Windows 7 Embedded Announced – With Media Center Integration
We don’t normally post press releases, but this one I felt was important to everyone given the market of Media Center in the home theater crowd. It’s going to be interesting to see how this maps out, both from an enthusiast and OEM side. What say you, are you interested in building a Windows 7 Embedded HTPC? There are some benefits to doing so (think of the stability), but will you miss the extras you’ve grown accustomed to?
Microsoft
Delivers Windows 7 Technologies to Device Manufacturers
With Release of Windows Embedded Standard 7
Newly
unveiled Windows Media Center feature helps OEMs deliver differentiated
connected media, TV and set-top box device experiences
with rich user interface capabilities and
integrated multimedia.
SAN
JOSE, Calif. — April 27, 2010 — Today during an industry address
at the Embedded Systems Conference (ESC) Silicon Valley, Microsoft Corp.
announced the release to manufacturing of Windows Embedded Standard
7, delivering the power, familiarity and reliability of the Windows
7 operating system in a highly customizable and componentized form.
OEMs can leverage Windows Embedded Standard 7 to create differentiated
experiences and enhanced connectivity with Windows-based PCs, servers
and online services on specialized devices, such as thin clients,
digital
signage and industrial controls for the enterprise, as well as set-top
boxes (STBs), connected media devices (CMDs), and TVs for consumers.
“With
the release of Windows Embedded Standard 7, Microsoft has furthered
its commitment to the integration of Windows 7 technologies in the
specialized
consumer and enterprise device markets by providing OEMs with the latest
innovative technologies to differentiate through rich, immersive user
experiences and streamlined connectivity,” said Kevin Dallas, general
manager of the Windows Embedded Business Unit at Microsoft. “The
addition
of the Windows Media Center feature in Windows Embedded Standard 7 is
driving the set-top box, connected media device and TV markets by
providing
OEMs with opportunities to develop uniquely branded experiences and
service providers with capabilities to explore additional revenue
streams
with unique content through a centralized media hub in the home.”
Full press release click Read More……
Announced
in September 2009 during the community technology preview, Windows
Embedded
Standard 7 helps OEMs build enterprise devices with seamless
connectivity,
allowing companies to extend their existing investments in management
and network infrastructure. The platform also features the latest
Windows
technology innovations to drive rich, immersive user experiences,
including
multigesture touch interfaces and context-aware applications with
Windows
Touch, and the ability to develop “green” solutions with smart power
management APIs.
In
addition to support for enterprise devices, STBs, CMDs and TVs built
on Windows Embedded Standard 7 and leveraging the Windows Media Center
feature will enable consumers to merge multimedia content from disparate
sources, including Internet and broadcast TV, social media portals,
and personal libraries of photos, music and videos, into a centralized
home entertainment hub. Information can easily be shared across
Windows-based
PCs and individual devices.
Industry
analyst firm Strategy Analytics estimates the potential market
opportunity
for connected STBs, digital video recorders, digital media adapters
and flat-panel TVs to experience annual growth of more than 50 percent
through 2014, expanding from 40 million units to more than 360 million.
OEMs can take advantage of this opportunity by coupling Windows Media
Center and additional features within Windows Embedded Standard 7, such
as Windows Defender and Parental Controls for heightened security, to
create differentiated consumer entertainment devices with integrated
user experiences. This includes leveraging the customizable, extensible
platform in Windows Media Center for content, services and applications,
as well as powerful backend support for metadata, TV listings and
content
providers.
For
service providers, including cable, telecommunications and satellite
operators, STBs and other consumer entertainment devices with Windows
Media Center provide opportunities for over-the-top content, incremental
services and applications to be delivered directly to consumers,
offering
opportunities to build new revenue streams. Service providers also can
leverage the flexible x86 architecture of Windows Embedded Standard
7, Windows Presentation Foundation, Internet Explorer 8, Windows Media
Player 12 and the latest desktop innovations from Microsoft to develop
customized user experiences, while ensuring integrated content from
the Internet, broadcast TV and personal media through HomeGroup.
Windows
Embedded partners and customers already have plans to begin shipping
products and solutions for a variety of specialized devices built on
the Windows Embedded Standard 7 platform. Examples include AOpen Inc.,
C-nario, DT Research Inc., Micro Industries Inc. and YCD Multimedia
for digital signage; HP and Wyse Technology for thin clients; and Heber
Ltd. for industrial control systems.
Steve
Guggenheimer, corporate vice president of the Original Equipment
Manufacturer
Division at Microsoft, shared more insight around recent OEM and partner
activities with Windows Embedded Standard 7, the upcoming availability
of Microsoft and Intel Corporation’s digital signage platform during
Screen Media Expo Europe 2010 in London, and Microsoft’s commitment
to Windows 7-based technologies for specialized devices, in his blog
at
http://blogs.technet.com/
More
information is available from the Windows Embedded Newsroom at http://www.microsoft.com/
for updates.
More
information on the capabilities and features of Windows Embedded
Standard
7 as well as the entire Windows Embedded portfolio of platforms and
technologies is available at http://www.microsoft.com/
Founded
in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software,
services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their
full potential.
For more information, press
only:
Jacob
Grimm, Weber Shandwick, (212) 445-8030, jgrimm@webershandwick.com
Note to editors: For
more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit
the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and
titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For
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Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/