Back in October 2008, Microsoft made available Windows Embedded Standard 2009, the next iteration of Windows XP Embedded. Essentially a componentized form of the Windows operating system, Windows Embedded Standard 2009 is designed to breath life into smart connected devices, by delivering Internet Explorer 7, Windows Media Player 11, Silverlight, DirectX 9, etc. However, with componentization being a key aspect of the operating system, Microsoft is also providing Target Designer, a tool that will help customers configure Windows Embedded Standard 2009.

At the bottom of this article you will find an embedded screencast featuring a demonstration of Windows Embedded Standard 2009's Target Designer. As you will see from the video, the Target Designer enables users to navigate and manage no less than 12,000 individual components of the operating system.

Via the tool, Windows Embedded Standard 2009 configurations can be built and subsequently transformed into run-time images. “For all those just starting out with the Windows Embedded Standard product, there is a new screen cast available that walks through all the options available in Target Designer, the main tool used to create and configure customized Windows operating system images. This video reviews the menu options, the display panes, and the settings that can be configured in the tool,” Lynda Allen, Microsoft Embedded program manager, stated.

Windows Embedded Standard 2009 Target Designer enables the addition of various components and resources to a certain configuration. At the same time, the added items can be tweaked and optimized, since the tool allows users to modify the properties of the components and resources in accordance with their needs. On top of this, the properties for the entire configuration can also be changed. Target Designer will also permit individuals to assess the final footprint of a Windows Embedded Standard 2009 run-time image, before actually putting it together.

The Evaluation Edition of Windows Embedded Standard 2009 is available for download here.