The Windows CE 5.0 Networked Media Device Feature Pack has been released to the web today. This is the first Feature Pack release for Windows CE 5.0 - A feature pack updates the Platform Builder catalog with new operating system features without making changes to the underlying BSP/Driver model - this makes it easy for you to integrate the new Feature Pack functionality into existing or new designs.
The NMD Feature Pack adds four new components to the catalog, NMD_UI (the NMD Shell), DVR Engine (for recording and playback of TV shows), SPDIF Packetizer (Optical Audio Out), and DRM (Digital Rights Management) - The HTTP component has been updated to version 1.1, and you get a new BSP, the Intel 854 reference design.
So what is NMD? - You probably have music, photo's, and video on your home PC's - The NMD components make it simple for you to build a Windows CE 5.0 based operating system image that streams your audio, video, and photos from your Home PC's to your TV set (think of it as a Set Top Box, the functionality can also be built directly into TV sets). Your home PC needs to run Windows Media Connect v2.0, this is the media 'server' software - you get to pick and choose which files/folders are exposed from the PC to the NMD device.
Here's the Network Media Device press release and more information on WindowsForDevices
Two new tutorials have been released today - these show how to configure, build, and deploy an operating system image based on the Windows CE 5.0 Networked Media Device Feature Pack - there are two options, the first is to select a baseline operating system configuration such as Internet Appliance, you then remove the existing shell and add the NMD Shell component - dependencies are automatically added - the second option is to use the Windows CE 5.0 NMD Wizard file (XML file downloadable here - the downloads page explains where the Wizards XML file needs to be placed on your development PC) this adds a new Platform Builder Wizard that makes the configuration of a NMD device simple.
Using the Windows CE 5.0 Networked Media Device Feature Pack using the Platform Builder Wizard (Level 200) NEW!This eHow-to demonstrates how to create a Windows CE 5.0 Networked Media Device operating system image. The video walks through the steps needed to configure a baseline Windows CE 5.0 operating system image that contains the Networked Media Device functionality through the use of a Platform Builder Wizard. (14:47 minutes) 300K Version | 110K Version
Using the Windows CE 5.0 Networked Media Device Feature Pack without Platform Builder Wizard (Level 200) NEW!This eHow-to demonstrates how to create a Windows CE 5.0 Networked Media Device operating system image. The video walks through the steps needed to configure a baseline Windows CE 5.0 operating system image and then explains how to integrate the Networked Media Device functionality into the operating system design. (14:47 minutes) 300K Version | 110K Version
Download Link for the Windows CE 5.0 Networked Media Device Feature Pack
- Mike