Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3 has been released to the web – here’s a link to the download page
Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3 includes the following new features:
• Silverlight for Windows Embedded
The power of Silverlight brought to Windows Embedded CE to create rich applications and user interfaces
• Internet Explorer Embedded
Internet Explorer with panning and zooming capabilities and a customizable interface to optimize the browsing experience on devices
• Adobe Flash Lite
Browser plug-in to render rich media Web sites
• Touch and Gesture
Plug-in engine to enable natural input capabilities and gesture animations
• Connection Manager
Infrastructure technology to manage multiple network interfaces on the device
• Microsoft Office and PDF Viewers
Applications to render Microsoft Office Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Adobe PDF content on the device
• QQ Messenger
Device-side client to connect to popular Instant Messaging service
It may be useful to explain what “Silverlight for Windows Embedded” is. Typically people think of Silverlight as a cross-O/S, in-browser user experience and managed programming environment (more information on Wikipedia).
Silverlight for Windows Embedded is designed for developers to build out of browser applications and shells for embedded devices, based on Silverlight 2.0, and exposing a native code API for developers. Here’s an example of how to handle a button click event in native code (click to enlarge) – the diagram shows the XAML, and the native code to handle the event.
- Mike
Today at ESC East (Boston) Kevin Dallas, the General Manager of the Windows Embedded Business presented a keynote presentation (I missed the keynote, was flying from Seattle to Boston) that covered a number of announcements (all are listed on the following ars technica page).
One of the announcements is the release to manufacturing of Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3 – this new release adds a number of new features to the existing CE 6.0 product. Note that the underlying tools and o/s architecture don’t change with the R3 release (so BSPs don’t need to change), the R3 release includes a number of new features, including Silverlight for Windows Embedded.
The Silverlight for Windows Embedded feature is a UI framework for out of browser applications (or shells) and is based on the Win32/native API, not managed code. This feature gives you the ability to have designers create UI in Expression Blend, export their XAML and then have you hook up events in Win32/C/C++ at the back end. This means that designers get to “design”, and developers get to “develop”.
I posted some information about this upcoming technology in June, here’s a link to the blog post and a video that shows what can be achieved.
- Mike
I’m in Boston for Embedded Systems East (I will be on the Microsoft booth Wednesday morning, and presenting a session called “Windows Embedded: from sensors to servers” on Thursday). The session walks through hardware trends, software trends, user experience trends, and then dives into technology, starting at the CPU (parallel programming), moving up to user experience (XAML based user interface for Windows Embedded CE), and distributed programming using DPWS and CCR/DSS.
This evening a few of us were out for dinner, I spotted the following sign…
This is of course an Exit sign, but, given the angle brackets this is obviously an XML tag of some kind, and is malformed – surely this should be </EXIT>.
Look out for news/information from ESC Boston tomorrow…
- Mike
Here’s the list of sessions being presented in the Windows Embedded track at ESC Boston – these sessions are in the Windows Embedded Track.
- Introduction to the future of Windows Embedded CE
- Develop the user interface of the future for your Windows Embedded CE device
- New and easier ways to connect your Windows Embedded CE device to the outside world
- Enhance the graphical rendering of your Windows Embedded CE device using hardware acceleration
- Deliver rich internet browsing experiences with Windows Embedded CE
- Introducing Windows Embedded Standard codename “Quebec”
- New Developer Tools in Windows Embedded Standard codename “Quebec”
- New Servicing and Deployment Scenarios in Windows Embedded Standard codename “Quebec”
There’s also a session in the main conference called “Windows Embedded: From Sensors to Servers”.
- Mike
Join John Coyne and Chris Muench for a Webinar on September 17th to learn how a standards-based platform and familiar development environment can help you bring new industrial automation devices to market in minimum time and at the lowest possible cost. Technical members of the Windows Embedded team will review Windows Embedded solutions for manufacturing scenarios--including hard real-time and the emergence of PACs — the Webinar will provide time for you to ask questions.
More information about the Webinar, and registration details can be found here.
- Mike
Check out the Toshiba JournE touch multimedia tablet on Engadget - The device has a 7 inch display, supports multiple codecs, including H.264, DivX, WMV, supports 802.11b/g Wifi, some of your favorite social applications including YouTube, FaceBook, Flickr, Picassa – the device also supports sub-1080p video out from the device dock (HDMI) – I’m not sure what “sub-1080p means, does that mean 720p?
There’s a video of the device/capabilities on YouTube (see below).
- Mike
A preview of Windows Embedded Standard 2011 (based on Windows 7) is available for download from the Microsoft Connect site - http://connect.microsoft.com/windowsembedded. Windows Embedded Standard 2011 delivers the latest Windows 7 technologies to OEMs, enabling them to bring high-performing specialized devices to market faster, to differentiate those devices through innovative user experiences, and to delight their customers with devices that extend the Windows user experience to specialized devices from Windows-based PCs, servers and online services. (yes, I cut this text straight from the press release… can you tell ? <g>).
“To meet the demand for improved user experiences and connectivity among today’s rapidly growing categories of specialized devices, Microsoft has strategically planned the release of Windows 7-based technologies to OEMs in the embedded marketplace,” said Kevin Dallas, general manager of the Windows Embedded Business at Microsoft. “The availability of the Windows Embedded Standard 2011 CTP empowers our worldwide ecosystem of OEMs, partners and developers to take advantage of the next-generation platform’s enhanced Windows 7-based features and provide feedback prior to its general release to manufacturing. We encourage the embedded community to take full advantage of the CTP’s availability and join in our excitement as we look ahead to the future availability of Windows Embedded platforms incorporating Windows 7 technologies.”
More information is available on the Windows Embedded Press Release here.
- Mike
A couple of weeks ago I was in Cambridge/UK for business meetings – I arrived the day before meetings started to give me some time to shake off jetlag and walk around the city.
The city has many of the landmarks you would expect from a typical English city, including iconic Telephone boxes…
Amazing architecture… (St Johns College)
Take this Church for example, this was built at 1130, or just before lunch…
And of course there are plenty of places to sit, relax, drink your favorite caffeinated beverage, and watch the world go by…
There are also some amazing eateries in Cambridge, one that stands out is the Maharajah, a great place to get some traditional British food.
And that’s where Cambridge starts to get a little strange…
One evening a small group and I decided to head out for curry, unfortunately we arrived at the Maharajah before opening time, the restaurant appeared to be empty, no sign of life… But, a sign in the window did seem to indicate that even though the place was closed “take out” was still available… interesting…
Everything seemed to go downhill from that point onwards…
Punting appears to be a very popular activity in Cambridge, most “punters” appear to use their punt (boat) and a long pole to get around the river Cam (see below).
There are obviously some professional punters out on the river, these professionals can get by without their pole! “amazing”
And, the city is obviously overrun with musicians, so much so that they can afford to simply throw away some of the players that are not so good.
Cambridge, cool but strange…
- Mike
At ESC East (Boston Sept 21-24) you will have the opportunity to get hands on with Windows Embedded technologies and an Intel Atom based board.
The board spec is:
Low power Intel® Atom Z510 GHz processor 1 GB DDR2-533 on-board mini SD socket 160Gb 2.5” SAT DVI output up to 1920x1080 through HDMI connector High Definition 2.0 Audio 1000BASE- T Ethernet Programmable consumer IR receiver Wireless LAN 802.11g The sessions being presented are:
- Getting Started
- Building and debugging the shell of your device
- Connect your device to web services
- Remote control your device through a Silverlight web page
- Build a distributed embedded system
- Integrating sensors into your device
- Dive into the Atom based development platform
More information on the Build Your Own Embedded System course at ESC East, and pricing etc… can be found on the ESC Boston web site.
- Mike
Check out the blog post and video over on John Coyne’s blog, bSquare have just finished working on a touch screen enabled Coke vending machine.
- Mike
Here’s a snapshot of the final day at Imagine Cup.
Next year the Imagine Cup goes to Poland – more information here.
- Mike
Check out this Engadget article – If Microsoft made toasters
Interestingly the toaster has a Microsoft Dynamics logo on the side…
Perhaps this is the best thing since sliced bread…
- Mike
Imagine Cup hits day 4 – In today’s video we get to talk to some of the teams, find out what the driver was for their project and get a view of the teams getting some well deserved “down time”.
- Mike
The Imagine Cup Embedded competition has reduced the number of teams to the final six – get a view of the teams, their projects, and the competition overall (video below).
- Mike
Here’s a look at day two of the embedded competition at the Imagine Cup in Cairo/Egypt – This is where the judging starts – Here a view of day two, including some of the judging process.
- Mike
