Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in

Windows Insider Program Hits One Million Testers

By - Source: Microsoft | B 18 comments

Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore updated the Windows blog on Monday with news that the Windows Insider Program reached 1 million registered users over the weekend. He also said that Microsoft has collected more than 200,000 pieces of user-submitted feedback via the Windows Feedback application in the Windows 10 Technical Preview.

According to Belfiore, 64 percent of the registrants downloaded and used Windows 10 Technical Preview as an installed operating system, while the remaining 36 percent are running the platform on a virtual machine (VM). He said that most of the feedback is based on those who are using the operating system regularly and not from those who only spend a few minutes to experiment.

“Another indicator that we have solid usage is the number of app-launches that happen on a device. 68 percent of you are launching more than 7 apps/day, and some people are using it even more heavily,” Belfiore wrote. “We have seen about 25 percent of devices running the Windows 10 Technical Preview launching more than 26 apps per day, and 5 percent launching a whopping 68 apps per day!”

Belfiore also points to an article on Paul Thurrott’s site, which provides the users’ Top 10 requests in Windows 10 Technical Preview. These were generated by a participant who created a script-based analysis of the top feedback requests. What’s at the top of the list? A request for moving or disabling the new search and/or taskview buttons.

The list shows that the second most-popular request is for Microsoft to add a little animation/transition when opening the Start Menu. After that, customers want an easier way to use a local account. The next after that is a request to add tabs in File Explorer, followed by complaints that Charms cannot be accessed using a mouse.

Belfiore’s post encouraged Windows 10 Technical Preview users to participate in the feedback and jump onto the Windows Technical Preview Program forum to ask and answer questions related to the new platform. Not a Windows Insider? Use the Windows Suggestion Box on the UserVoice website to submit your own requests for Windows 10.

Finally, a new build of Windows 10 Technical Preview is expected to arrive soon, so stay tuned to Gabriel Aul on Twitter, who runs the Data & Fundamentals Team.

Follow Kevin Parrish @exfileme. Follow us @tomshardware, on Facebook and on Google+.

Discuss
Add a comment
Ask a Category Expert
React To This Article

Create a new thread in the News comments forum about this subject

Example: Notebook, Android, SSD hard drive

  • 5 Hide
    TechyInAZ , October 13, 2014 1:10 PM
    I personally am one of those 36% VM testers. And I have to say that windows 10 is looking good, but it still needs modifications that all the feedback is about.
  • 2 Hide
    dimar , October 13, 2014 1:29 PM
    Explorer tabs would be nice, but MS should also make it Norton/Total Commander view style.
  • 1 Hide
    red77star , October 13, 2014 1:48 PM
    This all means nothing. There was shit load of testers for Windows 8.x and we all know how that turned out to be.
  • Add your comment Display all 18 comments.
  • 1 Hide
    Christopher1 , October 13, 2014 2:05 PM
    Quote:
    This all means nothing. There was shit load of testers for Windows 8.x and we all know how that turned out to be.

    Yeah, extremely well except in the minds of the old fuddy-duddies who get pissed anytime anything changes in the OS.
  • -2 Hide
    tical2399 , October 13, 2014 4:05 PM
    Agreed. Windows 8/8.1 is great. I loved 7 but 8/8.1 destroys it in every way. Its a smaller install, it boots faster. It rock stable (only 2 crashes from tech preview up til today) it has stuff I like such a native ISO mounting, it saves alot of my settings and even some drivers when I do fresh installs, uses less resources (not a problem for my rig, but still) etc. I didn't love the interface, but it wasnt enough of a hassle to give up all those extra benefits. I can't wait for 10 to come out.
  • 3 Hide
    eklipz330 , October 13, 2014 4:47 PM
    i welcome the start menu back. i loved everything about windows 8 except the metro interface. and i see they are hearing complaints that the charm bar is not accessible. i personally hate it and never use it. i hope they have an option to turn it off altogether.
  • 4 Hide
    turkey3_scratch , October 13, 2014 4:51 PM
    At least they listen to some feedback.
  • 5 Hide
    jase240 , October 13, 2014 5:01 PM
    I am one of those testers also.

    I can also say that Windows 10, despite having some initial performance issues on my VM setup, is a good preview release.

    So far it feels more like Windows 7 with a Windows 8.1 theme to it. I like that now all store applications launch in windowed mode instead of fullscreen, bringing back that "Windows" signature. Still waiting on a stable release before performing any more intensive tests, including gaming.

    But so far I believe that it will be my next OS of choice, I am looking forward to DX12 and games that will support it. As well as lower driver overhead and better SSD compatibility.
  • 3 Hide
    tical2399 , October 13, 2014 5:16 PM
    Quote:
    I am one of those testers also.

    I can also say that Windows 10, despite having some initial performance issues on my VM setup, is a good preview release.

    So far it feels more like Windows 7 with a Windows 8.1 theme to it. I like that now all store applications launch in windowed mode instead of fullscreen, bringing back that "Windows" signature. Still waiting on a stable release before performing any more intensive tests, including gaming.

    But so far I believe that it will be my next OS of choice, I am looking forward to DX12 and games that will support it. As well as lower driver overhead and better SSD compatibility.


    I've gamed on it. It brought over my GTX 770 drivers automatically. I played FFXIV on it all day (well over 12 hours straight) and it had no issues.
  • 1 Hide
    captaincharisma , October 13, 2014 6:22 PM
    MS got it right this time with combining new style with the old
  • -2 Hide
    drapacioli , October 13, 2014 9:54 PM
    They should implement a "nostalgia" mode where everything reverts back to the way it looked in windows 98, complete with BSOD's every few hours or whenever you try to do something important. That'll keep those nostalgic people happy while allowing the rest of the world to move on to better things. Then you can add $4.99 add-on themes that work to change the look to XP, Vista, and then 7 too, giving customers what they want while encouraging others to switch for the improved security and performance while allowing them to keep the outdated-erm excuse me, *nostalgic* looks they don't want to part with. Everyone's doing it, even Nintendo has introduced themes for their 3DS home screen!

    MICROSOFT ARE YOU LISTENING?! You could make tons of money by selling your "classic" look and getting those unhappy XP/Vista/8 customers to switch!
  • 1 Hide
    razzb3d , October 14, 2014 2:04 AM
    I like the Win 10 technical preview. It's fast and smooth like win 8 but easy to use on a desktop like win 7.

    I would personally like easyer access to the Control Panel (the proper one, tot that shitty settings panel), and the "This PC" icon pinned to the Start Menu by default.
  • 1 Hide
    mercurial_8880 , October 14, 2014 2:21 AM
    I have also tested it on a VM, i was quite surprised on how well it worked on the VM. It has been the best OS I've tested on a VM, very fluid and fast. I personally found Windows 8/8.1 quite good performance wise, just the start things gets little getting used to other then that, the system becomes quite responsive.
  • 1 Hide
    kawininjazx , October 14, 2014 5:16 AM
    I installed 10 on virtualbox just to see how they changed it, not too interested in using it right now, but it's nice to let my customers know how windows will be improving the next time they need a machine.
  • 0 Hide
    soccerplayer88 , October 14, 2014 10:47 AM
    I've liked Windows 10 so far. Couple annoying caveats however.

    My little netbook with a resolution of 1024x600, I can't use a single app because it demands that I change my resolution to at least 1024x768. Well Microsoft that's the highest resolution I get on this thing. Make your crap work with any resolution. We should be past this, learn to stretch your programs on the fly.

    I would much rather see the Live Tiles as widgets on the desktop rather than clogging up my Start menu.

    I can't remove some Taskbar icons notably Search and Task View. I thought we would have gotten the point across that we like to have control over our OS. Although it seems to be a top 5 complaint amongst testers. So I'm sure it'll be tweaked as it is a Preview.

    Don't hide local accounts setup when configuring Windows 10 for the first time. They did this crap with Windows 8. Creating a "cloud" account does nothing but restrict the end user. I remember that I had to take ownership of my entire C: drive because apparently I didn't have permission to modify anything on the drive with a cloud account.

    Get rid of the "PC Settings". Control Panel works just fine and in fact works better as more and more software vendors start to integrate some of their configuration programs in the Control Panel. Samsung printers and Java are two that come to mind.

    Other than those few things and some others I won't mention since they are already addressed, I've liked the OS so far. And it runs surprisingly well on my Atom N450 with 2GB of RAM.
  • 0 Hide
    bipbap , October 14, 2014 12:36 PM
    "I would much rather see the Live Tiles as widgets on the desktop rather than clogging up my Start menu."

    Absolutely! I didn't like it when they gave up on widgets before and it makes much more sense on the desktop then the start menu.
  • 0 Hide
    Cryio , October 14, 2014 1:41 PM
    All I want from Windows 10 is the new features added while also keeping how the Metro Start Screen and Search worked in it.

    Now, with or without the new Desktop Start menu, I can no longer use Start+S to search for something.
  • 0 Hide
    USAFRet , October 14, 2014 1:50 PM
    Quote:

    Now, with or without the new Desktop Start menu, I can no longer use Start+S to search for something.


    It's gotten easier.
    Hit the Windows key, start typing what you're looking for.

    Different, yes. Easier, also yes.
React To This Article