14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is gearing up to enable early adopters to start testing the next major iteration of Windows Embedded Standard in early 2012.
According to the Redmond company, a Community Technology Preview of Windows Embedded Standard v.Next will launch in the first quarter of 2012.
However, at this point in time, a specific release date for the first CTP of Windows Embedded Standard 7’s successor was not provided.
What’s important to note is the fact that the first testing milestone of Windows Embedded Standard v.Next will be offered to developers, much in the same manner as Windows 8 Developer Preview.
The software giant reveals that it is packing all the power, familiarity and reliability of the Windows operating system into Windows Embedded Standard v.Next.
Of course, as is the case with older versions of Windows Embedded Standard, Windows OS components will be highly customizable and in componentized form.
It’s very interesting to see the relationship between Windows 8 and Windows Embedded Standard v.Next.
Here’s what the company confirmed so far “Windows Embedded Standard v.Next will deliver technologies for customized, rich user interfaces, enhanced always-on connectivity, and all of the management and security functionality provided by Windows 8.”
Personally, I was expecting Microsoft to apply the same strategy for Windows Embedded Standard v.Next and Windows 8 as it did for Windows Embedded Standard 7 and Windows 7. I sent some questions over to one of my contacts with Microsoft, and I’ll provide an update to this article as soon as I get a reply.
In addition to the details mentioned above, Windows Embedded Standard v.Next will also feature ARM architecture support out of the box, according to Microsoft.
The RTM Build of Windows Embedded Standard v.Next will hit general availability three quarters after Windows 8 becomes generally available for PCs.
It doesn’t really matter when you start counting, Microsoft appears to have set the Windows Embedded Standard v.Next release date sometime in 2013. No specific deadlines were disclosed.
UPDATE: I asked whether Windows Embedded Standard v.Next will feature the Metro platform and support Windows 8 Metro apps, but Microsoft says it's not providing any specifics at this time.
Windows 8 Developer Preview Build 8102 Milestone 3 (M3) is available for download here.