Found the answer in the Wiki...

While the beta is a generally public affair, currently it is closed to new people. Only those that are in the beta right now will get new copies. The next opportunity to join the beta will be when Beta 2 comes out. There is no set time for this. If you wish to be eligible for Beta 2, you need to pre-order the game. You can do that from its Impulse page. When Beta 2 comes out, your card will be charged and you will be given access to the beta, and all future Elemental beta versions. After Beta 2 comes out, it will again be closed to new people. Stardock has not stated if they will allow more in for later betas.

Aye, PreOrder now and youll be able to enter this coming Thursday. Well, it least if your preOrdered as late as last week .... maybe now is too late? its hard to tell. Either way, order now and you WILL get in @ Beta 2 ... and maybe next week's Beta 1Z if your lucky.

Somewhere pretty recently (last couple of days) they (Frogboy if I recall correct) said that they will grant new players beta access within a week or two. So I'd order now if I were you.

While that gives me a lot of optimism and hope. It is a little sparse on the details.  I.E. are they letting everyone in or few more people. Is it for people who have already pre-ordered last week or will it include everyone that pre-orders up to the day they open it and beyond. Those kind of details

I appreciate everyone help and am optimistic. I am also holding judgement till those couple questions get anwsered. Not going to assume anything.

Everyone who has preordered is eligible for the beta. Whenever they let more people in the beta it means they let in everyone who has preordered who hasn't yet been let in. Preordering is the only way you can apply for the beta and therefore no-one is excluded. So preorder away. But as pointed above, once you are in the beta you can't cancel your preorder anymore.

Unless I missed it too there is nothing to download yet. Once they allow you in (we are assuming thursday, but it could technicaly be any time next week (really hoping earlier ) they will charge you than you will need to quit Impulse and re-open it for it to appear (based on my friends (whos already in the beta) experience)

I see a "Show Freeware and demos" but no pre-release or anything that translates to that. Any more help or someone in the know would be greatly appreciated. I would hate to have acsess to the game and not know it because I have a setting wrong somewhere I am unaware of.

Nevermind scratch that, found the show pre-release version in another tab.

Though on a related note I have found that they have charged my credit card, or at least my online bank shows the transaction as pending atm.

How do you get in the beta?

We just pre-ordered, Do they email you? or...?

Thanks for the clarification Kyro. That should put some peoples minds at ease

Seeing as how the next build hasn't been released yet, at least to my knowledge, it's no surprise Impulse isn't registering it for you.

Given my timezone, it's close to 5 AM when I'm writing this...  So, I'd guess another 24-36 hours before release, and that's only if they are, in fact, releasing the new build tomorrow.  (As far as I'm aware, nothing has been confirmed by any of the Stardock staff, but they seem to have a habit of releasing the new builds on Thursdays.)

Once they do, new pre-orders, (Like you and I irongamer,) should get access to the Beta and Serial Keys, if they're still doing that.  If they are, it's my understanding it'll show up in your E-mail along with the Beta showing up in your Impulse Application.

If you want to double check, make sure your Impulse settings are set to show "Pre-release Versions" using the Blue Icon in the top-left corner area.  (It looks like a list-box with a drop-down arrow next to it.)  And, of course, check the spam/trash folder in your E-Mail.

I would have missed that filter option, thanks.

Yeah, I got the order notice email, just wasn't sure how they were handling the beta and serial.

Very informative. Thanks much. 

Anyone know what time (first thing in the AM, right before they leave for the day, etc.) they generally release stuff?

I'm curious as to when the beta will get released as well and when they process the new pre-orders.