Microsoft has launched public community technology preview for Windows Embedded Compact 7, the new Windows Embedded Compact platform for hardware manufacturers of specialised devices.
The company said the new technologies in Windows Embedded Compact 7 will provide developers and designers with tools to build devices quickly and easily. The offering gives consumers the ability to share and manage content across networked devices with Digital Living Network Alliance, such as new HDTVs, and a new media library.
Microsoft claims that Windows Embedded Compact 7 makes it easier to connect to corporate e-mail, calendar and contacts over enterprise networks through Microsoft AirSync and Microsoft Exchange, as well as to Microsoft Office and Adobe PDF viewers to access documents, and to Windows 7 Device Stage to transfer data and media between PCs and devices.
The new platform also provides resources to help bring specialty devices to market quicker with support for multicore and the new asset relationship management-based architecture and tools, including Platform Builder, Visual Studio, Expression Blend and Silverlight for Windows Embedded, the company said.
Steve Guggenheimer, corporate vice president of the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Division at Microsoft, said: “The Windows platform creates tangible opportunities for our hardware partners to diversify their product portfolios and deliver rich computing experiences across a broad range of devices. The Windows Embedded Compact 7 toolkit will allow for richer customer experiences on a variety of specialised devices.”
The Windows Embedded Compact 7 CTP is available now for developers, and is expected to be released to manufacturing in the fourth quarter of this year.
