Microsoft has announced the release to manufacturing (RTM) of Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3, the next-generation of the componentized, real-time Windows Embedded CE operating system that now features a rich immersive user experience provided by Microsoft's Silverlight Rich Internet Application (RIA) platform. The company also delivers Windows 7 connectivity to the platform.
Microsoft has announced the release to manufacturing of Windows
Embedded CE 6.0 R3, the next-generation of the componentized, real-time
Windows Embedded CE operating system that now features a rich immersive
user experience provided by Microsoft's
Silverlight Rich Internet Application (RIA) platform.
Microsoft announced the RTM of the new release at the Embedded
Systems Conference (ESC) in Boston on Sept. 22. Windows Embedded CE 6.0
R3 delivers the rich application experiences of Microsoft Silverlight
through the new
Silverlight for Windows Embedded user interface (UI) framework.
This assists developers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
in delivering specialized consumer and enterprise devices with
immersive user experiences, animated UIs and seamless connections to
the world of Windows 7-based PCs, servers and online services,
Microsoft said. This release marks a new paradigm for designers and
developers to collaborate, improve UI capabilities, and reduce
development time and associated costs, said David Wurster, senior
product manager on the Windows Embedded team.
"We are bringing the power of
Silverlight
to CE to provide rich, connected experiences on your CE-based device,"
Wurster said. "We're making it so that application builders can deliver
these experiences in days not months. And we're doing it by splitting
the Microsoft design/development story. Designers and developers can
use tools like Expression Blend and the developers doing the background
logic can use Microsoft's Visual Studio tools."
This version of Silverlight for embedded systems is similar to the
standard version except for two things, Wurster said. One is that it
runs outside the browser and the other is that it has a native code
back end, "so you use C++ instead of other .NET languages," he said.
"With the release of Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3, Microsoft has
furthered its commitment to energize the evolution of consumer Internet
devices (CIDs), which fall between smartphones and the full-featured,
small Windows-based notebooks, by empowering our OEM and developer
ecosystem with innovative, new technologies to fuel rich, animated and
compelling user experiences," said Kevin Dallas, general manager of the
Windows Embedded Business Unit at Microsoft, in a statement. "Microsoft
has reaffirmed its investment in the Windows Embedded CE operating
system and raised the bar by providing embedded OEMs with access to
Visual Studio, Silverlight, Expression Blend and other advanced
Microsoft technologies. These technologies help drive innovation and
differentiation in devices, redefine the way users interact with
devices at work and home, and deliver a consistent experience for end
users across devices, Windows 7-based PCs, servers and online services."
Additional new Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3 capabilities, features and benefits include:
??Ã High-fidelity user
experiences are created when designers leverage their knowledge of
Silverlight, Microsoft Expression Blend and Internet Explorer Embedded,
enabling capabilities including panning and zoom, touch, and gesture
input to dramatically improve Web browsing and the overall user
experience OEMs can deliver right from the box.
??Ã A consistent
experience is delivered across devices and PCs with Microsoft Office
and PDF viewers.
??Ã Seamless
connections to Windows 7-based PCs through Windows 7 Device Stage and
Microsoft Connection Manager enable PC companion opportunities for
Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3-based devices.
??Ã Improve efficiency
in design and development by enabling OEMs to utilize current
investments in the Windows Embedded CE platform, including board
support packages (BSPs), hardware and design resources.
With the addition of Silverlight for Windows Embedded, Microsoft
Expression Blend and the other new design technologies to the Windows
Embedded CE platform, developers and OEMs now have access to the broad
ecosystem of Microsoft partners participating in the Silverlight
Partner Initiative and can leverage their existing design skills in the
embedded device market.
For example, during ESC Boston Microsoft and Microsoft Gold
Certified Partner Infragistics, a leader in UI design and development
tools, along with Adeneo, a leading systems integrator and Windows
Embedded Gold Partner, will demonstrate a CID user experience built on
Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3. This demonstration will showcase a rich
user experience that is possible on the device and in the browser. More
information on the Silverlight Partner Initiative and the directory of
program participants is available at
http://www.microsoft.com/silverlight/resources/partners.
More information on Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3 and the entire
Windows Embedded portfolio of platforms and technologies is available
at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsembedded.
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