Windows IoT

Windows IoT, formerly Windows

Embedded, is a family of operating
systems from Microsoft designed for
use in embedded systems. Microsoft
currently has three different
subfamilies of operating systems for
embedded devices targeting a wide
market, ranging from small-footprint,
real-time devices to point of sale
(POS) devices like kiosks. Windows
Embedded operating systems are
available to original equipment
manufacturers (OEMs), who make it
available to end users preloaded with
their hardware, in addition to volume
license customers in some cases.
Windows IoT

Windows Embedded 8 showing "Hotel

Systems" panel, metro-style app

Developer Microsoft

OS family Microsoft Windows

Source model Closed-source

Source-available
(through Shared
Source Initiative)

Kernel type Hybrid kernel

License Commercial
proprietary software

Official website developer.microsoft

Official website developer.microsoft
.com/en-us/windows
/iot

Support status

Under Embedded name: Variable (some

versions out of support), up to 2019
(mainstream) and 2023 (extended)[1]
Under new IoT name: Mainstream support
to at least 2024 and extended 2029[2]

In April 2018, Microsoft released

Azure Sphere, another operating
system designed for IoT applications
running on the Linux kernel.

History
In mid-1998, Microsoft worked with
VenturCom, for their Windows NT
Embedded product.[3] Windows NT
Embedded 4.0 got its start in 1998
with a small team of developers at
Microsoft. This project, known within
Microsoft as Impala, was released in
1999 as Windows NT Embedded 4.0—
a set of tools and a database of
approximately 250 components that
allowed developers to put together
small Windows NT 4.0 run-time
images for embedded devices. The
tools allowed OEMs and embedded
developers to create components
encapsulating their binaries, and to
add them seamlessly into Windows
NT Embedded runtimes containing
limited functionality and devices.
Minimum run-time images were as
small as 9 MB for a system featuring
the full Win32 API. Shortly after
release, in early 2000, Microsoft
decided that it was best to take that
architecture and make a new product
leveraging the new Windows code. A
new Windows Embedded team was
formed, under the leadership of Bruce
Beachman. He served as the Product
Unit Manager (PUM) of the first
Windows Embedded – and started
recruiting engineers within Microsoft.
The team set their sights on this next
version. A decision was made to stop
development of Windows 2000
Embedded,[4] and start work on a
Windows XP Embedded product (then
called Whistler). Plans were drawn up,
the team was expanded, and work
started on Whistler Embedded,
codenamed Mantis. The component
count has risen from 250 to over
10,000—most of them device-driver
components. The feature set of the
embedded tools was enriched to
include things like basic version
control, component scripting, and
expandability. Tools were also added
to make it easier to start with a blank
slab of hardware and to deploy an
embedded OS on it quickly and easily.
On August 26, 2001, Beta 2 of
Windows XP Embedded was released,
with a full release planned for later
that year.[5] The initial team consisted
of:

Tim Hill, Group Program Manager

who was in charge of the PM team,
and served as the overall architect
Mike Cherry, Program Manager,
who was leading the infrastructural
process work
Bill Luan, Program Manager, who
was in charge of the design of the
first internal tool iCat, which
enabled all the Windows team
engineers to "componentize" their
features in Windows. Later, this
product became the Windows
Embedded Component Designer in
the released product
Steve Jiang, Program Manager, who
was in charge of the first version of
the Target Design, which is the
product that enabled developers to
build embedded target images

Target Designer and Component

Designer was the two-parts suite in
the first version of Windows
Embedded Suite. The first test team
manager was Bombo Sofa, who lead
the first XPe Test team starting in
2000. Under Bruce Beachman's
leadership, Microsoft shipped the first
version of Windows Embedded (XPe)
at the DevCon / Windows Hardware
Conference in 2001.

In 2002, Bruce Beachman left

Microsoft, and Peter Wilson took over
the XPe team as its PUM, and by then
the team was merged into Windows
Deployment team, and they released
XPe SP1 at DevCon in Las Vegas in
late 2003.
The IoT family
Microsoft rebranded "Windows
Embedded" to "Windows IoT" starting
with the release of embedded
versions of Windows 10.

Enterprise

Windows 10 IoT Enterprise, based on

Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC/LTSB, is
the successor to both Embedded
Industry and Embedded Standard with
plain unlabeled, Retail/Thin Client,
Tablet, and Small Tablet versions
available; differing only in licensing.
Mobile

Windows 10 IoT Mobile, based on

Windows 10 Mobile, is the successor
to Embedded Handheld.

Mobile Enterprise

Windows 10 IoT Mobile Enterprise

adds ARM support, multiple user
profiles, advanced lockdown, and
other capabilities, but is otherwise
identical to the normal Mobile version.

Core
Windows 10 IoT Core is considered
by some to be the successor to
Windows Embedded Compact,
although it maintains very little
compatibility with it. Optimized for
smaller and lower-cost industry
devices, it is also provided free of
charge for use in devices like the
Raspberry Pi for hobbyist use.

Core Pro

Windows 10 IoT Core Pro provides

the ability to defer and control
updates and is licensed only via
distributors; it is otherwise identical to
the normal IoT Core version.

The Embedded family

Compact

Windows Embedded CE 6.0 running on an ICOP

Vortex 86DX-System

Windows Embedded Compact

(previously known as Windows
Embedded CE or Windows CE)[6] is
the version of Windows Embedded for
very small computers and embedded
systems, including consumer
electronics devices like set-top boxes
and video game consoles. Windows
Embedded Compact is a modular real-
time operating system with a
specialized kernel that can run in
under 1 MB of memory. It comes with
the Platform Builder tool that can be
used to add modules to the
installation image to create a custom
installation, depending on the device
used. Windows Embedded Compact
is available for ARM, MIPS, SuperH
and x86 processor architectures.[7]

Microsoft made available a

specialized version of Windows
Embedded Compact, known as
Windows Mobile, for use in mobile
phones. It is a customized image of
Windows Embedded Compact along
with specialized modules for use in
Mobile phones. Windows Mobile was
available in four variants: Windows
Mobile Classic (for Pocket PC),
Windows Mobile Standard (for
smartphones) and Windows Mobile
Professional (for PDA/Pocket PC
Phone Edition) and Windows Mobile
for Automotive (for
communication/entertainment/inform
ation systems used in automobiles).
Modified versions of Windows Mobile
were used for Portable Media
Centers. In 2010, Windows Mobile was
replaced by Windows Phone 7, which
was also based on Windows
Embedded Compact, but was not
compatible with any previous
products.

Windows Embedded Compact 2013[8]

is a real-time operating system which
runs on ARM, X86, SH, and derivatives
of those architectures. It included
.NET Framework, UI framework, and
various open source drivers and
services as 'modules'.[9]
Standard

Windows Embedded Standard is the

brand of Windows Embedded
operating systems designed to
provide enterprises and device
manufacturers the freedom to choose
which capabilities will be part of their
industry devices and intelligent
system solutions, intended to build
ATMs and devices for the healthcare
and manufacturing industries,
creating industry-specific devices.
This brand consists of Windows NT
4.0 Embedded, Windows XP
Embedded, Windows Embedded
Standard 2009 (WES09), Windows
Embedded Standard 7, and Windows
Embedded 8 Standard. It provides the
full Win32 API.[7] Windows Embedded
Standard 2009 includes Silverlight,
.NET Framework 3.5, Internet Explorer
7, Windows Media Player 11, RDP 6.1,
Network Access Protection, Microsoft
Baseline Security Analyzer and
support for being managed by
Windows Server Update Services and
System Center Configuration
Manager.[10]

Windows Embedded Standard 7 is

based on Windows 7 and was
previously codenamed Windows
Embedded 'Quebec'.[11] Windows
Embedded Standard 7 includes
Windows Vista and Windows 7
features[12] such as Aero, SuperFetch,
ReadyBoost, Windows Firewall,
Windows Defender, Address space
layout randomization, Windows
Presentation Foundation, Silverlight 2,
Windows Media Center among
several other packages. It is available
in IA-32 and x64 versions and was
released in 2010. It has a larger
minimum footprint (~300 MB)
compared to 40 MB of XPe and also
requires product activation.[12]
Windows Embedded Standard 7 was
released on April 27, 2010.[13]
Windows Embedded 8 Standard was
released on March 20, 2013.[14][15]

For Embedded Systems

(FES)

Currently divided into two brands, FES

products are binary identical versions
of the OSes as are available in retail
but are licensed exclusively for use in
embedded devices.[16] They are
available for both IA-32 as well as x64
processors.[7]

Pro
Windows Embedded Pro, formerly
Windows Embedded Enterprise,[6] is a
brand that consists of non server FES
products including Windows NT
Workstation, Windows 2000
Professional, Windows XP
Professional, Windows Vista Business
and Ultimate, Windows 7 Professional
and Ultimate, Windows 8 Pro, and
Windows 8.1 Pro. Microsoft renamed
"Windows Embedded Enterprise" to
"Windows Embedded Pro" starting
with Windows Embedded 8 Pro.

Server
Windows Embedded Server is a brand
that consists of FES server products
including Server, Home Server, SQL
Server, Storage Server, DPM Server,
ISA Server, UAG Server, TMG Server,
and Unified Data Storage Server etc.
of various years including 2000, 2003,
2003 R2, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007,
2008, 2008 R2, 2012, and 2012 R2 etc.

Industry

Windows Embedded Industry is the

brand of Windows Embedded
operating systems for industry
devices and once only for point of
sale systems. This brand was limited
to the Windows Embedded for Point
of Service operating system released
in 2006, which is based on Windows
XP Embedded.[6] Microsoft also has
an updated version of Windows
Embedded for Point of service, named
Windows embedded POSReady 2009.
However, Windows Embedded
POSReady 7 based on Windows 7 SP1
was released in 2011 which
succeeded POSReady 2009.
Microsoft has since changed the
name of this product from "Windows
Embedded POSReady" to "Windows
Embedded Industry". Microsoft
released Windows Embedded 8
Industry in April 2013, followed by 8.1
Industry in October 2013.

NAVReady

Windows Embedded NAVReady also

called as Navigation Ready which is
plug-in component for Windows CE
5.0 and useful for building portable
handheld navigation devices.

Automotive

Windows Embedded Automotive,

formerly Microsoft Auto, Windows CE
for Automotive, Windows Automotive,
and Windows Mobile for Automotive,
is an embedded operating system
based on Windows CE for use on
computer systems in automobiles.
The latest release, Windows
Embedded Automotive 7 was
announced on October 19, 2010.[17][18]

Handheld

On January 10, 2011, Microsoft

announced Windows Embedded
Handheld 6.5. The operating system
has compatibility with Windows
Mobile 6.5 and is presented as an
enterprise handheld device, targeting
retailers, delivery companies, and
other companies that rely on
handheld computing. Windows
Embedded Handheld retains
backward compatibility with legacy
Windows Mobile applications.[19]
Windows Embedded 8.1 Handheld
was released for manufacturing on
April 23, 2014.[20] Known simply as
Windows Embedded 8 Handheld
(WE8H)[15] prior to release, it was
designed as the next generation of
Windows Embedded Handheld for
line-of-business handheld devices and
built on Windows Phone 8.1, which it
also has compatibility with. Five
Windows Embedded 8.1 Handheld
devices have been released;
Manufactured by Bluebird, Honeywell
and Panasonic as listed below.[21]

Camera(s)
Product Release Date CPU RAM Storage Display NFC MicroSD
Back Front
5”
720 ×
Bluebird BM180 1.5 GHz 1 GB 8 GB 8 1.3
January 2014 1280 px Yes Yes
(BP30 ) Dual-core 2 GB 16 GB MP MP
1080 ×
1920 px
5”
720 ×
Bluebird EF500 1.5 GHz 1 GB 8 GB 8 1.3
September 2015 1280 px Yes Yes
(EF500R ) Dual-core 2 GB 16 GB MP MP
1080 ×
1920 px

4.3”
Honeywell Dolphin 2.26 GHz 8
April 2015 2 GB 16 GB 480 × 800 Yes Yes
75e Dual-core MP
px

2.26 GHz 4.7”
Honeywell Dolphin 8
April 2015 Quad- 2 GB 16 GB 720 × Yes Yes
CT50 MP
core 1280 px

2.3 GHz 5”
Panasonic Toughpad 8 1.3
August 2014 Quad- 2 GB 32 GB 720 × Yes Yes
FZ-E1 MP MP
core 1280 px

References
1. Microsoft. "Windows Embedded
lifecycle" . Retrieved August 4, 2017.
2. Microsoft. "Windows IoT lifecycle" .
Retrieved August 4, 2017.
3. "Windows NT to extend reach" .
CNET. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
4. "Microsoft Windows 2000
Embedded Doesn't Stick Around" .
windowsitpro.com. Retrieved
November 16, 2016.
5. "Getting to Know Windows NT
Embedded and Windows XP
Embedded" . msdn.microsoft.com.
Retrieved April 25, 2016.
6. "Microsoft Charts Its Road Map for
Windows Embedded Business" . News
Center. Microsoft. April 15, 2008.
Retrieved January 19, 2012.
7. "Which Windows Embedded Product
is Right for Me?" . Windows Embedded
portal. Microsoft. Retrieved January 19,
2012.
8. "Microsoft announces general
availability of Windows Embedded
Compact 2013" . Microsoft News
Center. Microsoft. Retrieved July 14,
2013.
9. "Windows Embedded" .
msdn.microsoft.com. Retrieved
January 30, 2017.
10. "Microsoft Brings Rich User
Experiences to Smart, Connected,
Service-Oriented Enterprise Devices
With Windows Embedded Standard
2009" . News Center. Microsoft. June
4, 2008. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
11. "Microsoft Announces the Next
Version of Windows Embedded
Standard to Be Built on Windows 7" .
News Center. Microsoft. October 28,
2008. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
12. Foley, Mary Jo (June 6, 2008).
"Windows Embedded 'Quebec' due in
2010" . ZDNet. CBS Interactive.
Retrieved January 19, 2013.
13. "Microsoft Delivers Windows 7
Technologies to Device Manufacturers
With Release of Windows Embedded
Standard 7" . News Center. Microsoft.
April 27, 2010. Retrieved January 19,
2013.
14. "Windows Embedded 8 Generally
Available | News Center" .
news.microsoft.com. Retrieved May 3,
2016.
15. Foley, Mary Jo. "Microsoft makes
first of its Windows Embedded 8
releases generally available | ZDNet" .
ZDNet. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
16. "Windows Embedded Server" .
Windows Embedded portal. Microsoft.
Retrieved January 19, 2013.
17. "Microsoft Drives the Future of In-
Vehicle Infotainment | News Center" .
news.microsoft.com. Retrieved May 3,
2016.
18. Foley, Mary Jo. "Microsoft delivers
Windows Embedded Automotive 7 |
ZDNet" . ZDNet. Retrieved May 3,
2016.
19. "Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5
Key Features" . Windows Embedded
portal. Microsoft. Retrieved January 19,
2013.
20. "Windows Embedded 8.1 Handheld
has been released to manufacturing;
SDK is now generally available" .
Windows Embedded Blog. Retrieved
April 25, 2016.
21. "Windows Embedded 8.1
Handheld" . Microsoft. Retrieved
January 30, 2017.

Further reading
Kan, Michael (November 14, 2012).
"Microsoft updates roadmap for
Windows Embedded, more releases
to come" . PC World. IDG. Retrieved
January 12, 2015.
Foley, Mary Jo (March 20, 2013).
"Windows Embedded 8 releases
generally available" . ZDNet.
Retrieved January 19, 2015.
Valazco, Chris (February 25, 2014).
"Panasonic's latest Toughpad has
the strength, thickness of 10
smartphones (hands-on)" .
Engadget. Retrieved January 19,
2015.

External links
Official website
Windows IoT at Curlie

Retrieved from
"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=Windows_IoT&oldid=876355915"

Last edited 1 month ago by Win…

Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0

unless otherwise noted.