Microsoft changes Windows Insider Channels

Recently, Microsoft announced that it has renamed the Windows Insider Channels in the Windows 10 Insider Preview program. The original fast ring, slow ring, and release preview ring have all been renamed.

This naming is actually Microsoft’s unification of the beta names of various product lines. Earlier, Microsoft has completed the renaming of the Office beta channel.

Now the fast ring is called the Dev Channel, the slow ring is called the Beta Channel, and the release preview ring is called the Release Preview Channel.

When Microsoft introduced Windows Insider 5 years ago, users were asked to choose a fast or slow ring. Among them, the fast replacement frequency is faster but the stability is relatively poor.

Although the slow replacement frequency is relatively slow, the stability is better. At the same time, users can also experience the new features and functional improvements brought by the beta version.

Over the years, Microsoft is changing the way it builds and distributes Windows 10. Microsoft adjusts these methods and tries to develop multiple versions of different cycles in parallel.

For example, in 2019, Microsoft’s fast ring developed version 20H1, the slow ring tried version 19H2, and the release preview channel was 19H1 version.

Microsoft believes that this development method has surpassed the original concept of the ring channel. For this reason, Microsoft decided to convert the focus from the previous change frequency to the changing quality of the version.

The user does not need to consider the frequency of change but chooses which version is suitable for him. At the same time, no matter which version is used, the user will receive frequent updates in the future.