14 DAY TRIAL // Menlo is the latest codename to be thrown in the operating system development mix reportedly being built in Redmond, adding a new twist to the cocktail already featuring labels such as Midori and Singularity. There’s little information from Microsoft on Menlo, but the moniker is mentioned on a few of the Redmond company’s websites, indicating that it is indeed real. A Microsoft Research project, Menlo is like a number of the company’s R&D efforts kept under a tight lid and away from prying eyes.
However, some details did manage to slip out, and it appears that the newly unearth Microsoft Research project is somehow connected to the evolution of Windows CE. According to Mary-Jo Foley, the software giant is exploring a possible replacing of Windows Compact Edition (CE) with Windows NT. Windows CE is a special platform from Microsoft, designed to power a range of hardware restrained mobile devices.
There are a number of researchers that are participating in the Menlo project, and making no secret of their work. Galen Hunt, for example, Microsoft principal researcher, notes in his bio: “I manage the Microsoft Research Operating Systems Group as Principal Researcher. I also lead the Menlo project and the Singularity project.” Similarly, Reuben Olinsky, senior RSDE, states: “I work in Microsoft Research's Operating Systems Group as a research developer. I'm currently working on the Menlo project and spending quite a bit of time tinkering in the mobile computing space.”
One aspect that needs to be clarified is that just because Microsoft Research is exploring a certain technology, there’s no guarantee that a commercial product will ever make it on store shelves. In a worst case scenario, the project itself could be shelved, or the technology could make its way into other Microsoft products and nothing more.
Whether Menlo will ever have an impact on Microsoft’s mobile business it remains to be seen. Fact is that Olivier Bloch, Microsoft Embedded technical evangelist, has just underlined that Windows CE is by no means dead. Additionally, Bloch noted that Windows Embedded Compact 7, the successor of Windows CE 6.0, would ship soon and would come with support for at least 10 years, namely 5 years of Mainstream support, and another 5 of Extended support. At the same time, operating systems such as Windows Phone 7 and Windows Embedded Automotive 7 are built from Windows Embedded Compact 7.
Fact is that even if Menlo is a replacement for Windows CE, it looks like Windows Embedded Compact 7 has a long life ahead.
Singularity Research Development Kit (RDK) 2.0 Initial Release (17067) is available for download here.