Embedded Systems Design Europe - May 2008 - (Page 6)

news Microsoft provides embedded roadmap Microsoft Corp. has laid out the next phase in its strategy for the Windows Embedded Business, providing a strategic road map outlining the renaming of its family of products and plans for new solutions in key device categories. The new key device category solutions will be offered under the Windows Embedded Ready name and will ship as preconﬁgured toolkits providing device-makers with in-demand market-speciﬁc features that allow them to build and ship next-generation smart, connected, service-oriented devices in an accelerated fashion. The ﬁrst product release under the new naming strategy will be Windows Embedded Standard, the next generation of Windows XP Embedded, and will be launched on June 3. All presently available Windows Embedded products will be marketed under their current names until their next scheduled product release and will remain available for purchase in line with the standard Microsoft Support Lifecycle policy. The Windows Embedded Ready product line for key device categories will include the next generation of Windows Embedded for Point of Service, Windows Embedded POSReady. The Windows Embedded Business plans to further detail its strategy for the Windows Embedded Ready products later this year. For the current family information see box left. Microsoft has also announced the establishment of Windows Embedded CE 6.0 Certiﬁcation, the ﬁrst certiﬁcation included in the Microsoft Certiﬁcation Program for the Windows Embedded product family. A key element of the Windows Embedded business strategy, the certiﬁcation will provide a common reference point on the skills and technical expertise that Microsoft recommends for all Windows Embedded CE 6.0 developers. In support of the certiﬁcation, Microsoft is offering a free exam preparation kit for Windows Embedded CE 6 developers. The kit can be downloaded or viewed online and is localized in English, Japanese, Simpliﬁed Chinese, Korean, German and French. Microsoft has also released full details of its SPARK Your Imagination community-focused program, a joint agreement between Microsoft and select hardware vendors to bring a complete offering of hardware and software to nonprofessional developers through a simple and affordable engagement model. The program offerings have an estimated retail value of $1,300 and will be available immediately worldwide at prices ranging from $250 to $350. Previously code-named the ‘SPARK’ initiative when it was ﬁrst announced in November 2007, SPARK Your Imagination brings the beneﬁts of embedded development on Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R2 and Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition to hobbyist developers and the academic community. The Windows Embedded family of products includes: ● Windows Embedded Standard, the next generation of Windows XP Embedded. The next product release is currently forecast for 2008. ● Windows Embedded Compact – the next generation of Windows Embedded CE. The next product release is currently forecast for 2009. ● Windows Embedded Enterprise – a fully application-compatible embedded operating system that over time will gain a broader set of embedded enabling features. Today this product group is composed of Windows Vista and Windows XP for Embedded Systems and is licensed exclusively for embedded device development. ● Windows Embedded POSReady. – the next generation of Windows Embedded for Point of Service. The next product release is currently forecast for 2009. Currently, under its MSDN Academic Alliance (MSDN AA) Program, Microsoft provides software for students and faculty in the embedded technology and design ﬁelds. Through the SPARK Your Imagination community program, the company is adding complementary offerings and extending them to the greater nonprofessional developer community to continue its dedication to the industry and future talent pool. “Devices running embedded operating systems have seen explosive growth in the past few years, and the announcement today demonstrates our commitment to the future of the embedded community,” said Kevin Dallas, general manager of Windows Embedded Business at Microsoft. The initial list of hardware vendors participating in the program includes AdvanTech Co. Ltd., ICOP Digital Inc., Keith & Koep GmbH, VIA Technologies Inc. and Special Computing. SPARK Your Imagination offers will be available for purchase for program participants directly from this select list of hardware vendors. Program participants will receive the following: A full version of Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R2 and Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition will be offered with select boards from participating hardware vendors and made available to academics and hobbyists at price points optimized for nonprofessional users. The offering is for noncommercial use. As part of this announcement, Microsoft now offers board support package (BSP) certiﬁcation free to the entire Windows Embedded community, for both commercial and noncommercial use. Up to two test passes per BSP will be processed at no cost, should one need a retest; a fee of $500 will apply. Previously BSP certiﬁcation cost $1,500. BSP certiﬁcation guarantees compatibility with the designated Windows Embedded CE operating system requirements by Microsoft. MAY 2008 | embedded systems design europe | www.embedded.com/europe http://www.embedded.com/europe

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Embedded Systems Design Europe - May 2008

Embedded Systems Design Europe - May 2008 Contents Microsoft Provides Embedded Roadmap Enea Buys Developers Irish Start-Up Raises Funds for Telecom FPGAs Kontron Promotes COM Express Nano Mentor Nucleus Platform Provides UI for Atmel Small Form Factor Boards Head for the SUMIT Proffibus Advances IO-Link Integration Embedded Developers Cautious on Multicore Auto Cooperation Improves Test Altera Launches DO-254 Partner Network Building an ‘Instant-Up’ Real-Time Operating Systems An Architecture for Reusable Embedded Systems Software Free up Bandwidth in PCI Express Evaluating Software in Medical Devices Circuit Sensitivity in Analog Circuits Choosing Flash Memory New Products Advertising Contacts

Embedded Systems Design Europe - May 2008

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