Microsoft's Dona Sarkar will be joining us for the Windows Central Podcast

If you're already not tuning into the Windows Central Podcast every week you now have a good reason to start. On Friday, April 14, at 2:30 PM ET (11:30 AM PT; 6:30 PM GMT; All Timezones) Zac Bowden and I will be joined by Dona Sarkar, chief of the Windows Insider Program (WIP) and #INSIDERS4GOOD advocate.

Many of you already follow Dona on Twitter (@DonaSarkar) and are enrolled in the Insider program, but today we'll be diving a bit deeper into how it all works. For thirty minutes, we'll be talking about refactoring, how the program works, how features get implemented (and cut) and more!

To watch the live podcast, simply bookmark our Beam or stream it on our YouTube. You can even now watch on your Xbox too.

Follow Windows Central on Beam
Watch the podcast on YouTube
Check out the Xbox Community Calendar (opens in new tab)

As always, if you cannot make it we'll repost the mixed and finalized podcast sometime on Monday, April 17th where you can re-watch the video or listen to the audio through your favorite podcast app.

Finally, on a note about expectations. Ms. Sarkar's duties relate specifically to the Windows Insider Program as such, do not expect us to grill her for a half hour about unreleased hardware or unannounced features for Windows 10. Not only are those outside her purview but she would not be permitted to answer.

In the meantime, read about Dona and her history at Microsoft (opens in new tab) as a primer for tomorrow!

Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central, head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft since 2007 when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, laptops, next-gen computing, and for some reason, watches. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics, watched people sleep (for medical purposes!), and ran the projectors at movie theaters because it was fun.

161 Comments

She's so fine 😍😍
She's so perfect 😍😍
But what does she actually do?
What do you do?
En pool oombuva
just say it be a man i know what your thinking im thinking it too. shes so hot.
Lool
I swear, you guys act like you've never seen a woman before
I agree with you man, but the best some have seen are on the internet
I have seen a lot of woman before but not all looks equally so there's nothing wrong about praising the beauty of a woman, or you never have seen something that looks attractive to you? If that's the case then I'm sorry ✌🙂
dont you know we are a bunch of lonly geeks hiding in our basements playing xbox. waiting for another guys girl to come on so we can steal them.
She's not that fine.
Do you own a mirror?
Unbelievable. You need to get out sometimes. Especially visit some other countries.
Seriously you guys need to get out more, sound like school kids. Stick to the topic!
Let's hope it's a serious podcast.. Not An unbiased one
This should be interesting.
Zac will be asking mostly android questions.
So you want a biased discussion? Really? I just want the truth, hard or not to hear.
yeah sweet let talk insiders program
Thats Sircar, not Sarkar btw !
No-one is correcting the spelling of *your* last name to something like Mullhowtray, so why don't you let her decide how to spell her own name.
Hey you're actually wrong. "Sarkar" is ALSO used. Surprisingly its an Indian last name but she isn't Indian.
Lol. Sarkar is not only Indian. It exists in many countries. Just because the word means something in Hindi, doesn't make it Indian.
Way to go. Good luck guys :)
Nice. Would be nice to have her opinion on how we can help better. I think there is also area where they can improve. For example by letting us vote that a problem has been resolved by a new build. They should also let us flag solution that are outside the scope of a new build. For example, at the moment a lot of people report issues with random 950 XL reboot and for most people the solution is to replace the battery. We should be able to flag and interact with this kind of solution
Yup, that is on my list.
Please let's discuss the future of Windows 10 Mobile and what exactly are the plans for the few of us still on Windows 10 Mobile 😊
Why you want to ask that you already know? W10M is dead, now Windows 10 in ARM device.
The reality is that people are not going to believe it until MS officially says it on stage or in a press release. From my perspective this is the reason they haven't done any new feature updates to Windows Mobile in a year and why they have demonstrated the full 64-bit desktop OS running on HP Elite X3's internal hardware with Win32 apps running in emulation. You also see Mobile UI features in the Creators update like Live Tile Folder and the ability to hide the app list. Microsoft has obviously been inching towards pairing down to developing one OS for all of their devices regardless of hardware (Qualcomm, Intel, AMD). People who think Microsoft is just going to give up completely on mobile computing with Windows and only support Android/iOS are nuts. The long term future of computing is mobile platforms like HoloLens and computers with expandable/rollable displays. The utility of a phone that can grow to the size of a large tablet or a tablet that can grow to the size of a large laptop are questionable on an iOS and Android device. Windows dominates consumer preference for large screen computing and rollable displays enable mobile devices to become larger computers.
I concur.
future is its dead. time to give up on microsoft. buy an iphone. i hate samsung.
Just edited my previous comment but I guess you got it anyway *random 950 XL reboot
Omg, I'm suffering this now and B2X have been absolutely disgusting with their "support". I have had my oem battery randomly swell and it needed replacing. The first time I had this issue 6months into owning my 950XL, Nokia replaced the system board of the phone and provided a new battery within 2weeks. I have been trying to get a replacement battery from b2x for 6months now, I have had to fork out for a battery myself when one should have been issued to me as the accessory was still under warranty, now the battery I purchased is playing up and I don't think I should have to buy another. I have sent the battery to b2x at their request on 2 occasions and they sent me back the same faulty battery claiming it was user damage. Can anyone suggest a good place to source a battery?
I bought one. $20 for a nes one. Found it through a Swedish price comparing site. Try entering the model number in one and see what you get. It solved all me rebooting problems.
Yeah when i replaced my replacement oem battery with this "ebay" on the random reboots stopped. Do you have a link? And would they ship international? Need to solve this issue asap as my phone reboots too many times a day.
Hey...! You took my Profile picture!!! It's cool though. :)
Who me? But yeah, epic pic....
Just got one on Amazon for 15.99
for my 950 XL
Really, how been looking at Amazon for ages and didn't see anything for less than £30.
I have one coming from Amazon for my 950. It would be nice to have a way to recondition the old one to use it as a backup battery. I did see some that were cheaper but figured that they were selling used batteries and I didn't want the hassle.
The best I can find on Amazon less £30 is the "replacement" battery that clocks in at 2950mAh. Are your batteries at least 3300mAh even if not official?
Recondition a sealed battery? Do you want it to explode? The only way is to replace internal cells, so exactly like buying a new one
Is it possible to ask whether the next update would be focused on PC or Mobile?
Yeah, we shouldnt have to replace the battery in a phone not even two years old. At our own cost. That's really poor form.
It's totally insane that the XL was designed with a replaceable battery, yet there isn't a way to buy a geniune replacement battery anywhere in the world. Not even warranty support can help. That makes absolutely zero logical sense. Total amateur hour supply chain, Microsoft.
Maybe you could get some insight as to her feelings as to where mobile is heading. My main device is my phone. pc has become secondary. My kids know nothing with regards to MSFT as they have iPods and cheap android devices. what they use now will influence what they use 10 yrs from now.
But I'm curious, what do they use/do in school? Like don't kids write code anymore? You know, work with assemblers, compilers, Dev tools, heck even raspberry pi things, microcontrollers and all the fun stuff we did when we were kids? How don't they know about Windows? I'm pretty sure practically all development tools have windows versions... They are certainly not writing Android and iOS apps on tablets and phones are they??? I am really curious about this, because all I hear these days is that PCs are dead, and here I am building my 20 core workstation for some hardcore design simulation... and running windows of course :-)
Where I live, the school district provides a MacBook Air to every student. If the student loses or damages it, the parents have to pay the deductible for the insurance to replace it. Upgrades are every 3 years, and they get to keep the one they have at graduation. Seriously disturbing as far as I'm concerned. Makes me want to home school my young ones to protect them from non-Windows platforms. When I went to school, we didn't use computers. We used chalk drawings on cave walls for taking notes the old-fashioned way. Those who didn't like it could grunt their complaint to the principal. Then some punk invented fire and things were never the same. Ah, memories.
My daughter's middle school uses Chromebooks and all of the teachers received iPod Minis to use however they wanted.
My workplace has rolled out ipads/iphones to all staff nationwide. Shocking imho
we have replaced lumia 650s and 950 with iphones, because MS apps suck on lumias concerning business needs..go figure that!
You don't invent fire, it was always there, you discover it.
"You don't invent fire, it was always there, you discover it." Yeah, well, try telling that to Grog. He was always like, "Grog invent fire. Grog smart. Grog awesome. Grog invent fire." Argue with him and you would've gotten clubbed over the head. So we all just accepted it. :P
You are killing me laughing out loud at work...
But I'm curious, what do they use/do in school? Like don't kids write code anymore? You know, work with assemblers, compilers, Dev tools, heck even raspberry pi things, microcontrollers and all the fun stuff we did when we were kids?
Either school curriculum has changed a lot in the past 15 years, or you have a much different interpretation of the previous poster's comment about his kids' usage of tech devices. My school system didn't teach any type of computer programming languages until at least 9th grade, and that was purely as an elective, so very few students took those courses. This comment just struck me as an odd leap from a comment about kids using iPads and cheap Android devices. I assumed that meant as primarily entertainment consumption for the kids, not to teach them how to design, build, and program tech devices.
It was more a comment about future users. My kids school uses google apps. yes from an entertainment perspective they know apple and android, however while doing this they are learning the interface and all the shortcuts. They do not sit on a stationary pc. They want fast/reliable and mobile.
I was only asking what type of computing (if any) is done on iPods and Android tablets, and how come the kids know nothing about MS and/or Windows as this is still one of the most versatile development/creating environments on earth. At some point, if you are going to be anything but a 100% consumer of computing devices, you're going to have to learn the hardcore stuff. And yes, you don't wait till just what class teaches you - the best engineers and game devs I know (all the way to the PhD level) usually have a long history of tinkering with stuff from early childhood when it was just fun and play. You can look into the history of any solid developer/designer, they usually get very early exposure by 'playing' or experimenting with these things when they were just kids. I guess I'm just a little concerned that the focus of these devices has shifted more to the 'consumer' side of things than the 'producer' side, regardless of MS or Windows. The 'stationary' PC is still where any type of productive work, including the design of the mobile devices themselves is done.
That is like asking why an Uber driver isn't driving an eighteen wheeler.
ask her all about mobile and where MS is headed
Third party integration into the program is also nice and should be highlighted / promoted. I already see response from Twitter, GeoPhoto and others which is very nice. Curious to know more about this. Do they need to apply for this. Which kind of data they see. What are the third party developers feedback on feedback hub?
I hope you prepare some good question looking forward to see you tomorrow good luck
When do we expect to see 16170 for mobile be released? Will it be released at all?
Fall.
Common sense dictates we won't see it before the Creators Update is officially released on Mobile, so not before the 25th.
Good to hear, will be watching for sure
Of course most people have commented on the many things that can be discussed with her - could you guys also ask for certain examples of how a feedback is processed? Sometimes we don't know what is making progress and what is not, so we would like to know what happens behind the scenes... For peace of mind :)
Can you ask her about fate of windows mobile in general. If there are any plans intact to keep the mobile world alive.
I keep seeing comments about Mobile being dead, is it alive, etc. Fact of the matter is. Until a business halts development on the OS it is still alive. As we've seen with the apps dropping support, companies will not spend time, money and resources if they deem it not worth it. Don't get me wrong, mobile is pretty bad right now. I think a better question is, where is mobile headed? With Windows on Arm, Windows 10 cloud and Windows 10 mobile there are too many directions and not alot of answers.
Zune died long before they stopped development for it. I'm just sayin.
Despite MS allowing ios and android code to be converted using a tool, they won't do because of cost.
It sounds like they have ideas up their sleeves for something to replace W10M that is of course around WoA but they aren't going to talk about it until it's ready - That doesn't mean W10M itself would go away completely either, they can't come out and say so even if it would they still have partners like HP trying to sell these devices
Are they really listening insiders feedbacks via app? This is my question.
❤
Where is she looking?
In Samsung S8/+ Microsoft Edition.. :)
At her iPad ;)
Is Beam available on W10M? How can we stream from a Wi-Fi connected phone? YouTube?
Cool
why she so sexy wtf 😍😍😍😍😍😛😋
I hope you'll talk about fashion and cats.
I'm curious to know if they only address big problems and suggestions that get a lot of votes or do they comb through the feedback for suggestions that make sense? For example, I have a multi-screen setup with my second screen being a 70inch touch device on the wall. When I'm working on that screen and launch an application from that screen, it often starts up on the secondary monitor? Why can't it open on the same screen that I launched it from? Do they pay attention to these small but annoying issues at all? Is there anyone on the team that looks for these little things?
Please post a link to your feedback item. I'll upvote it, as this is a pet peeve of mine too.
This^
But on my three-monitor setup, I believe it launches on the last closed screen, I think it remembers until you reboot your machine or something. Would prefer it just launches on the 'active' screen.
I reported that exact problem way back before they even finilized the first release.
I have several feedbacks for multi-monitors, upvote if you think it should be improved to make our live easier. Some of them are for your scenario where screens are not all next to each other to form a bigger desktop, and which needs better way to manage apps between connected monitors. - Show app on monitor it's been launched from: https://aka.ms/T1sb91
- Allow taskbar extensions on secondary taskbars : https://aka.ms/P76puu
- Show Action Center on monitor it's been called from : https://aka.ms/Ed95wu
- Enable Task View to move a window to the monitor it's been called from : https://aka.ms/A255gi
- Keep mouse cursor visible when using touch on multi-monitors : https://aka.ms/Uvxl79
- Make targetting size buttons of fullscreen apps in vertical multi monitors easier : https://aka.ms/Dakuyb
- Don't allow UWP apps to go fullscreen with no way to move them to another monitor : https://aka.ms/Vfisf3 We really need as many of the multi-monitors users to make their voice heard for this to get prioritized at some point, even more so for the few of us that are experimenting with multiple monitors that are not immediately next to each other.
Be interesting to have that answered. I would say they probably do because I always get the feeling they are not designing by committee or just prioritising based on votes alone, which is obviously a good thing even if some people don't understand why horizontal start isn't in even though it has a ton of votes (for me it's not something I want or need)
Hit the hard questions about mobile future
Serious question: what makes you think that she could answer it? She's in charge of WIP, not Windows 10, nor what happens to mobile.
Because she knows c'mon. Of course she does. Just ask her to nod her head twice if it's dead, once if it's alive. Then give us all a one word article and disable comments.
No point. Even if she gave an answer none of you would be satisfied with it because it magically won't will W10M back into a thing or create a phone.
Though, one question, has been of interest to me, the rumour that Mobile OS development will stop after RS3. Whether she answers it or deflects it, is another thing. She oughta know that, I am guessing.
Of course she does the insider program works closely with development, that stuff is precisely what she would be privy to.
U clearly know more but can't say. However, the way you have been Fielding these questions lately is in a way to soften the blow when whatever the announcement is gets made. Bye bye windows phone
Why would he need to "soften the blow" it's not his responsibility to worry about your feeling or to protect MS in any way
I love your work Daniel but that feels like a bit of a soft out for Microsoft....I think you were spot on yesterday when you were saying it's time for you and the other media agencies to ask Microsoft the hard question when it comes to W10 Mobile....are they in or out! Every senior Microsoft exec involved in Windows 10 will know the answer. If they won't answer....fine but I still think you should ask. As a consumer Microsoft need to understand, I'm not going to invest in a new laptop with Windows 10 unless I'm clear on the mobile devices or services theat go along with it.....at the moment I'm not clear so I keep buying Apple products where there is a total ecosystem that is all integrated.
I think he's done that and said his bit, it's down to MS to address it now. It's clear to me though unless you really NEED a phone and it HAS to be W10M I would advise not buying a brand new one right now as a consumer device - They have said already it's focussed on enterprise and the latest announcements about the supported devices specifically said this again but people aren't accepting it. You should wait and see what they have up their sleeve, I really don't think they'd drop W10M without a replacement of some sort Terry Myerson has said it before that they can't afford to keep rebooting their efforts any more any replacement is going to build on what is in W10M and the think still needs to work as a phone above all else
I agree ! anyway for god's sake please ask her 2 questions 1. why xbox insider program is not connected to feedback hub 2. are they going to add file upload or drag and drop to feedback hub
But you can ask about the limited set of phones will get Insider Preview builds going forward. Going to be hard to keep hanging on to my 1520... or maybe not :(
I think their reason (which was the same as the 1020 losing support) is a bit of a cover, performance is really good on the 930 and 1520. Could also be related to the older hardware but it's disappointing to see that reason used. It was applicable with the 1020 etc because they ran dog slow on W10M but I disagree in the case of the 930 and 1520 for sure
I would be intrigued to hear her opinion on where the development is headed at the very least to give those still using the platform some nuggets of hope to hang on to their handsets. As my contract is up in October, I'm currently leaning towards an S8 unless Microsoft show some siginificant strides in the OS.
I have decided that almost two years ago. Now I'm a happy iOS user. Unfortunately now I can't decide wether to buy the tenth anniversary iPhone or one brand new Nokia 9 that I am not sure if it is really gonna exist. I will hear what Donna has to say. I want to know more about insider program. Just curiosity. 👀
If I was you I wouldn't rush out to tie into another deal and have to choose from.the current phones. I'd switch to a SIM only deal and the money you save put aside to buy a phone out right later on - There could be a new type of Windows device you like, or Samsung may have a new note like device which if there's no WP devices MS will almost definitely sell with brilliant inking support in their apps. I think at right this moment the phones industry is very stagnant. In late 2017 or early 2018 we might actually see something new. If you absolutely need and not just want a phone then get the best that is out there now but I personally would hang on - at the same time.it's your money and none of my business what you spend it on
Ask her this question....as a long time windows phone fan that has moved on from the platform what can you do to bring me/thos fans back.
Please please please ask the right questions. On privacy, devices (those left out of RS2 even after being able to be on insiders ring), the real future of Windows on phones...
Maybe the wrong person to ask, but how are they addressing the mapping and GPS problems that seem prevalent with W10M? It's a pain point in my household to the point of possibly looking at a different device for my wife. You know ... Happy wife ..
I don't mind the new mapping data but the "No GPS Signal" bug seems to happen at the wrong times
I love Donna, but we've received Satya's message loud and clearly, "I DON'T CARE ABOUT MOBILE UNLESS IT'S APPLE OR ANDROID"
How many more billions do you think Microsoft should write off on mobile?
As many as it takes to succeed
Best comment all week.
If the amount is too much, then don't write off. Just announce that it's dead. That shouldn't cost a single penny.
Everybody sit up straight and suck in your guts.
She's not looking.
Great, glad to see this.
That's some good new brah!
Wonder what her favorite widows 10 thing is
As someone who knows a good bit about the future, her insights on current processes of how a build is compiled, or even what the ups and downs of her work profile are, would be cool to find out
She has a Surface Book makes phone calls as well? 🤔
2 QUESTIONS FOR DONNA: 1. Will there be an insider/fast-ring testing program for Andromeda on devices the size of a mobile phone? 2. What do you anticipate the testing on this "class" of device would need to check on in particular? THANK YOU!!
Dan, could you ask her perhaps please, if she can possibly clarify the last mobile update? What does it mean, Windows 10 Version for arm-based phone devices? Why are they dropping off support for devices such as 1520 on the CU? Dankeschön.
Beside the obvious aforementioned questions it might do no harm to let the lady speak and possibly be more insightful naturally. She will be briefed on incoming questions and suitably armed with answers. Kudos in advance for the interview Dan.
Out of topic, I see Instagram is doing well on it's live feature 200m while Snapchat is 160m, mmm I wonder? Karma is a ***** isn't that Snapchat boss hates windows phone? I hate Snapchat I have Samsung s7 and I never install that rubbish app
Maybe ask her about the future of mobile, relative to the PayPal interview today on CBS. PayPal is saying that mobile interactions/purchases and mobile financial transactions, worldwide, are vastly increasing. What about the brick and mortor stores like J.C. Penney closing and in trouble? Does Microsoft think that they can just retrench from mobile and smaller devices? Is the appearance of "opting out", a great strategy for their customers, developers, partners and consumers? Thoughts?
Best Wishes
Can someone ask her whether the 930 and 830 will not receive the Creator Updates? And why not because both phones are capable.
It's confirmed they will not officially get them via production or insider channels
Hot!
Such a fun lady.
Paula Abdul from 1990
Lol, I thought the same as you
Ask her when they are gonna bring back quiet hours when busy in calendar. These amateurs removed it in windows 10 and android have had it there since marshmallow. These people literally give 0 efs about windows 10 on mobile having any useful features.
it's very nice to have her visit very hard to do with how busy she is
Something wrong on her face !
ask her is windows mobile dead/ windows on arm? shall i move on which i'm already planning? does they are going to bring all ios apps on android(as i'm planning to buy android).
One question...for long time fans of windows mobile, are we verging on an ultimatum between iPhone or android?
And plz, no polite answers, just straight up vinegar on a wound.
She has said publically she doesn't own the mobile strategy and so her comments on it are going to be limited. WC already know this and sure they can ask but they can't be unprofessional if they want to continue getting guests in this way. It's not their fault though she's said she doesn't own that strategy and even if she knew something from being fairly high up in the company and working closely with everything W10 related what's to say she has the authority to give an answer that half the people here won't accept anyway
Fair enough if she doesn't know, then that's ok, but it won't hurt to ask. Just looking for a straight answer, and not an inclusive reply.
for god's sake please ask her 2 questions 1. why xbox insider program is not connected to feedback hub 2. are they going to add file upload or drag and drop to feedback hub
well, you can ask her if she's pre-ordered the S8 from the MS Retail Store :))
@Daniel Rubino See if some of the coming up ask Dan questions can be combined or integrated. A lot of readers are still chiming in there with stuff, but maybe it is time to have more light on those inquiries.
Would be nice if in future we had an insider project for some sort of a Windows skin on Android. That would solve the app problem and also get the Windows phone enthusiasts who have migrated to Android to play with the "OS" they still love and cherish.
The way an OS looks is not the ONLY reason people love Windows mobile OS. For a large majority of us it's the most stable, reliable platform we've ever used. The phone I currently have is over three years old and there's no hint of any functional issues with it. I couldn't say the same for any of my Blackberry, Android, or iOS devices I'd had previous to this. They usually started dying a slow death after about 16-18 months.
Please ask her about MS's stragegy for mobile going forward, and why so many features that are requested over and over again, such as default apps, etc. are never implemented.
Please ask her about the build number disparity for the updates released today!! If 16xxx = RS3 for PC, WTF is 15204 for mobile?? Will Mobile not be getting RS3??
I think this is a valid one. She can't answer over the future of W10M but maybe she can shed light on exactly what we refer to thos 15204 build as if it's not RS3
Hope Beam comes back online soon! Currently Error 503 Backend is unhealthy Backend is unhealthy Guru Mediation: Details: cache-ord1732-ORD 1492192810 2020382160 Varnish cache server
What is in the works for the Insider program for the future that is different from today? Like are they going to do a teired approach like xbox has? Or eventually make xbox like the rest of the insiders ring?
Oh, and what is the thing that suprised her most so far being the head of the insider program?
Ask her what phone she is using ....
No point wasting questions we know the answers to. She uses a wide range of phones which includes iPhone, Lumia and HP Elite amongst others
After todays dumping of some viable phones... Nothing more to ask.. Can't believe a word they say anymore.. Bye to all windows / Microsoft products.. Time to just get out of the system and go where I never thought I would... Such bull.... From them..again..
Apple?
Possibly, and I never ever thought I would hear myself say that! Ha!
I've been Zune'ed for the last time. 830 owner: Former RT,band1/2,Zune owner. my next device will be non msft. No msft services. gonna cancel groove music and office subscriptions and join the rest of the world that has said goodbye to msft.
Please Zac! Ask her about the NEON and Tabbed Shells!
When can Donna sign up a Weibo account? I'm Chinese and there's a lot of fans of her😘
Joe has already sign in Weibo and talking with Chinese now.
Wow
Will the recording be available? Missed this one, curious what she had to say!
No softballs. Ask why after all this time, things have gotten worse under her and not better.
Well, I fear it's the Windows Phone 7.8 of Windows 10 Mobile. They mention that it's due to further work in unifying OneCore. Best guess, this means in order to better optimize Windows 10 core moving forward, they've stripped out the anchor that is Mobile. I wish Dan could have pressed her more about this decision. I understand why he didn't, I think. You've gotta pick your battles. This is sad for me. I use Win10 pc daily and it's great but I love Windows Phone/Mobile and really wanted it to succeed.
A little heavy on the theory of human behavior...she isn't a psychologist...

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