Microsoft Delivers Rich User Experiences and Windows 7 Connectivity With New Windows Embedded CE Release

BOSTON, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire-Asia/ — Today during an industry address at the Embedded Systems Conference (ESC) Boston, Microsoft Corp. announced the release to manufacturing (RTM) of Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3, the next-generation platform of the componentized, real-time Windows Embedded CE operating system. Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3 delivers the rich application experiences of Microsoft Silverlight through the innovative Silverlight for Windows Embedded user interface (UI) framework. This assists original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in delivering specialized consumer and enterprise devices with immersive user experiences, animated UIs and seamless connections to the world of Windows 7-based PCs, servers and online services. This release marks a new paradigm for designers and developers to collaborate, dramatically improve UI capabilities, and reduce development time and associated costs while delivering a differentiated experience on Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3-based devices.

Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO

“With the release of Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3, Microsoft has furthered its commitment to energize the evolution of consumer Internet devices (CIDs), which fall between Smartphones and the full-featured, small Windows-based notebooks, by empowering our OEM and developer ecosystem with innovative, new technologies to fuel rich, animated and compelling user experiences,” said Kevin Dallas, general manager of the Windows Embedded Business Unit at Microsoft. “Microsoft has reaffirmed its investment in the Windows Embedded CE operating system and raised the bar by providing embedded OEMs with access to Visual Studio, Silverlight, Expression Blend and other advanced Microsoft technologies. These technologies help drive innovation and differentiation in devices, redefine the way users interact with devices at work and home, and deliver a consistent experience for end users across devices, Windows 7-based PCs, servers and online services.”

Silverlight for Windows Embedded is an out-of-browser, native code implementation of Microsoft Silverlight technology used to create rich, immersive UIs on Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3-based devices. OEMs are now able to separate the design of the user experience on the device and the development of core functionality, which provides efficiency in the go-to-market process by helping to reduce application development time, allowing for simplified UI customization, and empowering designers and developers to focus on their core competencies.

Additional new Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3 capabilities, features and
benefits include the following:

— High-fidelity user experiences are created when designers leverage
their knowledge of Silverlight, Microsoft Expression Blend and
Internet Explorer Embedded, enabling capabilities including panning
and zoom, touch, and gesture input to dramatically improve Web
browsing and the overall user experience OEMs can deliver right from
the box.
— A consistent experience is delivered across devices and PCs with
Microsoft Office and PDF viewers.
— Seamless connections to Windows 7-based PCs through Windows 7 Device
Stage and Microsoft Connection Manager enable PC companion
opportunities for Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3-based devices.
— Improve efficiency in design and development by enabling OEMs to
utilize current investments in the Windows Embedded CE platform,
including board support packages (BSPs), hardware and design resources.

With the addition of Silverlight for Windows Embedded, Microsoft Expression Blend and the other new design technologies to the Windows Embedded CE platform, OEMs now have access to the broad ecosystem of Microsoft partners participating in the Silverlight Partner Initiative and can leverage their existing design skills in the embedded device market. For example, during ESC Boston Microsoft and Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Infragistics, a leader in UI design and development tools, along with Adeneo, a leading systems integrator and Windows Embedded Gold Partner, will demonstrate a CID user experience built on Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3. This demonstration will showcase a rich user experience that is possible on the device and in the browser. More information on the Silverlight Partner Initiative and the directory of program participants is available at http://www.microsoft.com/silverlight/resources/partners .

More information on Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3 and the entire Windows Embedded portfolio of platforms and technologies is available at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsembedded .