Channel before the Developer Channel.
Langowski, in addition to explaining how things would function in the future, encouraged developers participating in the Windows Insider program to consider which Channel would be the most beneficial to them. For individuals interested in switching from the Dev Channel to the Beta Channel, the business has promised that a window would be made available to Insiders in the near future that will allow them to do so.
Surprisingly, a critical point was tucked away at the conclusion of the blog post in plain sight. After completing his description of Insider Channels, Langowski introduced a new symbol for the Windows Insider Program to conclude his presentation. The Insider community is now better represented by the symbol throughout all three channels: development, beta, and release preview, among others.
Insiders on the Dev Channel will soon be able to access the icon by going to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program. The symbol will also appear in emails and other places of the Windows Insider program when it is appropriate.
