About Windows Embedded Enterprise

Overview of Windows Embedded Enterprise

Windows Embedded Enterprise powers dedicated embedded devices that require Windows application compatibility and the flexibility to deploy a custom user interface. When footprint size is not an issue, developers use Windows for Embedded Enterprise for its visual and differentiated user interfaces, connectivity capabilities, and reliability in building secure applications. Successful applications using Windows Embedded Enterprise include kiosks, ATM systems, POS devices, complex industrial automation controllers and human machine interfaces, complex medical devices, and gaming machines.

The Windows Embedded Enterprise Family includes: Windows 7 Professional for Embedded Systems, Windows 7 Ultimate for Embedded Systems, Windows XP Professional for Embedded Systems, Windows Vista Business for Embedded Systems and Windows Vista Ultimate for Embedded Systems

These products are fully functional versions of Microsoft’s desktop operating system intended for use in an embedded solution consisting of purpose-built hardware and application software. They have the same hardware operating requirements as their desktop equivalents, and therefore cannot be componentized like Windows Embedded CE and Windows Embedded Standard. Componentized products allow developers to use custom tools to remove components they do not need in order to reduce the software footprint of the OS. Since Windows Embedded Enterprise cannot be componentized, it is suitable for use when footprint size is not an issue and when devices require the full power of a Microsoft OS.

Windows 7 for Embedded Systems

Windows 7 for Embedded Systems is the next generation in a long line of operating systems. The product line offers two choices:

Windows 7 Professional for Embedded Systems

Windows 7 Professional for Embedded Systems operating system provides infrastructure improvements that enable you to spend less time on the day-to-day maintenance of embedded devices and more time adding value to applications. Build in a familiar environment while improving existing or creating new embedded devices.

Based on the new design introduced with Windows Vista, Windows 7 was designed to improve the deployment and management of the operating system, Windows 7 Professional for Embedded Systems provides manageability, reliability, and security features to ensure your embedded devices are always up-to-date, more secure, and running smoothly. New enhancements introduced with Windows 7 allow OEMs to build more flexible devices that allow for greater differentiation from other vendors devices.

Windows Touch - enables new exiting user experiences interactive with Windows 7 devices

Sensor and Location Platform  - makes devices smarter and more energy efficient by responding to environmental conditions

Virtual Windows XP Mode  - enables legacy application based on Windows XP technologies to continue to run on modern device hardware

Windows 7 Ultimate for Embedded Systems

Combining the advanced infrastructure of a business-focused operating system and the digital entertainment features of a consumer-focused operating system.

Windows 7 Ultimate for Embedded Systems provides new levels of protection against theft of important business data stored on the embedded device and access to Multilanguage support. It also helps reduce application migration and compatibility costs, making your Windows-based embedded device more versatile, as well as providing a safety net for operating-system migration.

Windows BitLocker and BitLocker to Go Drive Encryption - Prevents a thief from breaking Windows 7 file and system protections or performing offline viewing of the files stored on the protected drive

Multi-Lingual UI - Offers the ability to install multiple languages and switch between them as required with the availability of all worldwide language packs supporting embedded devices with multilingual requirements.

AppLocker - prevents any unauthorized application from execution on an AppLocker protected device.

Windows Vista for Embedded Systems

Windows Vista for Embedded Systems is the next generation in a long line of operating systems. The product line offers two choices:

Windows Vista Business for Embedded Systems

Windows Vista Business for Embedded Systems operating system provides infrastructure improvements that enable you to spend less time on the day-to-day maintenance of embedded devices and more time adding value to applications. Build in a familiar environment while improving existing or creating new embedded devices.

Designed from the ground up to improve the deployment and management of the operating system, Windows Vista Business for Embedded Systems provides manageability, reliability, and security features to ensure your embedded devices are always up-to-date, more secure, and running smoothly. Built-in protection against malicious software, impending hardware failures notification, and an array of sophisticated new backup technologies are all features of Windows Vista Business for Embedded Systems.

• Windows Security Center - Safeguards against malicious software attacks
• Windows Network Diagnostics Tools - Provide notifications long before you risk losing any important data
• Windows Backup and Restore Center - Helps protect your information even in the event of a catastrophic hardware failure

Windows Vista Ultimate for Embedded Systems

Combining the advanced infrastructure of a business-focused operating system and the digital entertainment features of a consumer-focused operating system.

Windows Vista Ultimate for Embedded Systems provides new levels of protection against theft of important business data stored on the embedded device and access to multilanguage support. It also helps reduce application migration and compatibility costs, making your Windows-based embedded device more versatile, as well as providing a safety net for operating-system migration.

• Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption -Prevents a thief from breaking Windows Vista file and system protections or performing offline viewing of the files stored on the protected drive.
• Multi-Lingual UI -Offers the ability to install multiple languages and switch between them as required with the availability of all worldwide language packs supporting embedded devices with multilingual requirements.
• Subsystem for UNIX-Based Applications (SUA) -Allows UNIX-based applications to run on a Windows Vista Ultimate for Embedded Systems-based embedded device.

Windows XP Pro for Embedded Systems

Windows XP Pro for Embedded Systems contains the Windows XP Professional OS and is intended for use in an embedded solution consisting of purpose-built hardware and application software. Windows XP Pro operating system technology includes preemptive multitasking, fault tolerance, and system memory protection, which all work to prevent and resolve problems and keep embedded systems running smoothly.

Microsoft Windows XP Professional for Embedded Systems is available through Microsoft Authorized Windows Embedded Distributors through December 2016. Technical support will be available through April 2014. Direct Embedded OEMs will be able to purchase Windows XP Pro for Embedded Systems through 2016 as well. OEMs can also migrate to Windows 7 for Embedded Systems and Windows Vista for Embedded systems, also available through Microsoft Authorized Windows Embedded Distributors. Find out more about Windows XP Pro End of Sales.

The History of Windows Embedded Enterprise

Microsoft’s standard operating systems that are licensed specifically for use in embedded systems, including Windows 7 for Embedded Systems, Windows XP Professional for Embedded Systems and Windows Vista for Embedded Systems, have been used for years. When the Windows Embedded Enterprise name was announced in April of 2008, it was part of Microsoft’s naming update to showcase the entire portfolio of embedded products.

The original Windows XP Embedded was released in November 2001. Windows XP Embedded Service Pack 1 was released in 2002 and offered new features optimized for embedded development including remote boot, device update agent, system deployment image manager, footprint estimator, and new protocols and services that include IPv6 and USB 2.0.

Windows XP Embedded with Service Pack 2, which was released in 2007, combined the benefits of Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 with enhancements targeted to embedded device development. Windows XP Professional SP2 included new security technologies that affect network protection, memory protection, Web browsing, and  e-mail handling. Windows XP Embedded Service Pack 3, released in 2008, is a roll-up of hot-fixes and security updates Microsoft has released since Service Pack 2 (SP2). It also includes select out-of-band releases, and provides a new baseline for customers deploying Windows XP Embedded. For customers with existing Windows XP Embedded installations, SP3 fills the gap in the updates they might have missed.

Windows Vista for Embedded Systems was released in 2007, offering two product choices: Windows Vista Business for Embedded Systems and Windows Vista Ultimate for Embedded Systems.

In 2009, Windows 7 for Embedded Systems was released with two product choices: Windows 7 Professional for Embedded Systems and Windows 7 Ultimate for Embedded Systems.

Microsoft Windows XP Professional for Embedded Systems is available through Microsoft Authorized Windows Embedded Distributors through December 2016. Technical support will be available through April 2014. Direct Embedded OEMs will be able to purchase Windows XP Pro for Embedded Systems through 2016 as well. OEMs can also migrate to Windows 7 for Embedded Systems and Windows Vista for Embedded systems, also available through Microsoft Authorized Windows Embedded Distributors. Find out more about Windows XP Pro End of Sales.

Windows Embedded Enterprise Key Features

Operating Systems – Windows 7 for Embedded Systems, Windows XP Professional for Embedded Systems, Windows Vista for Embedded Systems

Technology Supported – Windows Embedded Enterprise systems contain the technology needed to support:

• Plug and Play functionality for device peripherals
• Internet browsing and security
• Windows Media Player multimedia
• Network technology
• Multi-Monitor
• Remote user monitoring
• Remote Desktop Protocol

Developer Technologies – New application programming interfaces available for developing with Windows Windows Embedded Enterprise include .NET Framework Version 3.5, which consists of a class library and Common Language Runtime. .NET Framework 3.5 includes four new major components:

• Windows Presentation Foundation– Provides a unified framework for building applications and high-fidelity experiences in Windows Vista that blend together application UI, documents, and media content, while exploiting the full power of the computer. This user interface subsystem and framework is based on vector graphics, which makes use of 3D computer graphics hardware and Direct3D technologies. It is the successor to Windows Forms.
• Windows Communication Foundation– Provides a unified framework for rapidly building service-oriented applications that makes it easy to build and consume secure, reliable, and transacted Web services.
• Windows Workflow Foundation– Provides task automation and integrated transactions using workflows. It is the programming model, engine, and tool for building workflow-enabled applications on Windows.
• Windows CardSpace– Securely stores digital identities of a person and provides a unified interface for choosing the identity for a particular transaction, such as logging on to a Web site.

.NET Framework 3.5 builds incrementally on the new features added in .NET Framework 3.0. For example, feature sets include Windows Workflow Foundation (WF), Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), and Windows CardSpace. In addition, .NET Framework 3.5 contains a number of new features in several technology areas that have been added as new assemblies to avoid breaking changes. They include the following:

• Deep integration of Language Integrated Query (LINQ) and data awareness. This new feature will let you write code written in LINQ-enabled languages to filter, enumerate, and create projections of several types of SQL data, collections, XML, and DataSets by using the same syntax.
• ASP.NET AJAX lets you create more efficient, more interactive, and highly personalized Web experiences that work across all the most popular browsers.
• New Web protocol support for building WCF services including AJAX, JSON, REST, POX, RSS, ATOM, and several new WS-* standards.
• Full tooling support in Visual Studio 2008 for WF, WCF, and WPF, including the new workflow-enabled services technology.
• New classes in .NET Framework 3.5 base class library (BCL) that address many common customer requests.

New technologies introduced in Windows 7 for Embedded Systems enable rich user experiences and provide better energy conserving options:

• Windows Touch – Gesture and touch input platform providing new ways of interacting with embedded device user interfaces. Applications designed to work with gestures and touch input require new paradigms for menus, dialog and general user workflows.
• Sensor and Location – Make use of environmental factors in your device application in order to increase the ergonomics of devices. For example adopt your font size, screen colors and screen layout to changing light conditions. Show a “night” UI vs. a Daylight UI. Only turn on your device, if somebody is actually using it using proximity sensors.
• DirectX and GDI blending – upgrade your applications with new modern 3D Technologies using DirectX without re-designing your old GDI based User interface.

Service and Manageability – Windows Embedded Enterprise interoperates with many common industry standards, plus numerous Microsoft desktop and server technologies, including:

• System Center Configuration Manager 2007– Perform software inventory and patch management on embedded devices.
• Microsoft Software Updated Services (SUS)– Enables administrators to deploy critical updates.

Why Choose Windows Embedded Enterprise?

Windows Embedded Enterprise offers the following business benefits:

Familiar development environment – Windows Embedded Enterprise allows the migration of customized operation systems and applications, since Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP Professional for Embedded Systems support the most commonly used PC architecture processor families. Familiar management technologies make it easy to set up, use, and manage your embedded devices as standalone devices or within an enterprise environment.

Compatibility – Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP Professional for Embedded Systems are compatible with thousands of production-quality, off-the-shelf applications, services, and certified drivers. Interoperability with common industry standards and server technologies enables developers to build devices that seamlessly connect to other devices, PCs, servers, and services. Third-party software that is already compatible with standard Microsoft operating systems is easily integrated.

Faster Time to Market – The compatibility and ease of integration of Windows Embedded Enterprise helps to shorten the development cycle.

Device Security – Security features supported for devices powered by Windows 7 for Embedded Systems include:

• Improved Windows firewall (inbound and outbound protection)
• Browser security, privacy protection, phishing control and private browsing with Internet Explorer 8
• AppLocker and UAC protecting devices from execution of unwanted applications
• Data encryption at the disk, directory, or file level (BitLocker and BitLocker to Go Drive Encryption is only available for Windows Vista Ultimate Edition)

Industry-Leading Partner Network – Through a worldwide network of industry-leading partners, you gain access to a vibrant ecosystem of valuable resources and services that help speed your device to market. Windows Embedded Partners include distributors , system integrators, independent hardware and software vendors, ODMs, OEMs, silicon vendors, tools vendors, and professional training organizations. Working with a Windows Embedded Partner early on furthers your development savings.

Get Started with Windows Embedded Enterprise

If you are new to Windows Embedded Enterprise, here are some steps you can take to get started with the product:

1. Contact a Microsoft Authorized Embedded Distributor for details on how to get started with Windows Embedded Enterprise. They can help with acquiring development tools, runtime licenses, certificates of authenticity, and providing value-added products and services to help speed your time to market.
2. Get answers to “in the trenches” questions by utilizing the MSDN Windows 7 Library  and the MSDN Windows XP Library -essential sources for how-to information, reference documentation, sample code, technical articles, and more.
3. Read the appropriate implementation white papers:
   How to Implement Windows Vista with Embedded Restrictions
   How to Implement Windows XP Professional for Embedded Systems (this white paper includes instructions on how to hide the shell)
4. Engage in real time with Microsoft’s community network of Microsoft developers and customers in the Windows 7 Tech Forum and Windows XP Service Pack Forum.
5. Contact a Windows Embedded Partner.