Key Features (Windows Embedded Standard 2009)

4/23/2012

Windows Embedded Standard is the next generation of Windows XP Embedded. Windows Embedded Standard delivers the latest key technologies to enable enterprise connectivity and device management. Windows Embedded Standard also offers an improved developer experience with an enhanced out-of-box experience.

The following list highlights key features in Windows Embedded Standard:

Silverlight 1.0

Microsoft Silverlight plug-in component is a web presentation technology that enables the next generation of media experiences and rich interactive applications for the Web on devices that run Windows Embedded Standard.

Internet Explorer 7

Internet Explorer 7 includes the following new features and improvements over Internet Explorer 6:

• Streamlined Interface—Maximizes web page screen area
• Tabbed Browsing—Supports multiple Web sites, thumbnail images, and tab group
• Improved Printing—Fits Web page content on printed page
• RSS Feeds—Delivers the latest updates from favorite sites
• Improved security—Protects against malicious software and protects personal data from fraudulent Web site and online phishing scams

Windows Media Player 11

Windows Media Player 11 (WMP) includes the following new features and improvements over the previous versions of Windows Media Player:

• New visually driven experience using thumbnail and album art, an elegant and simple design, and customization capabilities for more personalized interaction.
• Improved device experience with new shuffle sync and reverse sync options, device exploration using the library view, and intuitive Help icons that ensure seamless and intuitive syncing and burning of rights-managed content
• Highly simplified navigation capabilities using new Instant Search, enhanced shortcut options, and dedicated category views for all media types, including music, photos and video
• Better access to content with deep integration of services that blurs the line between online service and media player experiences
• Industry-first audio fingerprinting capabilities that recognize and import track information for unidentified or misnamed audio files.

Remote Desktop Protocol 6.1

Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) 6.1 enhances the Terminal Services experience by adding the following new features:

• Monitor spanning – support for high-resolution displays that span multiple monitors.
• Resource redirection - helps users redirect Plug and Play devices that support redirection.
• Terminal Services EasyPrint - the new printer redirection solution introduced in Windows Server 2008.
• Terminal Services RemoteApp - lets users on client computers connect to a remote computer and run programs that are installed on the remote computer.
• Terminal Services Web Access - makes Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services RemoteApp programs available to users from a Web browser.
• Network Level Authentication (NLA) - a new authentication method that finishes user authentication before you establish a full Remote Desktop connection and before the logon screen appears.
• Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) Signing - lets users sign RDP files and connections that are opened from TS Web Access.
• Server authentication - verifies that users are connecting to the correct remote computer or remote server.
• Terminal Server Gateway - enables authorized users to connect to remote computers on a corporate network.
• Visual improvements - support for 32-bit color and font smoothing.

.NET Framework 3.5

.NET Framework 3.5 builds incrementally on the new features added in .NET Framework 3.0. For example, feature sets in Windows Workflow Foundation (WF), Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) and Windows CardSpace. In addition, .NET Framework 3.5 contains a number of new features in several technology areas which have been added as new assemblies to avoid breaking changes. They include the following:

• Deep integration of Language Integrated Query (LINQ) and data awareness. This new feature will let you write code written in LINQ-enabled languages to filter, enumerate, and create projections of several types of SQL data, collections, XML, and DataSets by using the same syntax.
• ASP.NET AJAX lets you create more efficient, more interactive and highly-personalized Web experiences that work across all the most popular browsers.
• New Web protocol support for building WCF services including AJAX, JSON, REST, POX, RSS, ATOM, and several new WS-* standards.
• Full tooling support in Visual Studio 2008 for WF, WCF, and WPF, including the new workflow-enabled services technology.
• New classes in .NET Framework 3.5 base class library (BCL) that address many common customer requests.

XML Paper Specification (XPS)

XPS is a presentation technology that runs on a variety of platforms. It enables rich interactive applications (RIA) within browsers and devices that run on Windows Embedded Standard image. It also includes a browser enhancement module that renders Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML) and draws the output on an Internet Explorer browser page. Features include:

• Microsoft XPS Document Writer
• XPS Drv print driver components
• The ability to generate and view XPS documents.
• MSXML 6.0

XPS is not an add-on component; it is included in .NET 3.0 Framework.

Wi-Fi Protection Access 2 (WPA2)

The Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) enhances the wireless client software with support for the new Wi-Fi Alliance certification for wireless security. It also makes it easier to connect to secure public spaces that are equipped with wireless Internet access.

Kernel Mode Driver Framework (KMDF)

Windows Embedded Standard includes a componentized version of the Kernel Mode Driver Framework (KMDF) feature. KMDF enables developers to install and execute a device driver within the kernel mode level. Kernel-mode drivers execute in kernel mode as part of the executive, which consists of kernel mode operating system components that manage I/O, Plug and Play memory, processes and threads, security and so on. Kernel Mode drivers and User Mode Drivers are independent of each other and can co-exist on the same run-time image.

Sysprep (Windows System Preparation)

Sysprep is a utility that prepares a system on a hard disk for duplication and customization. You use Sysprep when you deploy operating system images on multiple machines by using the System Center Configuration Manager's (ConfigMgr) Operating System Deployment (OSD) feature.

Enhanced Write Filter and File-Based Write Filter enhancements

Windows Embedded Standard contains enhancements for Enhanced Write Filter (EWF) and File-Based Write Filter (FBWF).

Windows XP Service Pack 3

Windows Embedded Standard includes Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3). SP3 includes all previously released of Hotfixes and Security Updates and new features.

The key features included in SP3 are:

• Network Access Protection (NAP) - a policy enforcement platform with which you can better protect network assets by enforcing compliance with system health requirements. Using NAP, you can create customized health policies to validate computer health before allowing access or communication; automatically update compliant computers to ensure ongoing compliance; and optionally confine noncompliant computers to a restricted network until they become compliant.
• Microsoft Core XML Services (MSXML) 6.0 - better reliability, security, and conformance with the XML 1.0 and XML Schema 1.0 W3C Recommendations. It also provides compatibility with System.XML 2.0.
• Background Intelligent Transfer Server (BITS) 2.5 - helps improve security by providing the following features in addition to the BITS 2.0 feature set:
  • Support for custom HTTP headers.
  • Support for certificate-based client authentication to help secure HTTP transports.
  • Support for Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6).
  • Improved upload performance.

Credential Roaming Service - makes it possible for users who log on to any domain-joined computer to silently access all of their certificates and private keys for applications and services

3rd Party Drivers

Windows Embedded Standard adds inbox support for the latest chipsets from Intel, AMD and VIA.

Community Resources

You provide access to community resources by using Target Designer and Component Designer, tools that are part of Windows Embedded Studio. You can access these resources by using menus and icons in the Target and Components Designer. Community resources include:

• Ask a Question
• Check Question Status
• Send Feedback
• Team Blog
• Developer Center
• Partner Directory