Dave Baker's WebLog : Events

Windows Embedded Server Announced

davbaker — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:32:03 GMT

A new addition to the Windows Embedded Server product range was announced at ESC Silicon Valley yesterday

Windows Embedded Server enables OEMs to design, build and deploy dedicated, durable server appliances that have smaller footprints, robust networking and support for large storage, aiding in the rapid setup and remote management capabilities of embedded devices. Based on the Microsoft Windows Server core operating system, Windows Embedded Server utilises security, reliability and availability features to enable embedded device solutions to help improve customer satisfaction and service, increase hardware utilisation and reduce the need for software updates.

Check out the Product Homepage here and Press Release here

Session Invite - “Windows Azure Update, What it is & What it isn’t”

davbaker — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:34:52 GMT

We would like to invite you to a session titled “Windows Azure Update, What it is & What it isn’t” including a Q&A session with 3 x members of the Azure team from Microsoft Corp along with a session that introduces “UK AzureNET” which is the name of what we hope evolves into UK Azure User Group / community!

Please see agenda below along with speakers bio and registration details below:-

Agenda
6.15pm - 6.30pm              Arrive and Registration
6.30pm - 7:30pm              Azure Update “What it is & What it isn’t” + Q&A
7.30pm - 8:00                  UKAzurenet “Introduction”
8:00pm – 8.30                  Food / drinks / Network

Matt Rogers (Senior Field Marketing Manager for Windows Azure)
In this role he is responsible for global go-to-market strategy, understanding customer needs for the new service, and preparing Microsoft's global sales force and partner community for the upcoming launch.

James Conard (Senior Director, Azure Services, .NET, and Visual Studio Evangelism)
James leads a global team of senior Microsoft evangelists who help customers realize the full potential of their IT investments using Microsoft’s Azure Services Platform, .NET Framework and Visual Studio. James and his team have worked with customers and Microsoft partners around the world in understanding how these Microsoft offerings reduce IT costs and project timelines while delivering innovation solutions to market.

Michael Maggs, Senior Director, Windows Azure Partner Marketing – Session Title
Michael is responsible for the global partner ecosystem of Windows Azure. He and his team work with leading system integrators, software development firms and IT consultancies to enable enterprises to adopt Microsoft’s cloud computing platform.

How do I register?
If you would like to attend this event please go to http://azureupdate.eventbrite.com/, sign up and if you have 2mins introduce yourself and say why you would like to attend J

We look forward to you seeing you at the Azure Update session and introduction of “UK AzureNET” – please feel free to pass on to colleague!

Web Connected Devices in the UK? Look no further than REMIX.

davbaker — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:12:12 GMT

If you're looking at connected device solutions and are interested in how they fit into the Next Web then check out ReMIX 08.

ReMix UK 08 runs from 18 - 19 September 2008 at the Brighton Centre, Kings Road, Brighton. We'll be looking at the 'Next Web': the current state of play and the impact of new technologies, tools and trends in the future.

We are bringing together over 1,000 developers and designers and letting them exchange views, show work and thrash out ideas. There'll be industry gurus from around the world giving their perspectives on what next for the web.

ReMix UK 08 is a unique opportunity to explore next-generation web compositions, meet up with some of the brightest sparks in the industry and enjoy one great party.

EMEA .NET Micro Framework Porting Labs sheduled for November

davbaker — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:24:00 GMT

I blogged about this a while back, to guage demand, and I'm happy to report that, based on your feedback, a .NET Micro Framework Porting Training session has been scheduled for Sunday, November 4, 2007 in conjunction with TechED Developers Europe in Barcelona, Spain. The training will take place at AC Hotel Barcelona.

Note that TechEd registration is not required for participation in the porting training, however a signed porting agreement is required. Partners interested in attending the porting training who not yet started this process must please let us know as soon as possible so that we can provide a copy of the agreement.

Participants should be prepared for an intense day of technical presentations. The agenda for this one-day session follows:

TIME	TITLE
8:00	Breakfast and Introductions
8:30	System architecture overview
9:00	PAL vs HAL
9:30	Source code directory structure and layout
10:00	Using the Micro Framework build system
11:00	Break
11:15	Completions and Continuations
11:45	The CLR main loop
12:15	Lunch
13:00	Driver constraints
13:30	The selector file
14:00	Creating an emulator
15:00	Break
15:30	Writing a driver
16:00	Creating a port, step-by-step
16:30	Building TinyBooter
17:00	Tips, recap, and wrap-up
17:30	Final Q&A
18:00	END

Please contact Warren Dent in the .NET Micro Framework team directly (warrend@microsoft.com) if you wish to attend. This is a unique opportunity to attend this training in Europe as it is offered only once a year outside the US.

If you have any questions, or you would like me to send you an invite directly, please feel free to contact me.

MEDC Berlin - Micro Framework Session Demo

davbaker — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 15:01:32 GMT

Those of you at my MEDC session in Berlin would have seen me build a Micro Framework application, from scratch, that allowed you to visually set a desired temperature and then communicate this across an RS232 interface.

For the demo I used the Freescale Emulator and i.MXS board. However it is possible to recreate the majority of the demo using just the i.MXS emulator, which is freely downloadable.

To recreate the demo you will need to have installed:

Visual Studio 2005
.NET Micro Framework SDK 2.0
Freescale i.MXS Developer Kit, incl. Emulator.

Instructions:

Create a new Windows Application Micro Framework project.
Replace/Amend Program.cs with the code below.
Add the Freescale CPU.cs file from the Developer Kit Sample Project
In the project properties, set the Transport as "Emulator" and the device as "i.MXS Emulator"
Build & Run

If you are using real hardware, don't forget to set the Configuration Manager option to "deploy".

Please let me know if you have any questions

-Dave

--------------------------------

using System;

using Microsoft.SPOT;
using Microsoft.SPOT.Input;
using Microsoft.SPOT.Presentation;
using Microsoft.SPOT.Presentation.Controls;

using System.Text;                              // UTF Encoding
using Microsoft.SPOT.Hardware;                  // Added - CPU.cs
using Microsoft.SPOT.Hardware.FreescaleMXSDemo; // Added - CPU.cs
using Microsoft.SPOT.Presentation.Media;        // Colour, etc

namespace MEDCDemo1
{
    public class Program : Microsoft.SPOT.Application
    {
        // Instantiate Resources & variables
        static Bitmap Canvas;                   // Bitmap Canvas
        static Font font = Resources.GetFont(Resources.FontResources.small);
        static SerialPort serialPort = null;    // Serial Communication

        static int temp = 18;                   // Default Temperature
        static int mintemp = 12;                // Minimum Temperature
        static int maxtemp = 24;                // Maximum Temperature

        public static void Main()
        {
            Program myApplication = new Program();

            Window mainWindow = myApplication.CreateWindow();

            // Initialise the drawing Canvas
            Canvas = new Bitmap(mainWindow.Width, mainWindow.Height);       // Bitmap holding the picture

            // Set up serial port
            SerialPort.Configuration serialConfig = new SerialPort.Configuration((SerialPort.Serial)0, (SerialPort.BaudRate)115200, false);
            serialPort = new SerialPort(serialConfig);
            Debug.Print("Serial port is writing/listening to " + serialPort.Config.Com + " at " + serialPort.Config.Speed);

            // Set up Up Button Interrupt - Up button is GPIO_PORT_B_11
            InterruptPort UpButton = new InterruptPort(Pins.GPIO_PORT_B_11, true, Port.ResistorMode.PullUp, Port.InterruptMode.InterruptEdgeBoth);
            UpButton.OnInterrupt += new GPIOInterruptEventHandler(UpButtonPush);

            // Set up Down Button Interrupt - Down button is GPIO_PORT_B_10
            InterruptPort DownButton = new InterruptPort(Pins.GPIO_PORT_B_10, true, Port.ResistorMode.PullUp, Port.InterruptMode.InterruptEdgeBoth);
            DownButton.OnInterrupt += new GPIOInterruptEventHandler(DownButtonPush);

            // Create the object that configures the GPIO pins to buttons.
            //GPIOButtonInputProvider inputProvider = new GPIOButtonInputProvider(null);

            // Start the application
            myApplication.Run(mainWindow);
        }

        private Window mainWindow;

        public Window CreateWindow()
        {
            // Create a window object and set its size to the
            // size of the display.
            mainWindow = new Window();
            mainWindow.Height = SystemMetrics.ScreenHeight;
            mainWindow.Width = SystemMetrics.ScreenWidth;

            // Create a single text control.
            //Text text = new Text();

            //text.Font = Resources.GetFont(Resources.FontResources.small);
            //text.TextContent = Resources.GetString(Resources.StringResources.String1);
            //text.HorizontalAlignment = Microsoft.SPOT.Presentation.HorizontalAlignment.Center;
            //text.VerticalAlignment = Microsoft.SPOT.Presentation.VerticalAlignment.Center;

            // Add the text control to the window.
            //mainWindow.Child = text;

            // Connect the button handler to all of the buttons.
            //mainWindow.AddHandler(Buttons.ButtonUpEvent, new ButtonEventHandler(OnButtonUp), false);

            // Set the window visibility to visible.
            mainWindow.Visibility = Visibility.Visible;

            // Attach the button focus to the window.
            Buttons.Focus(mainWindow);

            return mainWindow;
        }

        private void OnButtonUp(object sender, ButtonEventArgs e)
        {
            // Print the button code to the Visual Studio output window.
            Debug.Print(e.Button.ToString());
        }

        //                               //
        // Handle Up Button Push Event //
        //                               //
        public static void UpButtonPush(Cpu.Pin port, Boolean state, TimeSpan time)
        {
            if (state) // Only handle button down
            {
                Debug.Print("Up");

                if (temp < maxtemp) // Ensure we don't go above max
                {
                    temp++;
                    Drawtemp(temp);
                    ChangeTemp(temp);
                }
            }
        }

        //                                 //
        // Handle Down Button Push Event //
        //                                 //
        public static void DownButtonPush(Cpu.Pin port, Boolean state, TimeSpan time)
        {
            if (state) // Only handle button down
            {
                Debug.Print("Down");

                if (temp > mintemp) // Ensure we don't go below min
                {
                    temp--;
                    Drawtemp(temp);
                    ChangeTemp(temp);
                }
            }
        }

        //                                 //
        // Helper - Draw Graphic Display //
        //                                 //
        private static void Drawtemp(int temp)
        {
            // Calculate temperature interval
            int y = Canvas.Height - ((Canvas.Height / (maxtemp - mintemp)) * (temp - mintemp));

            // Draw white background
            Canvas.DrawRectangle(Color.White, 1, 0, 0, Canvas.Width, Canvas.Height, 0, 0, Color.White, 0, 0, Color.White, Canvas.Width, Canvas.Height, 256);
            // Draw Temperature Bar
            Canvas.DrawRectangle(Color.Black, 25, 0, y, Canvas.Width, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 256);
            // Add Temperature to Bar
            Canvas.DrawText(temp.ToString(), font, Color.White, 150, y - 5);
            //Display the temperature
            Canvas.Flush();
        }

        //                                 //
        // Helper - Change Thermostat     //
        //                                 //
        private static void ChangeTemp(int temp)
        {
            // Ensure we have a serial port
            if (serialPort != null)
            {
                // Encode to UTF8
                UTF8Encoding enc = new UTF8Encoding();
                // Encode Byte array
                string tempString = "Temperature = " + temp.ToString() + "\r\n";
                byte[] tempData = enc.GetBytes(tempString);
                // Write to Serial Port
                serialPort.Write(tempData, 0, tempData.Length);

                Debug.Print(tempString);
            }
        }
    }
}

MEDC Berlin - Micro Framework Emulators

davbaker — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 13:48:00 GMT

I had a couple of conversations MEDC last week regarding the creation and extention of Micro Framework emulators. The attached document is from an Instructor Led Lab that was run at MEDC Vegas, it gives a great overview of the Micro Framework emulator and how it can be easily extended. Please let me know if you have any questions.

-Dave

MEDC Berlin - Micro Framework Session Slide Deck

davbaker — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 12:51:00 GMT

Thankyou to all of you who attended my Micro Framework session at MEDC Berlin earlier this week. I hope you found it useful and informative...

You can find the slide deck I referenced attached. Let me know if you have any questions.

-Dave

Paris Techdays - Me, Mike and Olivier talk about Embedded...

davbaker — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 11:59:31 GMT

Olivier blogged about this a while back, but I came across it whilst I was pulling material together for MEDC. During the Paris Techdays in February, Oliver Bloch, Mike Hall and myself where interviewed about Microsoft Embedded technologies: Windows CE 6.0, Windows XP Embedded, and the .NET Micro Framework.

Don't be afraid the interview starts in French, all the technical bits are in English :)

One Week to MEDC Europe

davbaker — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 19:11:45 GMT

There's only one week to go until the Mobile and Embedded Developer Conference in Europe. If you're still thinking about attending now's the time to register for the conference which takes place in Berlin on 25th/26th June.

I'm delivering a session on the .NET Micro Framework at the conference (OTT201) where I will discuss the principles for building and developing applications against real and emulated hardware.

The session's on Tuesday morning at 8:45 in the morning, if you're up and around come along and say Hi.

Podcasts of MEDC Events

davbaker — Wed, 23 May 2007 22:50:52 GMT

If like me you didn't make it out to Vegas for MEDC this year you can still catch a glimpse of the action through the podcasts posted on WindowsForDevices.

Securing the XP Embedded Platform - Paris TechDays Presentation

davbaker — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 12:41:00 GMT

For those of you who attended my session yesterday, many thanks, I hope it gave you plenty to think about... The slide deck I used is attached below, though in the interests of download speed I have removed a lot of the backgound graphics :) For those of you who couldn't attend, the presentation gave an overview of how to secure the XP Embedded platform through the use of custom shells, splash screens and User profiles. It also gave information on speeding boot time using Hibernate Once Resumes Many (HORM) along with implementation of Custom Shells and System Message Interception to catch and handle Windows System Messages automatically. Let me know if you have any questions

Paris TechDays

davbaker — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 11:00:00 GMT

I'm off to Paris next week to present at the Paris TechDays, with Mike and Olivier. My session brief is:

"Windows XP Embedded est un système d'exploitation modulaire : Windows XP Pro a été éclaté en 10.000 composants que l'on agrège afin de générer un système d'exploitation embarqué dédié à un usage particulier. Cette plate-forme bénéficie donc de la richesse et des fonctionnalités de Windows XP, mais aussi de ses éventuelles failles de sécurité. Vous verrez ainsi comment sécuriser votre système embarqué XP Embedded pour le rendre robuste, fiable et inattaquable."

Which Olivier tells me is about securing the XP Embedded platform. Let hope he's not joking :). Anyway if you're at the TechDays event next Monday come along to my 5:30 session and say hello. The event runs through to Wednesday 7th.

Windows XP Embedded, WEPOS and POS for .NET Live Chat, Jan 30th.

davbaker — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 12:10:00 GMT

The January chat is focused on the Point of Sale (POS) industry. This is your opportunity to give feedback and questions about Windows XP Embedded, WEPOS and POS for .NET. You will meet the Developers, Test Engineers and Program Managers, as well as some of our MVPs. I believe this month’s MVP is Sean Liming, author of Windows Embedded for Point of Service / POS for .NET Step-by-Step, so if you have any questions for Sean or the Embedded team sign up now at http://msdn.microsoft.com/chats/.

Windows CE guides Vista and Office 2007 around the UK

davbaker — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 20:40:00 GMT

In case you hadn’t noticed Microsoft UK kicked off the Developer launch for Windows Vista and the Office system 2007 today with two days of activity at our offices in Reading. The event was so popular that there wasn’t enough room for everyone so Mike, Mark, Daniel and Martin are taking to the road next week to bring the content to a venue near you.

In about 90 minutes they will introduce you to the developer story for:

· Windows Vista’s new operating system features that your application can use.

· The .NET Framework version 3.0, including support for application workflow, distributed applications and a rich presentation layer.

· The new Office 2007 System and how you can access the data in documents; surface your information and create a context aware interface for your users.

And what will be guiding them around the country in this intrepid expedition, none other than Windows CE in the form of a Sat Nav donated by our Partners at RoadAngel. This devices will not only guide them around the highways and byways but will also warn them of accident blackspots ensuring they get to all their presentations in one piece.

They will be driving a pretty distinctive car – So if you see them, and it’s safe to do so, pull alongside and give them a wave.

...and if you attend one of the events you’ll have the opportunity to win this very Sat Nav, fully roadtested and conveniently programmed with to location of the Microsoft office and all the events venues J.

Checkout the tour site at http://ukvistaofficelaunchtour.spaces.live.com/ and follow their progress on Mark’s blog at http://blogs.msdn.com/markjo.

Imagine Cup Student Technology Competition Offers $170,000 in prizes

davbaker — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 18:17:00 GMT

The first round of the Imagine Cup 2007 student technology competition has officially begun. The annual Imagine Cup event invites small teams of students to compete in nine technology areas, one of which replaces the former "Windows Embedded Student ChallengE."

Each Imagine Cup competition has a theme, and this year's is "Imagine a world where technology enables a better education for all".

The nine technology categories in which student teams can compete fall into three general areas:

· Technology Solutions -- Software Design, Embedded Development, Web Development

· Skills Challenges -- Project Hoshimi, IT Challenge, Algorithm

· Digital Arts -- Photography, Short Film, Interface Design

In eight of the nine competition categories, three teams will receive cash awards totalling $15,000:

· $8,000 -- First place

· $4,000 -- Second place

· $3,000 -- Third place

In the software design category, the top three prizes are:

· $25,000 -- First place

· $15,000 -- Second place

· $10,000 -- Third place

The finals are scheduled to take place in late July or early August in Seoul, South Korea.

For further information go to http://imaginecup.com/