OPERATING SYSTEM SOLUTIONS

Windows® Operating System Update Delivers New Features

The latest update to Windows® Embedded CE 6.0 offers new features and services that will be of benefit to all OEMs, regardless of the target focus of their devices.



Windows® Embedded CE 6.0 R2 delivers new operating system components that help device makers get to market faster with devices that can more easily connect to Windows® Vista and Windows® Server 2008. The update incorporates operating system, driver and Board Support Package (BSP) enhancements, including upgraded terminal server client software, improvements to Internet Explorer® 6.0, VoIP upgrades and support for ‘Web Services on Devices’.

The operating system features an updated ATAPI hard disk driver that now supports Serial ATA (SATA) controllers – ideal for OEMs using newer x86 motherboards. For portable systems, Flash driver improvements include multi-layer cell support, while the Secure Digital (SD) controller driver has been updated to support hardware that implements the SD 2.0 specification. A new USB smartcard reader driver with support for the USB Chip/Smart Card Interface Devices Specification expands the range of card readers that developers can choose from.

Another improvement in the new operating system is a redesigned graphic front end supporting third party font engines. Specifically, ‘pluggable font’ technology frees OEMs to license third party font files in any format as long as they can provide the engine for font interpretation.

Both Internet Explorer 6.0 and the Terminal Server (TS) client software have been upgraded and improved in Windows® Embedded CE R2, with the former providing better security, better performance and improvements to better manage kiosk environments.

The Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) used by the TS client has been upgraded to RDP 6.0, bringing the Windows® Embedded CE RDP stack in line with the Windows® Vista stack. RDP 6.0 facilitates 32 bits per pixel displays and allows remote desktop sessions to be spanned across multiple local displays. In addition, support for SSL and TLS protocols improves security for the client server link.

For VoIP, Microsoft has made improvements to both the basic VoIP stack and the suite of applications that provide a complete solution for OEMs building VoIP products. For example, the new release provides support for video calls, multiparty conferencing and back-end server compatibility.

Windows® Embedded CE 6.0 R2 also now supports Web Services on Devices (WSD), a Microsoft implementation of the ‘Devices Profile for Web Services’ standard. This simplifies the provision of web services as well as the detection and use of external web services.

Finally, three new Board Support Packages (BSPs) have been added. The x86-based HP/Compaq t5530 thin provides a complete set of drivers for it’s VIA chipset, while the ST7109 BSP is an SH4-based BSP with some interesting drivers including a custom serial ATA disk driver. The Marvell PXA270 BSP is a Marvell board support package supporting their newly acquired ARM XScale line. This BSP also includes a driver for the Philips PCF50606 power management chip which is specifically designed for power management duties for the XScale PXA270 CPU.

Windows® Embedded CE 6.0 R2 – New Features

• Device drivers for SATA, SD 2.0 and improved Flash support
• USB smartcard reader driver
• Pluggable font technology
• Enhanced Internet Explorer 6.0
• TS client improvements
• VoIP upgrades
• WSD support
• New BSPs

For further information, including White Papers on the Windows® Embedded CE 6.0 R2 improvements, please click here