Windows Embedded
Encyclopedia
Windows Embedded is a family of operating system
s from Microsoft
designed for use in embedded system
s. Microsoft makes available four different categories of operating systems for embedded devices targeting a wide market, ranging from small-footprint, real-time
devices to Point of Sale
devices like kiosk
s. Windows Embedded operating systems are available to OEM system builders only, who make it available to end users preloaded with the hardware.
series includes Phone Edition and Mobile Edition. Current Windows CE base is version 6.0 R3 which runs on ARM, X86, SH, and derivatives of those architectures. It is a real-time operating system
. A .NET Framework
, UI framework, and various open source drivers and services are also included.
s, including consumer electronics
devices like Set-top box
es and gaming consoles. Windows Embedded Compact is a modular real-time operating system with a specialized kernel that can run in under 1 MB of memory. It comes with the Platform Builder tool that can be used to add modules to the installation image to create a custom installation, depending on the device used. Windows Embedded Compact is available for ARM
, MIPS
, SuperH
and x86 processor architectures.
Microsoft also made available a specialized version of Windows Embedded Compact, known as Windows Mobile
, for use in mobile phones. It is a customized image of Windows Embedded Compact along with specialized modules for use in Mobile phones. Windows Mobile
is available in four variants: Windows Mobile Classic (for Pocket PC
), Windows Mobile Standard (for Smartphone
s) and Windows Mobile Professional (for PDA
/Pocket PC Phone Edition) and Windows Mobile for Automotive (for communication/entertainment/information systems used in automobiles). Modified versions of Windows Mobile were also used for Portable Media Center
s. Windows Mobile has now been replaced by Windows Phone 7
, which is also based on Windows Embedded Compact, but is not compatible with any previous products.
Professional and the successor to Windows 2000 Powered and Windows NT 4.0 Embedded. It provides the full Win32 API and is available for x86 processors. Windows Embedded Standard 2009 is derived from Windows XP Embedded since Microsoft at the time of its development did not have a componentized version of Windows Vista. Windows Embedded Standard 2009 includes Silverlight, .NET Framework 3.5, Internet Explorer 7
, Windows Media Player 11, RDP 6.1
, Network Access Protection
, Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer
and support for being managed by Windows Server Update Services
and System Center Configuration Manager.
Microsoft has announced that the current version, Windows Embedded Standard 7, is based on Windows 7 which was previously codenamed Windows Embedded ‘Quebec’. Windows Embedded Standard 7 includes Windows Vista and Windows 7 features such as Aero
, SuperFetch, ReadyBoost
, BitLocker Drive Encryption
, Windows Firewall
, Windows Defender
, Address space layout randomization
, Windows Presentation Foundation
, Silverlight 2, Windows Media Center
among several other packages. It is available in x86 and x64 versions and was released in 2010. It has a larger minimum footprint (~300 MB) compared to 40 MB of XPe and also requires product activation
.
Two Community Technology Preview (CTP) releases of Windows Embedded Standard 2011 have been released. Windows Embedded Standard 7 was released on April 27, 2010.
for Embedded Systems and Windows Vista
for Embedded Systems, which are the same versions of the OSes as are available in retail but are licensed exclusively for use in embedded devices. They are available for both x86 as well as x86-64
(x64) processors.
systems, including sales kiosk
s and automatic vending machines. Currently, this brand is limited to the Windows Embedded for Point of Service Operating System, which is based on Windows XP Embedded.
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
s from Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
designed for use in embedded system
Embedded system
An embedded system is a computer system designed for specific control functions within a larger system. often with real-time computing constraints. It is embedded as part of a complete device often including hardware and mechanical parts. By contrast, a general-purpose computer, such as a personal...
s. Microsoft makes available four different categories of operating systems for embedded devices targeting a wide market, ranging from small-footprint, real-time
Real-time operating system
A real-time operating system is an operating system intended to serve real-time application requests.A key characteristic of a RTOS is the level of its consistency concerning the amount of time it takes to accept and complete an application's task; the variability is jitter...
devices to Point of Sale
Point of sale
Point of sale or checkout is the location where a transaction occurs...
devices like kiosk
Kiosk
Kiosk is a small, separated garden pavilion open on some or all sides. Kiosks were common in Persia, India, Pakistan, and in the Ottoman Empire from the 13th century onward...
s. Windows Embedded operating systems are available to OEM system builders only, who make it available to end users preloaded with the hardware.
History
Win3.x had an embedded version found typically on POS terminals. The NT series developed an embedded product called "XPembedded". The Windows CEWindows CE
Microsoft Windows CE is an operating system developed by Microsoft for embedded systems. Windows CE is a distinct operating system and kernel, rather than a trimmed-down version of desktop Windows...
series includes Phone Edition and Mobile Edition. Current Windows CE base is version 6.0 R3 which runs on ARM, X86, SH, and derivatives of those architectures. It is a real-time operating system
Real-time operating system
A real-time operating system is an operating system intended to serve real-time application requests.A key characteristic of a RTOS is the level of its consistency concerning the amount of time it takes to accept and complete an application's task; the variability is jitter...
. A .NET Framework
.NET Framework
The .NET Framework is a software framework that runs primarily on Microsoft Windows. It includes a large library and supports several programming languages which allows language interoperability...
, UI framework, and various open source drivers and services are also included.
Windows Embedded Compact
Windows Embedded Compact (previously known as Windows Embedded CE or Windows CE) is the version of Windows Embedded for very small computers and embedded systemEmbedded system
An embedded system is a computer system designed for specific control functions within a larger system. often with real-time computing constraints. It is embedded as part of a complete device often including hardware and mechanical parts. By contrast, a general-purpose computer, such as a personal...
s, including consumer electronics
Consumer electronics
Consumer electronics are electronic equipment intended for everyday use, most often in entertainment, communications and office productivity. Radio broadcasting in the early 20th century brought the first major consumer product, the broadcast receiver...
devices like Set-top box
Set-top box
A set-top box or set-top unit is an information appliance device that generally contains a tuner and connects to a television set and an external source of signal, turning the signal into content which is then displayed on the television screen or other display device.-History:Before the...
es and gaming consoles. Windows Embedded Compact is a modular real-time operating system with a specialized kernel that can run in under 1 MB of memory. It comes with the Platform Builder tool that can be used to add modules to the installation image to create a custom installation, depending on the device used. Windows Embedded Compact is available for ARM
ARM architecture
ARM is a 32-bit reduced instruction set computer instruction set architecture developed by ARM Holdings. It was named the Advanced RISC Machine, and before that, the Acorn RISC Machine. The ARM architecture is the most widely used 32-bit ISA in numbers produced...
, MIPS
MIPS architecture
MIPS is a reduced instruction set computer instruction set architecture developed by MIPS Technologies . The early MIPS architectures were 32-bit, and later versions were 64-bit...
, SuperH
SuperH
SuperH is a 32-bit reduced instruction set computer instruction set architecture developed by Hitachi. It is implemented by microcontrollers and microprocessors for embedded systems....
and x86 processor architectures.
Microsoft also made available a specialized version of Windows Embedded Compact, known as Windows Mobile
Windows Mobile
Windows Mobile is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft that was used in smartphones and Pocket PCs, but by 2011 was rarely supplied on new phones. The last version is "Windows Mobile 6.5.5"; it is superseded by Windows Phone, which does not run Windows Mobile software.Windows Mobile is...
, for use in mobile phones. It is a customized image of Windows Embedded Compact along with specialized modules for use in Mobile phones. Windows Mobile
Windows Mobile
Windows Mobile is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft that was used in smartphones and Pocket PCs, but by 2011 was rarely supplied on new phones. The last version is "Windows Mobile 6.5.5"; it is superseded by Windows Phone, which does not run Windows Mobile software.Windows Mobile is...
is available in four variants: Windows Mobile Classic (for Pocket PC
Pocket PC
A Pocket PC is also known by Microsoft as a 'Windows Mobile Classic device'. It is a hardware specification for a handheld-sized computer, personal digital assistant , that runs the Microsoft 'Windows Mobile Classic' operating system...
), Windows Mobile Standard (for Smartphone
Smartphone
A smartphone is a high-end mobile phone built on a mobile computing platform, with more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a contemporary feature phone. The first smartphones were devices that mainly combined the functions of a personal digital assistant and a mobile phone or camera...
s) and Windows Mobile Professional (for PDA
PDA
A PDA is most commonly a Personal digital assistant, also known as a Personal data assistant, a mobile electronic device.PDA may also refer to:In science, medicine and technology:...
/Pocket PC Phone Edition) and Windows Mobile for Automotive (for communication/entertainment/information systems used in automobiles). Modified versions of Windows Mobile were also used for Portable Media Center
Portable Media Center
Portable Media Center is a defunct hard drive-based portable media player platform developed by Microsoft. Announced at the 2003 Consumer Electronics Show , and released in early 2004, it was originally positioned as a competitor to Apple's iPod.The platform was conceived in line with Microsoft's...
s. Windows Mobile has now been replaced by Windows Phone 7
Windows Phone 7
Windows Phone is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft, and is the successor to its Windows Mobile platform, although incompatible with it. Unlike its predecessor, it is primarily aimed at the consumer market rather than the enterprise market...
, which is also based on Windows Embedded Compact, but is not compatible with any previous products.
Windows Embedded Standard
Windows Embedded Standard (2009) is the updated version of Windows XP Embedded, the fully componentized version of Windows XPWindows XP
Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
Professional and the successor to Windows 2000 Powered and Windows NT 4.0 Embedded. It provides the full Win32 API and is available for x86 processors. Windows Embedded Standard 2009 is derived from Windows XP Embedded since Microsoft at the time of its development did not have a componentized version of Windows Vista. Windows Embedded Standard 2009 includes Silverlight, .NET Framework 3.5, Internet Explorer 7
Internet Explorer 7
Windows Internet Explorer 7 is a web browser released by Microsoft in October 2006. Internet Explorer 7 is part of a long line of versions of Internet Explorer and was the first major update to the browser in more than 5 years...
, Windows Media Player 11, RDP 6.1
Remote Desktop Protocol
Remote Desktop Protocol is a proprietary protocol developed by Microsoft, which provides a user with a graphical interface to another computer. The protocol is an extension of the ITU-T T.128 application sharing protocol. Clients exist for most versions of Microsoft Windows , Linux, Unix, Mac OS...
, Network Access Protection
Network Access Protection
Network Access Protection is a Microsoft technology for controlling network access of a computer host based on the system health of the host, first introduced in Windows Server 2008....
, Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer is a software tool released by Microsoft to determine security state by assessing missing security updates and less-secure security settings within Microsoft Windows, Windows components such as Internet Explorer, IIS web server, and products Microsoft SQL...
and support for being managed by Windows Server Update Services
Windows Server Update Services
- External links :* * * – contains many detailed documents on WSUS operation, known issues, and troubleshooting* - German WSUS-Community * - Control installation of WSUS updates from command line...
and System Center Configuration Manager.
Microsoft has announced that the current version, Windows Embedded Standard 7, is based on Windows 7 which was previously codenamed Windows Embedded ‘Quebec’. Windows Embedded Standard 7 includes Windows Vista and Windows 7 features such as Aero
Windows Aero
Windows Aero is the graphical user interface and the default theme in most editions of Windows Vista and Windows 7, operating systems released by Microsoft. It is also available in Windows Server 2008, but is not enabled by default. Its name is a backronym for Authentic, Energetic, Reflective and...
, SuperFetch, ReadyBoost
ReadyBoost
ReadyBoost is a disk cache component of Microsoft Windows, first introduced with Microsoft's Windows Vista in 2006 and bundled with Windows 7 in 2009...
, BitLocker Drive Encryption
BitLocker Drive Encryption
BitLocker Drive Encryption is a full disk encryption feature included with the Ultimate and Enterprise editions of Microsoft's Windows Vista and Windows 7 desktop operating systems, as well as the Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 server platforms. It is designed to protect data by...
, Windows Firewall
Windows Firewall
Windows Firewall is a software component of Microsoft Windows that provides firewalling and packet filtering functions. It was first included in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003...
, Windows Defender
Windows Defender
Windows Defender, formerly known as Microsoft AntiSpyware, is a software product from Microsoft to prevent, remove, and quarantine spyware in Microsoft Windows...
, Address space layout randomization
Address space layout randomization
Address space layout randomization is a computer security method which involves randomly arranging the positions of key data areas, usually including the base of the executable and position of libraries, heap, and stack, in a process's address space.- Benefits :Address space randomization hinders...
, Windows Presentation Foundation
Windows Presentation Foundation
Developed by Microsoft, the Windows Presentation Foundation is a computer-software graphical subsystem for rendering user interfaces in Windows-based applications. WPF, previously known as "Avalon", was initially released as part of .NET Framework 3.0. Rather than relying on the older GDI...
, Silverlight 2, Windows Media Center
Windows Media Center
Windows Media Center is a digital video recorder and media player developed by Microsoft. It is an application that allows users to view and record live television, as well as organize and play music and videos...
among several other packages. It is available in x86 and x64 versions and was released in 2010. It has a larger minimum footprint (~300 MB) compared to 40 MB of XPe and also requires product activation
Product activation
Product activation is a license validation procedure required by some proprietary computer software programs. In one form, product activation refers to a method invented by Ric Richardson and patented by Uniloc where a software application hashes hardware serial numbers and an ID number specific...
.
Two Community Technology Preview (CTP) releases of Windows Embedded Standard 2011 have been released. Windows Embedded Standard 7 was released on April 27, 2010.
Windows Embedded Enterprise
Windows Embedded Enterprise brand of Windows Embedded Operating Systems consist of Windows XPWindows XP
Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
for Embedded Systems and Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
for Embedded Systems, which are the same versions of the OSes as are available in retail but are licensed exclusively for use in embedded devices. They are available for both x86 as well as x86-64
X86-64
x86-64 is an extension of the x86 instruction set. It supports vastly larger virtual and physical address spaces than are possible on x86, thereby allowing programmers to conveniently work with much larger data sets. x86-64 also provides 64-bit general purpose registers and numerous other...
(x64) processors.
Windows Embedded POSReady
Windows Embedded POSReady is the brand of Windows Embedded Operating Systems for Point of salePoint of sale
Point of sale or checkout is the location where a transaction occurs...
systems, including sales kiosk
Kiosk
Kiosk is a small, separated garden pavilion open on some or all sides. Kiosks were common in Persia, India, Pakistan, and in the Ottoman Empire from the 13th century onward...
s and automatic vending machines. Currently, this brand is limited to the Windows Embedded for Point of Service Operating System, which is based on Windows XP Embedded.