Windows 7 to the Embedded Community
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Meanwhile,
also at ESC, Microsoft announced its initial rollout of Windows 7
technologies to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of specialized
devices through the RTM of the next-generation platforms for Windows
Embedded Enterprise and Windows Embedded Server.
"The release of Windows 7 technologies to the embedded community
underscores Microsoft's strategic commitment to enable device
manufacturers to extend the power of the PC and address the budding
market for specialized devices," said Steve Guggenheimer, corporate
vice president of the Original Equipment Manufacturer Division at
Microsoft, in a statement . "Providing Windows 7 technologies for OEMs
to utilize in their next-generation devices will allow them to offer
end users of enterprise and consumer devices enhanced capabilities
through improved user experiences and connectivity to the established
Windows ecosystem."
Windows 7 Professional for Embedded Systems and Windows 7 Ultimate
for Embedded Systems are the next-generation platforms in the Windows
Embedded Enterprise portfolio for OEMs seeking full Windows application
compatibility, Microsoft said. Both are fully functional,
license-restricted versions of the Windows 7 desktop operating system
with full Windows application compatibility intended for use in
embedded devices, including ATMs, kiosks, industrial PCs and medical
devices.
Windows Embedded Enterprise capabilities and features include
multitouch capabilities, enterprise connectivity enabled by Microsoft
DirectAccess and BranchCache, and legacy support through Windows XP
Mode.
Meanwhile, Windows Server 2008 R2 for Embedded Systems builds on the
Windows Server 2008 for Embedded Systems platform, with new features to
assist OEMs in delivering dedicated embedded solutions and appliances
with increased reliability and flexibility for unified messaging,
telecommunications, security, medical imaging and industrial automation
markets, said Ashwin Kulkarni, a program manager on the Windows
Embedded team. New virtualization tools, management enhancements and
Server Core help save time and reduce costs, he said.
Windows Embedded Server 2008 R2 capabilities and features include
increased reliability with the Server Core installation option, which
reduces the footprint of the OEM solutions by eliminating the graphical
user interface, while supporting more server roles such as the .NET
application. The product features also include improved management with
Microsoft Hyper-V by running new and legacy functionality side by side
while ensuring workload isolation, and Windows PowerShell 2.0, which
includes remote server management for improved ease of deployment; and
improved connection to other devices and services with Agile VPN for a
highly reliable virtual private networking (VPN) tunnel; DirectAccess
to configure a more secure communication path between remote devices
and centralized data in headquarters, without going through VPN
authentication; and improvements in failover clustering to help OEMs
deliver a better connected system with improved application and
operating system availability.
"The proliferation of devices integrating into enterprise
infrastructures continues to create opportunities for developers and
OEMs to build specialized devices that center around connectivity,
enhanced user interfaces and time to market," said Stephen Balacco,
director of the Embedded Software & Tools Practice for VDC Research
Group, in a statement. "Microsoft's success in this area is the
development of devices that are not necessarily resource-constrained,
may not require any special hardware or software, and where third-party
application software might already exist. These Windows 7-based
embedded platforms will continue to build upon Microsoft's success and
strategy to offer OEMs a standard general-purpose off-the-shelf
environment that can be an attractive fit both technically and
financially for specialized device development."
Microsoft also recently announced the availability of the Windows
7-based Windows Embedded Standard 2011 community technology preview to
OEMs and developers worldwide, at
http://connect.microsoft.com/windowsembedded. Windows Embedded Standard
2011 delivers the power, familiarity and reliability of the Windows 7
operating system in a highly customizable and componentized form,
enabling OEMs in industrial automation, entertainment, consumer
electronics and other markets to focus on their core competencies and
create product differentiation, Microsoft officials said.
Windows Embedded Standard 2011 will RTM in the first half of calendar year 2010.
