Despite asking to be contacted by email and providing our email addresses, we received just one snail mail letter for AOR. It was addressed to my husband, provided his UCI, and went on to state that CIC had received his application to sponsor me and provided my UCI.
As for them changing the timeline, I'm glad to see it (though, still no update on the website this week). All they did was start to reflect reality. The wait has been far longer than 6 months for quite some time, as many of us fall of 2012 applicants know all too well. I would rather they reflect the timeline honestly than stubbornly insist that the timeline for stage 1 is six months, even when you call and ask about your app after seven months...or eight...or nine. (A week out from 10 months here.)