diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 83662df00..acee1fe24 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ install:
   - yarn install
 script:
   - yarn run generate
+  - yarn prepare-build
   - ./node_modules/.bin/build --em.environment=$SIGNAL_ENV --config.mac.bundleVersion='$TRAVIS_BUILD_NUMBER' --publish=never
   - ./travis.sh
 env:
diff --git a/Gruntfile.js b/Gruntfile.js
index 5ec898f3e..bdab6a77f 100644
--- a/Gruntfile.js
+++ b/Gruntfile.js
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 var path = require('path');
+var packageJson = require('./package.json');
 
 module.exports = function(grunt) {
   'use strict';
@@ -204,23 +205,23 @@ module.exports = function(grunt) {
     },
     'test-release': {
       osx: {
-        archive: 'mac/Signal.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar',
-        appUpdateYML: 'mac/Signal.app/Contents/Resources/app-update.yml',
-        exe: 'mac/Signal.app/Contents/MacOS/Signal'
+        archive: 'mac/' + packageJson.productName + '.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar',
+        appUpdateYML: 'mac/' + packageJson.productName + '.app/Contents/Resources/app-update.yml',
+        exe: 'mac/' + packageJson.productName + '.app/Contents/MacOS/' + packageJson.productName
       },
       mas: {
         archive: 'mas/Signal.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar',
         appUpdateYML: 'mac/Signal.app/Contents/Resources/app-update.yml',
-        exe: 'mas/Signal.app/Contents/MacOS/Signal'
+        exe: 'mas/' + packageJson.productName + '.app/Contents/MacOS/' + packageJson.productName
       },
       linux: {
         archive: 'linux-unpacked/resources/app.asar',
-        exe: 'linux-unpacked/signal-desktop'
+        exe: 'linux-unpacked/' + packageJson.name
       },
       win: {
         archive: 'win-unpacked/resources/app.asar',
         appUpdateYML: 'win-unpacked/resources/app-update.yml',
-        exe: 'win-unpacked/Signal.exe'
+        exe: 'win-unpacked/' + packageJson.productName + '.exe'
       }
     },
     gitinfo: {} // to be populated by grunt gitinfo
@@ -273,7 +274,6 @@ module.exports = function(grunt) {
     require('mkdirp').sync('release');
     var fs = require('fs');
     var done = this.async();
-    var package_json = grunt.config.get('pkg');
     var gitinfo = grunt.config.get('gitinfo');
     var https = require('https');
 
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ module.exports = function(grunt) {
     var keyBase = 'WhisperSystems/Signal-Desktop';
     var sha = gitinfo.local.branch.current.SHA;
     var files = [{
-      zip: 'signal-desktop-' + package_json.version + '.zip',
+      zip: packageJson.name + '-' + packageJson.version + '.zip',
       extractedTo: 'linux'
     }];
 
@@ -451,7 +451,7 @@ module.exports = function(grunt) {
         return app.client.getTitle();
       }).then(function (title) {
         // Verify the window's title
-        assert.equal(title, 'Signal');
+        assert.equal(title, packageJson.productName);
         console.log('title ok');
       }).then(function () {
         assert(app.chromeDriver.logLines.indexOf('NODE_ENV ' + environment) > -1);
diff --git a/about.html b/about.html
index 93eba7e25..338527a2c 100644
--- a/about.html
+++ b/about.html
@@ -30,6 +30,20 @@ a {
   document.write('v', window.config.version);
 </script>
 </div>
+<div>
+<script>
+  var states = [];
+
+  if (window.config.environment !== 'production') {
+    states.push(window.config.environment);
+  }
+  if (window.config.appInstance) {
+    states.push(window.config.appInstance);
+  }
+
+  document.write(states.join(' - '));
+</script>
+</div>
 <div>
   <a href="https://signal.org">signal.org</a>
 </div>
diff --git a/app/config.js b/app/config.js
index 4939cf05b..047d9c15e 100644
--- a/app/config.js
+++ b/app/config.js
@@ -1,12 +1,9 @@
-const fs = require('fs');
 const path = require('path');
 
-console.log('reading package.json');
-const jsonFile = fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, '..', 'package.json'));
-const package_json = JSON.parse(jsonFile, 'utf-8');
-const environment = package_json.environment || process.env.NODE_ENV || 'development';
+const packageJson = require('../package.json');
 
-console.log('configuring');
+
+const environment = packageJson.environment || process.env.NODE_ENV || 'development';
 
 // Set environment vars to configure node-config before requiring it
 process.env.NODE_ENV = environment;
diff --git a/app/user_config.js b/app/user_config.js
index 164ffe24e..4f77368b5 100644
--- a/app/user_config.js
+++ b/app/user_config.js
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
-const app = require('electron').app;
 const path = require('path');
+
+const app = require('electron').app;
 const ElectronConfig = require('electron-config');
 
 const config = require('./config');
 
+
 // use a separate data directory for development
 if (config.has('storageProfile')) {
   const userData = path.join(
diff --git a/appveyor.yml b/appveyor.yml
index 249dc1979..671182985 100644
--- a/appveyor.yml
+++ b/appveyor.yml
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ build_script:
   - node build\grunt.js
   - type package.json | findstr /v certificateSubjectName > temp.json
   - move temp.json package.json
+  - yarn prepare-build
   - node_modules\.bin\build --em.environment=%SIGNAL_ENV% --publish=never
 
 test_script:
diff --git a/aptly.sh b/aptly.sh
index 3646bc189..1f7c08e3a 100755
--- a/aptly.sh
+++ b/aptly.sh
@@ -1,18 +1,40 @@
 #!/bin/bash
-# Setup:
+# Setup - creates the local repo which will be mirrored up to S3, then back-fill it. Your
+#         future deploys will eliminate all old versions without these backfill steps:
 #   aptly repo create signal-desktop
+#   aptly mirror create -ignore-signatures backfill-mirror https://updates.signal.org/desktop/apt xenial
+#   aptly mirror update -ignore-signatures backfill-mirror
+#   aptly repo import backfill-mirror signal-desktop signal-desktop signal-desktop-beta
+#   aptly repo show -with-packages signal-desktop
+#
+# First run on a machine - uncomment the first two 'aptly publish snapshot' commands,
+#   comment the other two. Sets up the two publish channels, one local, one to S3.
+#
+# Testing - comment out the lines with s3:$ENDPOINT to publish only locally. To eliminate
+#          effects of testing, remove package from repo, then move back to old snapshot:
+#   aptly repo remove signal-desktop signal-desktop_1.0.35_amd64
+#   aptly publish switch -gpg-key=57F6FB06 xenial signal-desktop_v1.0.34
 #
 # Release:
-#   VERSION=X.X.X ./aptly.sh
+#   NAME=signal-desktop(-beta) VERSION=X.X.X ./aptly.sh
+
+echo "Releasing $NAME build version $VERSION"
 
 REPO=signal-desktop
 DISTRO=xenial
 ENDPOINT=signal-desktop-apt # Matches endpoint name in .aptly.conf
-DEB_PATH=release
 SNAPSHOT=signal-desktop_v$VERSION
 GPG_KEYID=57F6FB06
-aptly repo add $REPO $DEB_PATH/$REPO\_$VERSION\_*.deb
 
+aptly repo add $REPO release/$NAME\_$VERSION\_*.deb
 aptly snapshot create $SNAPSHOT from repo $REPO
+
+# run these two only on first release to a given repo from a given machine
+#   https://www.aptly.info/doc/aptly/publish/snapshot/
+# aptly publish snapshot -gpg-key=$GPG_KEYID $SNAPSHOT
+# aptly publish snapshot -gpg-key=$GPG_KEYID -config=.aptly.conf $SNAPSHOT s3:$ENDPOINT:
+
+# these update already-published repos, run every time after that
+#   https://www.aptly.info/doc/aptly/publish/switch/
 aptly publish switch -gpg-key=$GPG_KEYID $DISTRO $SNAPSHOT
 aptly publish switch -gpg-key=$GPG_KEYID -config=.aptly.conf $DISTRO s3:$ENDPOINT: $SNAPSHOT
diff --git a/js/background.js b/js/background.js
index bfcb05b31..443df5d26 100644
--- a/js/background.js
+++ b/js/background.js
@@ -14,6 +14,15 @@
     var initialLoadComplete = false;
     window.owsDesktopApp = {};
 
+    var title = window.config.name;
+    if (window.config.environment !== 'production') {
+        title += ' - ' + window.config.environment;
+    }
+    if (window.config.appInstance) {
+        title += ' - ' + window.config.appInstance;
+    }
+    window.config.title = window.document.title = title;
+
     // start a background worker for ecc
     textsecure.startWorker('js/libsignal-protocol-worker.js');
     Whisper.KeyChangeListener.init(textsecure.storage.protocol);
diff --git a/js/conversation_controller.js b/js/conversation_controller.js
index 1d6b522d2..9fe2c67bb 100644
--- a/js/conversation_controller.js
+++ b/js/conversation_controller.js
@@ -64,10 +64,10 @@
 
             if (newUnreadCount > 0) {
                 window.setBadgeCount(newUnreadCount);
-                window.document.title = "Signal (" + newUnreadCount + ")";
+                window.document.title = window.config.title + " (" + newUnreadCount + ")";
             } else {
                 window.setBadgeCount(0);
-                window.document.title = "Signal";
+                window.document.title = window.config.title;
             }
         },
         startPruning: function() {
diff --git a/js/logging.js b/js/logging.js
index f7a687fe0..b2d864f5b 100644
--- a/js/logging.js
+++ b/js/logging.js
@@ -69,7 +69,12 @@ if (window.console) {
 // The mechanics of preparing a log for publish
 
 function getHeader() {
-  return window.navigator.userAgent + ' node/' + window.config.node_version;
+  let header = window.navigator.userAgent;
+
+  header += ' node/' + window.config.node_version;
+  header += ' env/' + window.config.environment;
+
+  return header;
 }
 
 function getLevel(level) {
diff --git a/main.js b/main.js
index 36f7d2f42..130b0de3f 100644
--- a/main.js
+++ b/main.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ const url = require('url');
 const os = require('os');
 
 const _ = require('lodash');
-const electron = require('electron')
+const electron = require('electron');
 
 const BrowserWindow = electron.BrowserWindow;
 const app = electron.app;
@@ -11,20 +11,26 @@ const ipc = electron.ipcMain;
 const Menu = electron.Menu;
 const shell = electron.shell;
 
+const packageJson = require('./package.json');
 const autoUpdate = require('./app/auto_update');
 const windowState = require('./app/window_state');
 
 
-console.log('setting AUMID');
-app.setAppUserModelId('org.whispersystems.signal-desktop')
+const aumid = 'org.whispersystems.' + packageJson.name;
+console.log('setting AUMID to ' + aumid);
+app.setAppUserModelId(aumid);
 
 // Keep a global reference of the window object, if you don't, the window will
-// be closed automatically when the JavaScript object is garbage collected.
+//   be closed automatically when the JavaScript object is garbage collected.
 let mainWindow;
 
 const config = require("./app/config");
 
-if (config.environment === 'production' && !process.mas) {
+// Very important to put before the single instance check, since it is based on the
+//   userData directory.
+const userConfig = require('./app/user_config');
+
+if (!process.mas) {
   console.log('making app single instance');
   var shouldQuit = app.makeSingleInstance(function(commandLine, workingDirectory) {
     // Someone tried to run a second instance, we should focus our window
@@ -36,16 +42,15 @@ if (config.environment === 'production' && !process.mas) {
   });
 
   if (shouldQuit) {
-    console.log('quitting');
+    console.log('quitting; we are the second instance');
     app.quit();
     return;
   }
 }
 
-const userConfig = require('./app/user_config');
 const logging = require('./app/logging');
 
-// this must be after we set up appPath in user_config.js
+// This must be after we set up appPath in user_config.js, so we know where logs go
 logging.initialize();
 const logger = logging.getLogger();
 
@@ -60,6 +65,7 @@ function prepareURL(pathSegments) {
     protocol: 'file:',
     slashes: true,
     query: {
+      name: packageJson.productName,
       locale: locale.name,
       version: app.getVersion(),
       buildExpiration: config.get('buildExpiration'),
@@ -69,6 +75,7 @@ function prepareURL(pathSegments) {
       environment: config.environment,
       node_version: process.versions.node,
       hostname: os.hostname(),
+      appInstance: process.env.NODE_APP_INSTANCE,
     }
   })
 }
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index d082d5b24..4d6d825f6 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
     "build": "build --em.environment=$SIGNAL_ENV",
     "dist": "npm run generate && npm run build",
     "pack": "npm run generate && npm run build -- --dir",
+    "prepare-build": "node prepare_build.js",
     "pack-prod": "SIGNAL_ENV=production npm run pack",
     "dist-prod": "SIGNAL_ENV=production npm run dist",
     "dist-prod-all": "SIGNAL_ENV=production npm run dist -- -mwl",
@@ -51,13 +52,13 @@
     "prep-release": "npm run generate && grunt prep-release && npm run build-release && npm run build-mas-release && grunt test-release",
     "release-mac": "npm run build-release -- -m --prepackaged release/mac/Signal.app --publish=always",
     "release-win": "npm run build-release -- -w --prepackaged release/windows --publish=always",
-    "release-lin": "npm run build-release -- -l --prepackaged release/linux && VERSION=$npm_package_version ./aptly.sh",
+    "release-lin": "npm run build-release -- -l --prepackaged release/linux && NAME=$npm_package_name VERSION=$npm_package_version ./aptly.sh",
     "release": "npm run release-mac && npm run release-win && npm run release-lin"
   },
   "build": {
     "appId": "org.whispersystems.signal-desktop",
     "mac": {
-      "artifactName": "${productName}-mac-${version}.${ext}",
+      "artifactName": "${name}-mac-${version}.${ext}",
       "category": "public.app-category.social-networking",
       "icon": "build/icons/mac/icon.icns",
       "publish": [
@@ -81,7 +82,7 @@
     },
     "win": {
       "asarUnpack": "node_modules/spellchecker/vendor/hunspell_dictionaries",
-      "artifactName": "${productName}-win-${version}.${ext}",
+      "artifactName": "${name}-win-${version}.${ext}",
       "certificateSubjectName": "Signal",
       "publisherName": "Signal (Quiet Riddle Ventures, LLC)",
       "icon": "build/icons/win/icon.ico",
diff --git a/prepare_build.js b/prepare_build.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..06d894f65
--- /dev/null
+++ b/prepare_build.js
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+const fs = require('fs');
+const _ = require('lodash');
+
+const packageJson = require('./package.json');
+const version = packageJson.version;
+const beta = /beta/;
+
+// You might be wondering why this file is necessary. It comes down to our desire to allow
+//   side-by-side installation of production and beta builds. Electron-Builder uses
+//   top-level data from package.json for many things, like the executable name, the
+//   debian package name, the install directory under /opt on linux, etc. We tried
+//   adding the ${channel} macro to these values, but Electron-Builder didn't like that.
+
+if (!beta.test(version)) {
+  return;
+}
+
+console.log('prepare_build: updating package.json for beta build');
+
+// -------
+
+const NAME_PATH = 'name';
+const PRODUCTION_NAME = 'signal-desktop';
+const BETA_NAME = 'signal-desktop-beta';
+
+const PRODUCT_NAME_PATH = 'productName';
+const PRODUCTION_PRODUCT_NAME = 'Signal';
+const BETA_PRODUCT_NAME = 'Signal Beta';
+
+const APP_ID_PATH = 'build.appId';
+const PRODUCTION_APP_ID = 'org.whispersystems.signal-desktop';
+const BETA_APP_ID = 'org.whispersystems.signal-desktop-beta';
+
+const STARTUP_WM_CLASS_PATH = 'build.linux.desktop.StartupWMClass';
+const PRODUCTION_STARTUP_WM_CLASS = 'Signal';
+const BETA_STARTUP_WM_CLASS = 'Signal Beta';
+
+
+
+// -------
+
+function checkValue(object, objectPath, expected) {
+  const actual = _.get(object, objectPath)
+  if (actual !== expected) {
+    throw new Error(objectPath + ' was ' + actual + '; expected ' + expected);
+  }
+}
+
+// ------
+
+checkValue(packageJson, NAME_PATH, PRODUCTION_NAME);
+checkValue(packageJson, PRODUCT_NAME_PATH, PRODUCTION_PRODUCT_NAME);
+checkValue(packageJson, APP_ID_PATH, PRODUCTION_APP_ID);
+checkValue(packageJson, STARTUP_WM_CLASS_PATH, PRODUCTION_STARTUP_WM_CLASS);
+
+// -------
+
+_.set(packageJson, NAME_PATH, BETA_NAME);
+_.set(packageJson, PRODUCT_NAME_PATH, BETA_PRODUCT_NAME);
+_.set(packageJson, APP_ID_PATH, BETA_APP_ID);
+_.set(packageJson, STARTUP_WM_CLASS_PATH, BETA_STARTUP_WM_CLASS);
+
+// -------
+
+fs.writeFileSync('./package.json', JSON.stringify(packageJson, null, '  '));