At the Embedded Systems Conference in San Jose, Microsoft has announced the release of Windows Embedded Standard 7.
Aimed at OEMs, it targets consumer and enterprise device markets, providing online services for specialised devices, such as thin clients, digital signage, industrial controls, set-top boxes, connected media devices (CMDs), and TVs.
Read our full Embedded Systems Conference coverage
Microsoft boasts that Windows technology is used to drive "rich, immersive user experiences", including multigesture touch interfaces and context-aware applications with Windows Touch. There are also smart power management APIs.
In addition to support for enterprise devices, STBs, CMDs and TVs built on Windows Embedded Standard 7 and leveraging the Windows Media centre feature will enable consumers to merge multimedia content from disparate sources, including Internet and broadcast TV, social media portals, and personal libraries of photos, music and videos, into
The new version of Windows embedded is also indented to support "a centralised home entertainment hub", sharing and merging digital content from disparate sources, such as the Internet, TV, and personal libraries of photos, music and videos.
Specifically, in terms of PC desktop technology, Embedded Standard 7 supports:
- Internet Explorer 8
- Windows Media Player 12
- Remote Desktop Protocol 7
- Silverlight 3
- .net Framework 3.5 SP1
In terms of enterprise connectivity, it supports:
- Active Directory
- Domain Join
- Group Policies
- Network Access Protection
- IPv6
"The addition of the Windows Media centre feature in Windows Embedded Standard 7 is driving the set-top box, connected media device and TV markets by providing OEMs with opportunities to develop uniquely branded experiences and service providers with capabilities to explore additional revenue streams with unique content through a centralised media hub in the home," said Kevin Dallas, general manager of the Windows Embedded Business Unit at Microsoft.
More information on Windows Embedded Standard 7 can be found at www.microsoft.com/windowsembedded.
First announced in September 2009 as a community technology preview, it is now released to manufacturing