14 DAY TRIAL // Windows 8 will by no means be limited to just client and server flavors. At least not according to recent information offered by Microsoft. In fact, the Redmond company indicates that there will be at least one Windows 8 release to go along with Windows 8 Client and Windows 8 Server, which are currently being developed in parallel.
In a job listing for Software Development Engineer in Test-Windows Embedded, the software giant notes that Windows 8 Embedded is cooking as the next version of Windows Embedded.
Obviously, with Microsoft keeping mum on Windows 8 and Windows 8 Server, the company is also saying nothing about the next major iteration of Windows Embedded.
Beyond confirming that the successor of Windows Embedded Standard 7 will be based on the Windows 8 client, the software giant offers no information on the evolution of Windows Embedded.
The Windows Embedded team “offers an opportunity to development significant knowledge about many features in Windows, gain significant customer exposure through a combination of blogs, DLs, and customer events, develop an early view on future expansion to other areas including thin clients, POS, multi-function printers, and Win 8 Embedded and last but not the least, an opportunity to work with a product and organization that is very successful in the financial and business sense,” reads an excerpt from the job listing. (via ActiveWin)
After it skipped Windows Vista altogether, Microsoft used Windows 7 as the core for the latest iteration of Windows Embedded.
At one point labeled Windows Embedded Standard 2011, the operating system previously codenamed Quebec, was released as Windows Embedded Standard 7 in the first half of 2010.
As the brand implies, Windows Embedded Standard 7 is a spin-off of Windows 7, and it’s expected of Microsoft to deliver Windows 8 Embedded as a spin-off of Windows 8.
“Our current product, Windows Embedded 7, is the next version of the Windows Embedded tool kit that uses the same binaries and technology as the regular Windows 7 product, but with the potential for much smaller footprint and more robust OS,” it is added in the job listing.
“The idea is to remove any and all unnecessary features so that the device works in custom and usually down sized environments. Our customers deliver a wide variety of solutions from Multifunction print devices to Kiosks and ATM machines, thin client machines to industrial automation."
“Think of Windows Embedded 7 as a Windows 7 solution which can be tailored directly to the customers' needs. We interact with both MSR as well as the core Windows groups as well as other teams throughout the company to provide the customers with the rich Windows Experience.”
32-bit (x86) Windows Embedded Standard 7 RTM, 64-bit (x64) Windows Embedded Standard 7 RTM and the Windows Embedded Standard 7 Evaluation toolkit are available for download here.
Windows 7 RTM Enterprise 90-Day Evaluation is available for download here.