Office Insider naming is 'simplified'
Microsoft is changing the names of the various Office 2016 for Windows releases (Office 365) including Insider editions. They say it’s ‘simplified’ but we’re not so sure.
Insider Fast level becomes just ‘Insider’
Source: Microsoft
While the old Insider Slow becomes Monthly Channel (Targeted) – how that’s ‘simplified’ is anyone’s guess.
The new name does NOT make it clear that you’re getting test software that’s not fully ready for the public. Instead Microsoft waffles on about ‘fully supported builds’ and sending yet more information back to the company.
Source: Microsoft
Regular Office 365 subscribers using Office 2016 for Windows were on the ‘Current Channel’ which is now known as ‘Monthly Channel’. Enterprise users will get one of the ‘semi-annual’ releases as decided by their network administrators.
These names refer to feature updates. Security and bug fixes are normally released each month.
Here’s the full list of ‘simplified’ names as supplied by Microsoft.
| New Name | Old Name | Purpose | Applies to | Release Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Insider Fast | Frequent updates containing features in development | Office 365 for home Office 365 for business | Weekly |
|
| Insider Slow (Office 365 for home) First Release for Current Channel (Office 365 for business) | Preview of Monthly Channel update | Office 365 for home Office 365 for business | Monthly |
|
| Current Channel | Monthly updates with the latest features | Office 365 for home Office 365 for business | Monthly |
|
| First Release for Deferred Channel | Preview of Semi-annual Channel update | Office 365 for business only | Twice a year, in March and September |
|
| Deferred Channel | Accumulation of features that have shipped in prior Monthly Channel updates | Office 365 for business only | Twice a year, in January and July |