There can be no-doubt that Microsoft’s Windows® operating system is just about everywhere. Recent statistics from Net Applications suggest Windows currently accounts for 92% of the desktop operating system market. The certain majority of application developers are very familiar with Windows and would prefer to develop for the system of which they have become so acquainted, and the latest version of Windows Embedded OSs make this easy.
What is Windows Embedded?
Windows Embedded is a family of componentised Microsoft operating systems designed for use in environments where the full desktop version of the Windows operating system is either not necessary or not practical. It suits a variety of different markets, including the Industrial, Digital Signage, Mobile Computing and Transportation markets. Certain Windows Embedded variants also include embedded enabling features such as Enhanced Write Filter (EWF), Hibernate Once/Resume Many (HORM) and USB Boot.
All versions of Windows Embedded have a long support cycle, so you’re safe in the knowledge that no matter what happens, your investment will be supported for some considerable time. The table below shows Microsoft’s current support schedule:
Why choose Windows Embedded?
The main reason our customers choose Windows Embedded is because of the level of customisation which can be achieved. Features which are not required can be removed from the build, which produces a faster, more secure system with a smaller footprint – ideal for embedded devices. The Standard 7 development kit also comes with a Footprint Estimator Tool, which can tell you how much disk space your final image is likely to require.Embedded is also compatible with many existing Windows 7 desktop programs. The core architecture is the same, so you can use most applications on Windows Embedded Standard 7 just as you would on any Windows 7 PC. This negates the need for additional application development, saving you both time and money.
Licensing costs are also lower with Windows Embedded compare with its desktop counterpart; Windows 7 Professional is currently priced at around £140 whilst Windows Embedded Standard 7 is priced at around £85. That means a saving of over 40% in licencing costs alone.
Windows Embedded Compact 7 (Previously Windows CE)
Windows Embedded Compact 7 is the next generation of Windows CE. Compact is a real-time operating system, design for use in a wide range of small footprint devices. Compact is often used as a base for many of the following devices:
>Personal Navigation GPS devices
>Ruggedized Handheld Terminals
>Home and commercial building automation gateways
>Industrial Controls
>Vending Kiosks
>Mobile Point of Service devices
>Health Monitoring Devices
>Remote metering and monitoring devices
Compact 7 also comes with many new features, as detailed below:
An install of Compact 7 can be as small as 500kb, with 32bit support for ARM, MIPS and x86 processors. It also seamlessly connects to PCs, servers and online services.
Windows Embedded Standard 7 SP1 (Previously Win XPe)
Windows Embedded Standard 7 SP1 is the componentised version on the Windows 7 desktop operating system. It supports x86 and x64 processor architectures, as well as being fully compatible with existing Windows 7 based applications. Standard 7 also introduces features specific to the embedded market, such as Write Filter Technologies, Hibernate Once Resume Many (HORM) and SD Boot.
Write Filter Technologies
Standard 7 comes with two write filter technologies – File Based Write Filter (FBWF) and Enhanced Write Filter (EWF). Both systems protect the configuration of your embedded device by preventing any changes to the system from being stored to the disk, by storing changes directly into RAM or a specified disk cache. If your system is altered beyond the original configuration, all it takes to restore it is a simple reboot. Enhanced Write Filter prevents any changes from being permanently stored anywhere on the system. File Based Write Filter however will allow changes to files and/or directories which you specify, and these changes will persist after the system is rebooted.
Hibernate Once Resume Many (HORM)
Hibernate Once Resume Many works in conjunction with EWF to both protect your system and reduce boot times. It allows a system to start from a hibernation file rather than a complete boot of the operating system. This increases the cold-boot times for your system dramatically, which is particularly useful for digital signage applications following any power outages.
SD Boot
A new feature in Windows Embedded Standard 7, SD Boot allows your system to boot from a Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) card. This allows many compatible embedded devices to use an SD card as the primary drive rather than a traditional hard disk or newer solid state drive (SSD). This is an exceptionally useful feature where space within the device is limited, where the reliability of a traditional disk is insufficient or where the price premium of an SSD is unwarranted.
Footprint
The footprint for Standard 7 can be as little as under 600MB for an eCore installation. This enables you to use Windows Embedded on devices with a limited amount of storage space, making it perfect for use with SD cards, Compact Flash and the lower capacity SSDs. An average Windows 7 Professional desktop installation can be anywhere from 5GB to over 8GB.
Windows Embedded Standard 2009
Windows Embedded Standard 2009 is final generation of Windows XP Embedded (Win XPe). As Standard 2009 only requires a minimum of 256MB RAM and 128MB storage and with a minimum footprint of around 40mb, it is especially suited for lower power systems with a demand full compatibility with Windows XP Professional applications. Standard 2009 also includes the same write filters that you can find on Standard 7, enabling you to protect your systems in a similar fashion. Several new features were also introduced to the embedded space by Standard 2009
Silverlight 1.0
Microsoft Silverlight is a browser based web presentation plug-in, enabling rich interactive applications and the next generation of media experiences for embedded systems.
Windows Media Player 11
Building on a solid legacy of many years in the media player space, WMP 11 brings new technologies and innovations to Windows Embedded 2009. These include industry first audio fingerprinting capabilities which recognise and import track information for previously unidentified audio files, new Instant Search which enables you to find all of your media quickly and easily, and dedicated category views for all types of media, including music, photos and video.
Remote Desktop Protocol 6.1
Remote Desktop allows you to connect to your embedded devices from another computer, no matter where you are. Version 6.1 enhances this experience by adding new features such as Easy Print which allows you to print from the remote device to a printer connected to your computer, Web Access which allows you to start a remote session from within a browser, and some visual improvements including support for 32bit colour.
.NET Framework 3.5
Building incrementally on the new feature which were added in version 3.0, .NET Framework 3.5 introduces new features in several technology areas. These features have been added as new assemblies to avoid breaking applications already based on version 3.0. New features include updated web protocol support for building services such as AJAX, JSON and ATOM, full tooling support for Visual Studio 2008 including workflow-enabled services technology, and new classes in .NET Framework 3.5 base class library (BCL) that address many common customer requests.
Standard 2009 also includes the hotfixes, security updates and new features which were included with Windows XP Service Pack 3.
 |
| Assured Systems is an Official Microsoft Embedded Partner |
As you’ve discovered, Windows Embedded is the versatile solution for your embedded system requirements. It has a smaller footprint, is more customisable, and commands a lower cost of ownership figure than its desktop counterpart. The next step in the process is to get Windows Embedded onto your devices.
About Assured Systems
Assured Systems is a leading British technology company offering high quality and innovative applied computing solutions to the embedded, industrial, and digital-out-of-home markets across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Our impressive product portfolio includes a full range of Fanless Embedded Computer Systems, Digital Signage & Multimedia Computer Systems, Touchscreen Panel PCs, Human Machine Interfaces, Vehicle Mount Computers, Rackmount Computer Systems, Single Board Computers, Rugged Laptops & Tablets. Please visit our website at www.assured-systems.co.uk or call our technical sales team on 01785 87 90 50 for more information.
Did you know you can use Outlook or another email application to subscribe to our blogs? Click here to subscribe!
No comments:
Post a Comment