application, with Bill Gates unveiling early SPOT watch prototypes during his
keynote address at the January, 2003 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
Then, in 2007, SPOT evolved into
.NET Micro Framework. Updated in Feb., 2008 with the release of
.NET MF 2.5, and with
.NET MF 3.0 due soon, the technology continues to offer a Microsoft option for deeply embedded, resource-constrained devices based on processors that lack hardware memory management units (MMUs).
MSNDirect service componentAt a
sneak preview of SPOT watches given by Microsoft at COMDEX 2003, Microsoft began referring to the SPOT watches as "Smart Watches with MSN Direct." The event foreshadowed the launch of a service that, for a monthly or annual subscription, would deliver weather, traffic, and other information to mobile devices over FM radio subcarrier bands.
Bill Gates subsequently
showed off the first consumer SPOT watches to achieve retail availability -- made by watchmakers Fossil and Suunto -- at the January, 2004 CES in Las Vegas. At the same time, Gates announced the launch of Microsoft's
MSN Direct broadcasting service to transmit content to the watches. Today, while SPOT watches are "sold out and no longer available," the MSNDirect service continues to support select .NET MF-based devices,
Windows Mobile phones, and
navigation devices, including those based on Microsoft's relatively new
NavReady stack.
For more background and history on SPOT and SPOT watches, visit our
Spotlight on SPOT reference guide. To learn more about available devices based on the .NET Micro Framework, read on!
.NET MF and MSN Direct Showcase
Vizia RF Foyer Ethernet to Z-Wave gateway --
Jun. 01, 2007 -- A wireless home automation gateway based on the Z-Wave protocol, the Vizia RF Foyer os claimed to be the industry's first Ethernet to Z-Wave gateway. It aims to allow any Ethernet-connected computer to control a Z-Wave network.
Garmin Nuvi 680 --
Jan. 09, 2007 -- Garmin's nuvi 680 was the first GPS device to offer location-based services (LBS) based on the MSNDirect transmission network.
Melitta Smart Mill & Brew --
Nov. 16, 2006 -- The first coffeemaker to incorporate Microsoft's SPOT (Smart Personal Objects Technology) and the .Net Micro Framework, the Smart Mill & Brew, from Salton subsidiary Melitta, gets weather information broadcast over the air from MSN Direct.
Oregon Scientific Regional Weather Station --
Jan. 05, 2006 -- A personal weather station offering complete weather details and a three-day forecast and National Weather Service warnings, the Regional Weather Station can display current indoor and outdoor temperatures, humidity levels, sunrise and sunset times, wind direction and speed, heat index, barometric pressure, and UV levels.
News and Articles about .NET MF 
