Click here to learn
about this Sponsor:
Home  |  News  |  Articles  |  Polls  |  Forum  |  Directory

Keywords: Match:
Chat answers Windows Embedded Standard questions
Sep. 08, 2008

Microsoft's MSDN developer website has published an informative transcript of an Aug. 28 online chat devoted to the Windows Embedded Standard (WES) Community Technology Preview. In the chat, 15 different Microsoft engineers and program managers were available to answer questions from developers.

The chat concerned the downloadable beta version -- termed a CTP (community technology preview) by Microsoft -- of the Windows Embedded Standard (WES) operating system (OS). Offered as a fully functional DVD .ISO image, WES was first released in June and then updated in August. The OS uses a Windows XP Embedded codebase but adds Service Pack 3 (SP3) upgrades, Vista-style Network Access Protection (NAP), Silverlight, .NET Framework 3.5, Remote Desktop 6.1, and other new features. (For more details, see our earlier coverage, here and here.)

As usual, questions in the chat -- fielded by 15 of Microsoft's program managers and software developers -- included both general background information about WES and highly technical details. Examples of the former included:
  • I'm a complete beginner on XPe, and I work with safety-critical/mission-critical systems. What's your opinion on using WES in such solutions?
  • To my knowledge Windows CE is almost a realtime OS. What about realtime features in WES -- are there any?
  • What are the features, updates, and addons included in SP3?
  • I finally got WES to install and as far as the GUI goes, it looks about the same as XPe. What are the main changes from XPe to WES?
  • What do you mean by a "a new out of box experience"?
  • What is the product support story for WES?
  • What is the present release target date for WES, and how does that compare with the planned XPe SP3 release date?
  • I currently have an evaluation version of XPe. When it expires, what do I need to do to continue developing with XPe or switch to WES?
  • After WES is out, how long will XPe be supported? Do we "need" to move from XPe to WES?
  • Is the licensing policy for WES the same as for XPe?
  • Would it be correct to say that every software application developed for XP Pro will work on WES?
More technical questions in the chat included the following:
  • What is the minimal footprint for an OS config running .NET Framework 3.5?
  • In the File Based Write Filter (FBWF), when you exclude a folder, are the contents of a sub-folder also excluded?
  • Does FBWF overlay compression consume much CPU power?
  • I'm wondering about the granularity of the components in WES. For example, will I be able to pick and choose finer-grain components out of the .NET 3.5 component?
  • Our WES product will feature a removable primary drive, most likely a CompactFlash card. Any best practice suggestions for securing data in case the primary drive gets removed and mounted in another system?
  • Are there any limitations I should know about when WES is booted from a USB drive?
  • Can an image booted from a USB drive go into standby or hibernate?
  • I need better dependency tools than WES provides. Are there any future developments planned?
  • I noticed Sysprep listed as new functionality. Does that replace the use of IDIFF.exe and IDA.exe, or supplement their use?
  • Is FBA supposed to auto-run the dotnetfx35.exe installer?
  • What is better -- FBWF or the Enhanced Write Filter (EWF)? And which is better at preserving the life of flash memory?
  • Should WES be protected with antivirus software?
  • Is it possible to create a custom logon screen?
Further Information

To discover the answers to the above questions, read the transcript of the Aug. 28 WES chat by visiting MSDN, here.

The WES CTP can be downloaded from Microsoft's website, here.



Related stories:


(Click here for further information)


Windows XP for Embedded Applications
This white paper describes the benefits of using Windows XP when developing embedded applications.

A Manager's Guide to Selecting a Mobile Device Operating System
This white paper offers a comparative review of Microsoft Windows CE and Windows Mobile.

Visual Basic 6.0 to .NET Migration
This paper focuses on the methodology and techniques which Infosys (Microsoft Technology Center) has developed for migrating VB 6.0 Applications to .NET. Our approach ensures a smooth, cost effective, and efficient migration.

Mobile Device Security: Securing the Handheld, Securing the Enterprise
This whitepaper identifies security threats to corporate data on mobile devices and details how mobile devices can become a "backdoor" to the enterprise.

Mobile Device Security: The Eight Areas of Risk
It's common knowledge that adding mobile devices to your network increases security risks. There are multiple facets to mobile security, all of which should be paid close attention to. This E-Guide presents a more in depth look into the eight key areas of securing wireless devices.

Quality Assurance and .NET
This paper discusses best practices for functional, regression and load testing of .NET applications.

SCADA Security in Integrated Networks
As businesses leverage their SCADA systems by integrating them into the business networks, they must also assure the security of the SCADA system.

The Advantages of Small Form Factor HMI
HMIs have mutated and changed with new requirements, and they have become more flexible and capable. And while they've been doing that, they've become smaller and more useful.

9 Critical Requirements for Web Application Security
Learn why your Web applications expose dangerous security breaches and what’s required to effectively protect your Web applications and the sensitive information behind them.

 


Got a HOT tip?   please tell us!
Free weekly newsletter
Enter your email...
Click here for a profile of each sponsor:
PLATINUM SPONSORS
(Become a sponsor)

ADVERTISEMENT
(Advertise here)


Updated! The latest Windows-powered...

mobile phones!

other cool
gadgets

HOT TOPICS
Microsoft targets PNDs with new embedded OS
Microsoft tips .NET MF 3.0 highlights
Microsoft previews Windows Embedded Standard
Microsoft offers free Windows CE 6.0 textbook
Microsoft renames embedded operating systems
Microsoft unveils Windows Mobile 6.1
New Atom models target low-cost PCs
REFERENCE GUIDES
Windows Device Showcase
Intro to Windows Embedded
Intro to Shared Source
Real-time Windows Embedded
Windows Embedded books
Join our Windows Embedded discussion forums:
Windows XP Embedded
Windows CE
Windows Mobile


Windows Embedded developer newsgroups
Windows CE
XP Embedded
PocketPC
Smartphone

Microsoft's Windows Embedded resources
Embedded dev center
Mobile dev center
Windows CE tutorials
XP Embedded tutorials
Windows Embedded seminars
Windows Embedded application categories
3rd-party partners


BREAKING NEWS

• "Dr. Mobile" prescribes Nano for netbooks
• HTC unlocks Windows candybar phone
• Open "EDA" sports VGA display
• Mini-notebook chip headed for embedded Windows devices?
• "3G" HP netbook boasts Atom, ExpressCard expansion
• Motorola customizes Windows Mobile
• Superscalar ARM SoC runs Windows CE
• CE-based nav stack heads for CES
• Windows phone has dual displays
• Cortex-A8 SoC targets netbooks
• Palm "Nova" Linux set for CES debut?
• Editors' retrospective -- Windows-powered Devices in 2008
• Firefox mobile browser alphas released
• Box PC doubles as car computer
• Windows phone has dual active radios


MOST POPULAR (last 90 days)
• "Netbook" uses Intel's Atom N270
• Windows CE takes on Linux in low-end netbooks
• HTC ups Touch resolution
• Microsoft unleashes new embedded OS
• Windows Mobile phone gets 800 x 480 display
• HTC spins WiMAX phone?
• Smart camera sports Atom
• Dual-core AMD netbook gets rave review
• Windows Mobile 7 "delayed"
• GPS phone uses new Marvell "Tavor" chip
MOST POPULAR (Classics from the vault)
Windows XP Embedded USB boot
Troubleshooting Windows XPe's blue screen "Stop 0x0000007B" error
Asus reveals $190 mini notebook
Windows Mobile 6 SDKs available for download
Windows Mobile VPN client plays with Cisco
HTC adds GPS to Windows Mobile Touch line
Microsoft unveils Windows Mobile 6.1
Guide to HTC's Windows Mobile smartphone platforms
• HTC releases Touch Diamond ROM upgrade
Customizing Windows XP Embedded thin clients

Also visit our sister sites:


Sign up for WindowsForDevices.com's...

news feed

Home  |  News  |  Articles  |  Polls  |  Forum  |  Directory  |  About  |  Contact
 

Ziff Davis Enterprise Home | Contact Us | Advertise | Link to Us | Reprints | Magazine Subscriptions | Newsletters
Tech RSS Feeds | White Papers | ROI Calculators | Tech Podcasts | Tech Video | VARs | Channel News

Baseline | Careers | Channel Insider | CIO Insight | DesktopLinux | DeviceForge | DevSource | eSeminars |
eWEEK | Enterprise Network Security | LinuxDevices | Linux Watch | Microsoft Watch | Mid-market | Networking | PDF Zone |
Publish | Security IT Hub | Strategic Partner | Web Buyer's Guide | Windows for Devices

Developer Shed | Dev Shed | ASP Free | Dev Articles | Dev Hardware | SEO Chat | Tutorialized | Scripts |
Code Walkers | Web Hosters | Dev Mechanic | Dev Archives | igrep

Use of this site is governed by our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Except where otherwise specified, the contents of this site are copyright © 1999-2008 Ziff Davis Enterprise Holdings Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Ziff Davis Enterprise is prohibited. Windows is a trademark or registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries and is used by WindowsForDevices under license from owner. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. WindowsForDevices is an independent publication not affiliated with Microsoft Corporation.