Microsoft Windows Embedded Vs Windows 10 IoT 

At CES this year, there was only one topic that caused any sort of stir, which of course was the IoT where leading lights such as Intel, Samsung and Firefox unveiled in depth strategies to outline the IoT in their respective industries and how they plan to realise its potential- which beyond any shadow of a doubt is the question at the forefront of research and development at all scales of enterprise throughout the world. Since CES moves from Microsoft, Amazon and Facebook have further highlighted the opportunity at hand and the awaiting fortunes at the other end.

Microsoft’s cloud platform was updated last year for an IoT specific audience courtesy of the Azure IoT Suite which quintessentially equates to an online business tool to manage and control connected devices regardless of their deployments. The IoT platform serves to provide a range of services to facilitate definitive projects such as remote monitoring, asset management and predictive maintenance with the collected intelligence of Azures artificial intelligence to assist the technicians of whom will keep it ticking, analysing relevant data and responding with appropriate decisions all within the cloud based management Portal. Microsoft has reiterated in what will be a monumental battle for IoT domination by acquiring Solair, a company whose focus is commercial IoT services monitoring and ensuring the smooth functionality of machinery and equipment- Solair’s technology will be incorporated into the Azure platform to further strengthen its armoury.

 Windows Embedded has for long been the isolated solution for industrial users building systems that don’t require all the features of a full windows install however upon the release of Windows 10 last year an IoT based alternative of Windows 10 has been promised. Windows 10 IoT is likely to become the impending replacement of the embedded platform that has ruled specialized systems for so long, the key benefits of Embedded were that it enabled enhanced levels of customization and optimized storage space savings- Microsoft are loyal to their platforms and so those key features remain but with the addition of the Windows IoT Core that quite simply offers the option to completely eradicate any traces of a graphical user interface (GUI).

Our clients are much attuned with Windows Embedded- but the new Windows 10 IoT does accommodate functionality that perhaps surpasses its predecessor. Microsoft Windows 10 IoT Mobile Enterprise is a feature attuned towards retail enterprise for mobile and handheld point of sale devices. Windows 10 IoT core is categorically aimed for custom development on small embedded and single board computers. There is a vast movement of designers and aficionados just to make and modify their own versions of major platforms, this is clearly a key indicator for Microsoft who are focusing more towards those who don’t require a screen or graphical output altogether.

Windows Embedded- The New, the Old, the difference

Windows Embedded systems typically fall into either Modular, Full and License only divisions, the modularity is great for those (such as the industrial field) that require only certain features for a specific deployment allowing developers to choose between features as well as custom splash screen branding and filters, Windows Embedded Standard 7 worked on 3 licensing levels- C, E and P with C being the entry level and P comprising of an all-inclusive Windows 7 Embedded system, Windows Embedded Standard 8 worked very similarly with only the most expensive- license P- being the only available.

Therefore it seems that Windows 10 IoT Core is more aimed towards developers, seemingly reinforced by the Windows IT Core Starter Kit which is designed to show you and new developers around thanks to their partnership with Adafruit. Full Windows Embedded Systems differ from the modular variant as evidently in the full option all typical windows functionality is integrated alongside pre-built OS image and additional embedded functions such as filters and branding. Two previous options in this division of embedded standards are Windows Embedded POSReady 7 and Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry, whilst the latest Windows 10 IoT Enterprise provides the full option with an alternate specially targeted towards retail or thin clients, which is marginally less expensive without limiting features like previous formats (WE7S) but can only be used in specific system applications such as retail, thin client or digital signage.

Finally (on the various formats of Windows Embedded) is the License-only options these are software-identical to the standard OEM OS the only difference is effectively the license agreement in that these identical systems can then be used  in embedded applications, which only entails that it must be a part of a larger network or device. Windows 7 Professional for Embedded Systems and....Read more here