After announcing last week that the operating system will receive a larger-than-usual upgrade in February with Android apps, taskbar enhancements, and more, Microsoft has disclosed its intentions for Windows 11 testing till 2022.
According to The Verge, Microsoft aims to experiment with features for Windows 11 testers to review that may or may not be released.
“As part of this ongoing transformation, Insiders will see us rely more heavily on the Dev Channel as a location to incubate new ideas. They work on long-lead items and govern the status of specific features,” Amanda Langowski, the Windows Insider Program’s head, noted.
“Some of these concepts will never ship,” she continued, “but by trying more, we can better refine experiences and create Windows solutions that genuinely enable our customers to do more.”
A/B testing like this has been done before, with a small group of Windows Insiders getting access to a feature before Microsoft makes it available to all testers. However, there may be future variations on features that Microsoft does not fully detail.
When Microsoft releases a new build, many Windows aficionados seek new features, turning on hidden features and seeing what Microsoft is experimenting with using flags in the operating system.
“We’re also aware that some of our more tech-savvy Insiders have noticed that various functionalities in the builds we’ve tested have been purposely disabled. That is by design, and we will only speak about things that we are allowing Insiders to try out and provide input on in those circumstances, “Langowski expressed himself.
The Windows 11 Dev Channel will now exclusively test experimental features, leaving the Beta Channel to check features closer to what will get delivered to the general public. New features may surface first on the Beta Channel if they are closer to being released.
To avoid more experimental features getting released, Microsoft wants to give Windows 11 testers a window of opportunity to migrate from the Dev Channel to the Beta Channel.
It gets anticipated to correspond with the February release of improvements such as Android app support, taskbar tweaks, and revamped Notepad and Media Player apps.
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