14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has taken the necessary measures in order to make it easier for original equipment manufacturers and developers to build devices with its latest iteration of Windows Embedded operating system. In this regard, both OEMs and developers are free to download the Microsoft Windows Embedded Standard 2009 Resource Kit. The kit, tailored to Windows Embedded Standard 2009, is designed to bring to the table a collection of integrated documents that will streamline the development process of Windows XP Embedded devices. Yes, Windows XP Embedded devices, because Windows Embedded Standards 2009 is essentially the componentized version of Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3.
“The purpose of this document set is to help guide the developer through the complete process of evaluating, choosing, designing, installing, developing, debugging, testing, shipping and servicing an effective, reliable and secure Windows Embedded Standard 2009 device. In order to reduce content redundancy, this document set makes frequent use of hyperlinks that you can click, to reference pre-existing on-line content. To use these hyperlinks, the computer that you use to view this document must also be connected to the internet,” reads the description for the kit authored by Mark Chamberlain, Microsoft's principal support escalation engineer for Windows Embedded Standard 2009.
In addition to the Windows Embedded Standard 2009 Resource Kit, the Redmond company is also offering for download the Windows Embedded Standard 2009 Components resource. Microsoft released Windows Embedded Standard 2009 in the first half of October 2008. At this point in time, developers and OEMs can still access a free 120-day trial version of the operating system. You will be able to find the download link at the bottom of this article.
“Standard 2009 is the successor to Microsoft Windows XP Embedded. While it has a different name, it is in fact the next successive generation of Windows XP Embedded, using a similar image development system, incorporating Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 updates and latest key technologies. A principal reason for the naming convention is to maintain product naming consistency with the full suite of Microsoft Embedded products,” Chamberlain noted.
The 120-day Evaluation Edition of Windows Embedded Standard 2009 is available for download here.