The English language version of the Microsoft Certification Program (MCP) exam for Windows Embedded CE 6.0 rolled out Last Monday at Prometric Testing Centers worldwide. It will be available May 21 in Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, German, and French. So if you are a Windows CE developer and want to get certified, just go for it!
Here is some info about this certification:
Certification Specifics
- Certification Name: Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): Windows Embedded CE 6.0 Applications
- Exam Name: 70-571: TS: Microsoft Windows Embedded CE 6.0, Developing
- Languages: English, French, German, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Korean
- CE 6.0 certification landing page: for preparation materials (and URL for certification marketing) – www.WindowsEmbedded.com/Certification
- Exam details: While the certification has “Applications” in the name, it also covers the systems side of CE development. The six main topic areas are:
- Customizing the Operating System Design
- Building and Deploying the Runtime Image
- Performing System Programming
- Debugging and Testing the System
- Customizing a Board Support Package (BSP)
- Developing Device Drivers
Get a full overview of the topics covered by the exam, and the target audience.
Exam Preparation Support
- Free Preparation Kit (200 page study guide) – available mid-May
- Languages: English, French, German, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Korean
- Online: After registering (CVC), developers can download the Preparation Kit in PDF format for free from MSDN
- CD: Will be orderable from MS Market for use at conferences, training, sales engagements, etc.
You will love this one!
Robochamps is a huge Robotics programming contest based on Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio 2008 tools and technologies. This competition will allow you to participate in different challenges, playing with Visual Studio 2008, Robotics Developer Studio 2008 and amazing simulated environments. Imagine programming a robot that will have to fight another one, solve a maze, navigate on Mars, rescue people in an earthquake environment or drive autonomously in an urban area.
All the primary phase will be done on simulated environments, but the finals will take place at PDC in October with real hardware!
Will you be good and lucky enough to be one of the finalists? Just go and register on the Web site right now (http://www.robochamps.com/), come to TechEd 2008 Robotchamps booth, and code!
Yesterday, at ESC Silicon Valley in San Jose, Kevin Dallas, General Manager for the Windows Embedded Business, presented the Industry Keynote, with Mike Hall (Windows Embedded Architect), and Ilya Bukshteyn (Director of Windows Embedded Marketing at Microsoft).
That keynote presented the vision of Microsoft for the Embedded market and the plans around smart, connected, service oriented devices. I won't go through the whole messages, but prefer to show some parts of the keynote and it's backstage.
One of the main announcements made during this keynote was about the "Spark Your Imagination" program. This program is targeted at the hobbyist and academic community where Microsoft will make available the full version of Windows Embedded CE 60 R2 tools at no cost with low cost hardware boards from 5 select manufacturers. The new board and software package offerings will be available for order from the hardware manufacturer sites next week. More info...
Another announcement was about Windows Embedded family products renaming. This renaming will occur on next releases of the different products. Here is the mapping of the new names :
Do not hesitate to react on this renaming, we'd like your feedback.
Another couple of announcements where made. The first one concerning developers: there will be a certification for Windows Embedded CE developers through the Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) program. And the other one is about BSP Certification that uses to cost $1,500 and is now free.
Here are now some pictures of the Keynote preparation:
Mike and Dion Hutchings (Windows CE Technical PM) preparing hardware for Mike's keynote demo:
Distributed application scenario using a couple of VIA Artigo pico-itx boards running Windows XP Embedded and CCR/DSS runtime, and the Visual Programming Language environment usage:
Nick McCarty from Adeneo then presented one of his own projects: a distributed home control system. This is the back of the thing ;-):
And Ilya ended in presenting along with Jon Rauschenberger from Clarity Consulting the line of the future, a Windows Embedded for Point of Service innovation showcase :
The Windows Embedded Web Site has been updated. You can now get info about the Windows Embedded products family in a Silverlight way!
Apart from the new design, the whole Web site has been enhanced, but just go and have a look yourself!
French Techdays took place on February. Webcasts of all sessions are now live on the Vision platform. The whole Embedded Systems and Mobility track can be found here. You can also enjoy a nice Silverlight interface to surf within the tracks and sessions :
Les Techdays ont eu lieu en février dernier. Les webcasts des sessions sont désormais téléchargeables sur la plateforme Vision. Le parcours Mobilité et Systèmes Embarqué est par ici. Vous pouvez aussi naviguer dans les divers parcours via une excellente interface Silverlight.
I wanted to share great news with you: I am joining Windows Embedded Business group in Microsoft Corp and moving to Redmond as a Technical Evangelist. Don't worry, I'll keep on blogging on Embedded technologies more than ever. So next steps for me are to attend ESC in San Jose, CA mid April and then TechEd North America in Orlando early June. I'll try and give you feedback from these event from the inside. Stay tuned!
Je tenais à partager cette bonne nouvelle avec vous: je rejoins les équipes du groupe Windows Embedded Business à Corp en tant que Technical Evanglist et je déménage donc à Redmond ! Ne vous inquiétez pas, je continuerais à blogger sur les technologies embarquées plus que jamais ! Je m'excuse à l'avance de ne pouvoir traduire tous les billets en français. Si vous voulez que je continue à faire la traduction, faites-le moi savoir, j'y travaillerais, c'est promis. Les prochaines étapes pour moi sont le salon ESC à San Jose en Californie mi-mai, puis TechEd à Orlando début juin. Je tâcherai de vous informer sur ces events depuis l'intérieur. Restez en ligne !
You might be aware the MEDC (Mobile and Embedded Developers Conference) will not take place this year. On the counterpart, you'll have the opportunity to attend to a full Embedded track at TechEd 2008 in Orlando. Get a chance to attend to pre-conferences and breakout sessions about Windows Embedded technologies and tools.
Here is the description of the Windows Embedded breakout sessions track:
Windows Embedded: Enhance your technical skills in the development and implementation of Microsoft® Windows® Embedded operating systems, including Windows Embedded CE, Windows XP Embedded, Windows Embedded for Point of Service, and .NET Micro Framework. Learn how to easily build reliable, powerful, and intelligent smart connected devices utilizing our end-to-end development tools, support, and resources. Microsoft Windows Embedded operating system technology has been deployed in the broadest and most demanding environments, and is at the forefront of providing a solid foundation for the next generation of 32-bit embedded devices. Windows Embedded products help you provide highly customized device designs on a flexible platform with easy-to-use development tools.
And here are the abstracts for the pre-conferences of the first day:
PRC05 Windows Embedded for Developers, Speaker(s): Jason Johnson: This tutorial introduces the key features of the Windows Embedded platform products: Windows Embedded CE, Windows XP Embedded, Windows Embedded for Point of Service, and .NET Micro Framework. Windows Embedded CE 6 R2 includes a redesigned kernel, WSD, and other key new improvements which will impact your platform and application development. Windows XP Embedded is used to develop very robust embedded systems such as Thin Clients, point-of-service, and gaming machines. If you are new to Windows Embedded this pre-conference session and hands-on lab provides a first look at the features and tools for building and deploying a Windows Embedded image onto a device. In addition, best practices for embedded application development are also shown. The day concludes with a hands-on lab designed to reinforce the platform and application development lessons learned. Attendees will leave with a great foundation of knowledge to take into the regular Tech•Ed conference Windows Embedded sessions that deep dive on specific subjects.
PRC26 Hardcore BSP/Driver Development for Windows Embedded CE, Speaker(s): Olivier Bloch, Yannick Chammings, Travis Hobrla, Kurt Kennett: This full-day presentation arms you with the information you need to get Windows Embedded CE running on your hardware. Instead of soup to nuts, it’s Bootloader to File System. These sessions dive deep into BSPs from how to build your own BSP from scratch to bringing an existing BSP up to speed for CE 6.0. Walk away with the advantage of lessons learned and tricks for driver development, in-depth coverage of how to build kernel and user mode drivers, as well as file system architecture. If you are a Windows Embedded CE hardware developer this course is for you
PRC27 Everything But the Kitchen ISink for Windows Embedded CE Development, Speaker(s): Damon Barry, Olivier Bloch, Douglas Boling, Yannick Chammings, Santosh Hegde, Sue Loh, James Stulz: This all-day seminar covers a range of key topics to help you get your Windows Embedded CE device to market faster. These sessions get down to the nitty gritty of DRM, graphics architectures and streaming, imparting tips and tricks on how to squeeze more performance out of your project, as well as diagnose problems. Gain the foundation to build your device to be not only smart and connected but service oriented with the help of Web Services on Devices so your next device can participate in more and more integrated user experiences. Whether you are building a connected media device or a pig slicer you will walk away from these sessions with a good breadth of knowledge in key areas developing on the Windows Embedded CE platform.
And finally, do not miss the Mike Hall's lunch panel session, the better place to learn about Windows Embedded family and ask all the questions you might have to Microsoft's embedded experts.
Just 1 week left before registration closes on April 9! Be sure to register for the Embedded Systems Conference Silicon Valley in San Jose. You will get a chance to assist to a major Embedded event.
Microsoft will be there with 10 dynamic courses and 12+ hands-on Labs centering around the next generation of device development with Windows Embedded tools. So, come and meet the Microsoft Windows Embedded experts.
Le 21 mai prochain, à Paris, se tiendra un évènement qui permettra aux acteurs français de l'embarqué MS d'avoir plein d'informations en avant-première. Si vous êtes intéressé par les technologies embarquées Microsoft et êtes en mesure de signer un accord de confidentialité (ou en avez déjà un), inscrivez-vous en contactant Pascal Angee ou bien sur cette page !
On May 21th, in Paris, there will be a major event for French MS Embedded actors to get many info on roadmaps and upcoming releases. If you are interested in MS Embedded technologies and have a signed NDA (or can sign one), register for it contacting Pascal Angee or on this page!
Windows XP Embedded is a modular version of Windows XP Pro that comes with specific tools to create the OS, and Embedded features that enable scenarios specific to the Embedded area. So the first thing you have to do to build a first Windows XP Embedded is to get the list of peripherals installed on the hardware you are targeting. This can be done using a tool called Target Analyzer. This tool can be run from DOS, Windows or WinPE.
OK, here we are with a virgin hardware (no OS, no DOS, and HD or Flash not even formatted), no floppy disk reader (that could have been useful to boot a DOS from a floppy and run the Target Analyzer tool from there).
Let me suggest a couple of solutions to start working on XPe. Most of the recent hardware (embedded or not embedded) have a BIOS that is compatible with USB boot. That means you can plan to work with a USB Disk on Key to boot "something" in order to prepare and analyze the hardware.
- The first solution would be to use WinPE. WinPE is the Pre-install environment that boots when you install Windows from a bootable CD or DVD. It allows you to run utilities such as Diskpart. Here are the steps to prepare a WinPE bootable disk on key
- Find a USB Disk on Key (at least 512MB)
- Prepare the USB media :
- On Windows XP, use the command line tool ufdprep.exe that is located in the folder Program Files\Windows Embedded\Utilities
- On Windows Vista, run a Command Prompt, then type the following commands:
- diskpart
- list disk (find your DOK in the disk list)
- select disk # (where # is the number of the disk you read previously)
- clean
- create partition primary
- select partition 1
- active
- format fs=fat32
- assign
- exit
- Download and install the Windows Automated Installation Kit
- In the menu Start|All Programs|Microsoft Windows AIK, start "Windows PE Tools Command Prompt"
- in this command prompt, run copype.cmd x86 c:\winpe_x86
- customize thec:\winpe_x86 folder with the tools you'll need (I added diskpart from C:\Windows\system32, and tap.exe from Program Files\Windows Embedded\Utilities)
- Insert your disk on key in the target
- Boot the target and enter BIOS settings to enable USB boot
- WinPE boots and is charged in RAM
- you can now run diskpart to prepare your media (flash or HDD) and tap to retrieve the hardware peripherals list into a devices.pmq file that will be imported in Target Designer (or Component Designer) to build your Windows XP Embedded OS for the target.
- the second solution would be to build a minimal universal Windows XP Embedded that will boot from the USB disk on key. Here are the steps
- Ensure you have XPe Feature Pack 2007 installed
- Launch Target Designer
- select File|New
- Name the project whatever
- add these features
- Software|Test & Development|WinLogon Sample Macro
- Software|Test & Development|Class Installers / Hardware Compatibility
- Software|System|System Services|Base|USB Boot 2.0
- Software|System|Storage & File Systems|Disk Management Command Line Utility
- Software|System|System Services|Base|CMD - Windows Command Processor
- if you want to use your mouse, add the relevant support (PS2, USB), note that keyboard will be available.
- Check dependencies and resolve errors (select EWF versions for FAT and NTFS when proposed)
- Build
- Copy the image (default location is C:\Windows Embedded Images) to the disk on key
- add tap.exe from C:\Windows\System32 to the disk on key too
- plug the DOK and boot XPe
- After First Boot Agent is finished, you will be able to use tap.exe to retrieve the devices.pmq file listing the hardware peripherals embedded on the target and to prepare the embedded media using the disk management command line utility : diskpart.
Voici le descriptif du téléchargement de ce package qui sera j'en suis certain très utile :
Ce package propose de nouvelles pratiques de développement pour la plate-forme Windows Mobile avec Visual Studio 2008, Le .Net Compact Framework 3.5 et SQL Server CE 3.5. Il comprend des outils, plus de 5000 lignes de code commentées et des centaines de pages de documentation.
Adaptez votre Application : Créez une binaire simple qui fonctionne sans modification sur Windows Mobile Standard ou Pro, en mode portrait ou paysage, rectangle ou carré. Plus d'executables séparés ou de perte de temps passé à adapter votre application à différentes tailles d'écran ou méthodes de saisie.
Services de synchro pour ADO.NET : Synchronisez vos données entre le SQL Server 2008 et SQL Server CE 3. en utilisant le nouveau Sync Framework.
Windows Communication Fundation (WCF) store and forward : faites du Push pour transmettre vos messages de manière sûre par l'intermédiaire du serveur Exchange 2007.
MapPoint : Développez des applications tirant profit des informations de cartographie et de navigation de MapPoint.
LINQ : Employez LINQ pour filtrer des collections génériques d'objet. Faites des requêtes sur vos objets ou sur des fichiers XML en utilisant une syntaxe simple et puissante SQL-Like vous permettant d'augmenter votre productivité.
Contrôles personnalisés : Capturez des signatures, impressionnez les utilisateurs avec des contrôles en 3D transparents qui changent de comportement en fonction de la plateforme sur la quelle ils tournent.
Procédures stockées et triggers : La couche de données plugable permet de dire au revoir à la compilation Dynamic SQL à l'intérieur de votre code et génère des évènements pour réagir aux commandes INSERT, UPDATE, et DELETE.
Notifications et aide en ligne : Précédemment disponible unique sur WM Pro, bénéficiez désormais sur WM Standard des notifications popup et aide en ligne. Les notifications automatiques, également connus sous le nom de « toast », affichent un message HTML puis disparaissent après temps prédéterminé. Utiliser l'aide en ligne sur chaque écran réduit vos coûts de formation.
Localisation et changement de langue : Modifiez les paramètreds de langue dans votre application afin de voir les textes et l'aide en ligne changer de langue. N'attendez pas la fin de vos développements pour rendre voter application internationale.
Temps de mise sur le marché : Cessez de réinventer la roue et employez cet accélérateur comme base pour vos prochains développements Windows Mobile.
Here is the download description, that can definitively be usefull:
Delivering new innovations and development best practices to the Windows Mobile platform with Visual Studio 2008, the .NET Compact Framework 3.5, SQL Server Compact 3.5, a working Supply Chain application, over 5,000 lines of commented code plus over a hundred pages of helpful documentation.
Adapt your App :: Create a single binary that runs unchanged on Windows Mobile Standard or Pro, Portrait or Landscape, Rectangle or Square. No more wasting time building separate executables to accommodate different screen sizes or input methods.
Sync Services for ADO.NET :: Synchronize your data between SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server Compact 3.5 using the new Sync Framework. Keep all your occasionally-connected mobile workers on the same page.
Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) Store and Forward ::Reliably push messages to servers or other devices via Exchange Server 2007. Programmatically notify peer devices that they have new orders waiting for them and need to sync.
MapPoint :: Guide delivery drivers to their customers via either the shortest or quickest route. Integrated mapping means you’ll never get lost again.
LINQ :: Use the new Language Integrated Query to filter results from Generic Object Collections. Query both your objects and XML using a familiar, SQL-like syntax to boost developer productivity.
Custom Controls :: Capture signatures and dazzle your end-users with 3D and Alpha-blended controls that alter their behavior depending on the platform they’re running on.
Managed Stored Procedures and Triggers :: The pluggable data layer allows you to say goodbye to compiling Dynamic SQL inside your code and fires events to react to INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE operations.
Notifications and Online Help :: Formerly only supported on Pro, say hello to Popup Notifications and Online Help on Standard. Popup Notifications, also known as “toast,” display an HTML message and then disappear after a pre-determined amount of time. Using Online Help on every screen reduces your applicationtraining costs.
Language Switching and Localization :: Change Language/Regional Settings inside your app and watch text and Online Help speak a different language. Don’t wait until your application is finished to realize that it needs to be world-ready.
Time to Market :: Stop reinventing the wheel and use this Accelerator as the foundation for your next Windows Mobile development effort. If you don’t want to use the whole thing, pick and choose the components that are the best fit for your project.
Here is a nice project using Microsoft technologies!
RobotTurk is a prototype Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) equipped with a camera that is capable of streaming live video of disaster struck areas to ground command stations. The helicopter carries onboard an eBox compute-unit that runs Microsoft Robotics Studio on top of Windows CE, allowing the robot to execute specific command issued by ground station or to auto-fly or safely land. The ground stations utilizes Windows Server 2008 Media Services that capture, process and streams video. The disaster coordination users utilizes Microsoft Virtual Earth as a mapping tool and Silverlight streaming to show the overlaid video on the maps. Learn more here.
Voici un beau projet utilisant les technologies Microsoft !
RoboTurk est un prototype de drone autonome équipé d'une caméra permettant de restituer des images en temps réel de zones de catastrophes (naturelles ou non) à des stations de commande au sol. L'hélicoptère embarque une carte eBox équipée de Windows CE et Microsoft Robotics Studio, permettant au robot d'exécuter des commandes spécifiques provenant des stations au sol ou bien de gérer un mode de navigation et attérissage autonome. Les postes de contrôle au sol utilisent Windows Server 2008 Media Services pour capturer et traiter les vidéos. Les utilisateurs se servent de Virtual Earth et Silverlight Streaming pour géolocaliser les vidéos sur une carte. Pour en savoir plus...
You certainly know about Zune, Microsoft's multimedia player. You surely also know about XNA, games development framework for XBOX 360 and PC. Well, XNA runs on top of .Net Compact Framework, and Zune is running Windows CE which supports .Net Compact Framework... do you see what's coming... Yes! It will soon be possible to develop games for the Zune using XNA studio 3.0. See this demo video.
Vous connaissez le Zune, player multimedia de Microsoft. Vous devez aussi connaître XNA, le framework de développement de jeux pour XBOX et jeux. Et il se trouve que XNA s'appuie sur le .Net Compact Framework, que le Zune est un device embarquant Windows CE disposant dudit .net Compact Framework... vous me voyez venir... Et bien oui ! Il sera très prochainement possible de développer des jeux pour le Zune. Cela se fera à l'aide de la prochaine version de XNA Studio (la version 3.0). Une petite démo en vidéo
Video: XNA Game Running on a Zune
En attendant les Webcasts, et si vous avez apprécié la session de Stéphane aux Techdays sur le développement d'applications Windows Mobile utilisant la connectivité, le GPS, etc du device, voici un article très complet qu'il nous propose.
Vous pourrez y retrouver tout le code source de sa démo GeoAPN.
Enjoy : http://www.codeppc.com/dotnetcf35/TD2008/index.htm