Microsoft Corp. set a date Thursday for the official unveiling of its embedded operating system based on Windows XP. The company will offer details about the embedded software and preview devices that will run on the operating system at the second annual Windows Embedded Developers Conference on Nov. 28 in Las Vegas.
Windows XP Embedded is a version of the XP desktop operating system that Microsoft plans to launch Oct. 25. XP Embedded is built around “components,” which are pieces of software code that developers can use to build their own operating systems for specific devices. It will feature all of the functions new to Windows XP, including built-in instant messaging technology and Windows file protection. XP Embedded can be customized to build computing platforms for small devices such as advanced set-top boxes, retail point-of-sale devices, and industrial automation machines.
Wyse Technology Inc., a manufacturer of thin-client devices, has announced that it will be one of the first companies to build devices with Windows XP Embedded. Microsoft released a second beta version of the embedded operating system earlier this month.
Microsoft also has developed other embedded operating systems, including its most widely used Windows CE, as well as one that is based on the Windows NT 4.0 kernel. Windows 3.0 will be used to power Microsoft’s “Stinger” smart phone. The next generation of that embedded system, code-named “Talisker,” is currently available in beta version.
Microsoft, in Redmond, Wash., can be reached at http://www.microsoft.com/.