Thursday, January 31, 2013

Microsoft Research reveals novel gesture control


Hi folks,

Digits, a Microsoft Research developed gesture control, allows the user to control a pc or smartphone with arm- as well as hand-gestures. For instance, it will be possible to make a call while your smartphone is still in your pocket or control a video game with hand motions only. According to David Kim from Microsoft Research, the device will understand what the user wants to do rather than forcing the user to do things in a specific way.

From a technical standpoint, gesture control is not a problem. However, current devices are too big and are not energy efficient enough for usage in mobile devices. These restrictions also apply to the Digits prototype: Velcro holds a device as big as a matchbox to the wrist of the user.

Digits consists of a small black and white camera equipped with an infrared filter as well as a small infrared laser pointed to the fingers. The fingers reflect different amounts of light into the camera. The software calculates the position of the fingers based on 5 points. This method is CPU and energy efficient.

Here you can find the full german article published in Technology Review.

Have fun!   

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Windows Phone 7.8 and Windows Phone 8 update for Nokia phones


Hi Folks,

Nokia started the delivery of Windows Phone updates. An updated for Windows Phone 8 for Lumia 820 as well as 920 will be available for all customers within the next weeks, according to Nokia. Furthermore, there will be an update available to Windows Phone 7.8 for all Windows Phone 7 based  Lumia models within the next days.

The Windows Phone 8 update will be distributed “Over The Air” (OTA) only. The smartphone will notify you when the update is available. Due to the size of the update it is advised to use a WIFI connection to download the update.

The Windows Phone 8 update will improve messaging: messages can then be edited before forwarding. Also, it will also be possible to address a message to multiple recipients at once. Internet Explorer improvements include the possibility to partially delete the browsing history. Bluetooth and WIFI connections are supposed to be more stable. Further improvements include boot-up time, camera as well as power consumption.

 The Windows Phone 7.8 update has to be downloaded while connected to a PC or MAC (Zune or Windows Phone Connector). This update will include Windows Phone 8 Live Tile functionality as well as file sharing via Bluetooth.

Have fun!

Monday, January 28, 2013

Windows Embedded Standard 7 - Webcast Session 3

The session 3 from the WES7 webcast series is available for watching.

Advanced integration
  • Adding drivers
  • Install packages during system setup
  • Remove operating system generated message boxes and dialogs
  • Customize Windows PE
  • HORM and filters



 This webcast has been developed in collaboration with Arrow Electronics Europe.

- Nicolas

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Windows Embedded Compact QFEs for December 2012 have arrived!


Hi all,

the December updates for Windows Embedded Compact are available for download:

Windows Embedded Compact 7 Monthly Update December 2012 (Update 18):


Fixes made in this update:

Component: Browser
121224_KB2777734 - This update addresses an issue with CE device not suspending after downloading files via FTP over IE.

Component: International
121227_KB2764291 - This update addresses a Japanese IME3.1 memory leak on Deactivate/Activate by ActivateKeyboardLayout API

Component: Networking
121228_KB2794912 - This update addresses an issue with DEBUGCHK being hit in WiFi stack when deleting profile.
121231_KB2781052 - Disable Media Sense Registry key functionality update.

Component: Silverlight
121217_KB2791617 - This update addresses an issue with SWE RepeatButton control functionality.

Component: Time Zone/DST
121219_KB2785670 - DST updates for Israel Standard Time



Fixes made in this update:

Component: IE
121228_KB2769643 - This update addresses an issue with MFC implementation of Web Browser control displaying blank pages instead of local HTML pages.

Component: TimeSVC
121218_KB2785674 - DST update for Israel time zone for the year 2013.



Fixes made in this update:

Component: TimeSVC
121218_KB2785675 - DST update for Israel time zone for the year 2013.


REMEMBER: It’s important to keep your system up to date!

Have fun!

Friday, January 25, 2013

Keep your WINCE (WINCEROOT) tree clean!


Hi folks,

are you all too familiar with following scenario:

You work on multiple Windows Embedded Compact projects, sometimes for multiple customers at the same time. Each project requires a different BSP and OSDesign; sometimes 3rdParty or Platform\Common components are affected as well. It only gets more complicated when you need to work with different QFEs

How do you keep your WINCE tree clean? Do you have multiple virtual machines – one for each customer/project?

Here is a different solution:

Instead of installing the BSPs, OSDesigns, etc. directly in your WINCE tree, try linking them instead:
1.       Keep all your BSP files together in one folder (e.g. C:\BSP\<BSP_name>) NOTE: As in the WINCE tree no spaces are allowed in the path.
2.       Write a batch file (same location as 1.) to link all BSP related folders to you WINCE tree:
mklink /J C:\WINCE700\OSDesigns %~dp0OSDesigns
mklink /J C:\WINCE700\OSDesigns\<MyOSDesign> %~dp0OSDesigns\<MyOSDesign>
mklink /J C:\WINCE700\PLATFORM\<MyBPS> %~dp0PLATFORM\<MyBSP>
3.       Write a batch file (same location as 1. and 2.) to unlink all BSP related folder from your WINCE tree:
rmdir C:\WINCE700\OSDesigns\<MyOSDesign>
rmdir C:\WINCE700\OSDesigns
rmdir C:\WINCE700\PLATFORM\<MyBPS>

Now you can work on any BSP you like while keeping your WINCE tree clean!

Have fun!

Freescale i.MX6Q SabreLite with Windows Embedded Compact 7

You can check out that video showing Windows Embedded Compact 7 running in the Freescale i.MX6Q SabreLite platform.


The BSP is available here from Adeneo Embedded website.

Stay tuned ... more videos to come.

- Nicolas

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Surface Windows 8 Pro available February 9th


Hi Folks,

Microsoft announced that the latest Surface Windows 8 Pro will be available February 9th in the US and Canada.



Contrary to the Surface RT, Surface Windows 8 Pro can run Windows 8 applications, as well as current Windows 7 desktop applications.

Surface Windows 8 Pro will be powered by an Intel Core i5 processor and will be available with 64 GB and 128 GB. A “Surface Pen with Palm Block technology” will be included. A keyboard has to be purchased separately.

The estimated retail prices start at $899.

Have fun!

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Start developing your apps for Windows Phone 7.8


Hi Folks,

Download the newly released Windows Phone 7.8 SDK and start developing your apps for Windows Phone 7.8!

This SDK is a patch, either the Windows Phone 7.1 SDK or the Windows Phone 8.0 SDK is a prerequisite.

With the Windows Phone 7.8 SDK you can design your app with Windows Phone 8 Live Tile functionality. Furthermore the new SDK comes with emulators for devices with 256 MB RAM or devices with 512 MB or more RAM.

Updated Windows Phone 7.8 devices will be available soon, according to Microsoft.

Have fun!

Adeneo Embedded strengthens its engineering and technical expertise in Germany


Jochen Dieckfoss, Embedded Software Expert and Windows Embedded MVP 
joins Adeneo Embedded GmbH

Read the full article here.

Have fun!

Monday, January 21, 2013

Windows Embedded Standard 7 - Webcast Session 2

The session 2 from the WES7 webcast series is available for watching.

Integrate your application in Windows Embedded Standard
  • Using dependency analysis
  • Adding custom folders and files
  • Application templates
  • Start your application when the system starts



 This webcast has been developed in collaboration with Arrow Electronics Europe.

- Nicolas

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Are you the “Windows Phone Next App Star”?


Hi folks,

are you a Windows Phone App developer? Do you want to have your app featured in a Microsoft TV ad? Then join the Windows Phone Next App Star challenge!

To participate, your App needs to be in the Windows Phone App Store by March 5th 2013.

A jury of Microsoft employees will select the 64 Apps with the best quality. These 64 Apps will enter a head-to-head competition with public voting – the winner will be announced on April 8th 2013.


Good luck and have fun!

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Windows Embedded Standard 7 - Webcast Session 1

This article starts a series of web-cast covering the development of Windows Embedded Standard 7 runtime images for the application developers. It helps application developers to discover the reason of using the WES7 operating system on a product instead of a Windows 7.

Windows Embedded Standard 7 introduction - Session 1
• Reasons to use an embedded operating system compared to standard OEM version of Windows 7
• Overview of the Windows Embedded Standard 7 features and advantages from an application developer point of view
• Windows Embedded Standard 8 preview


This webcast has been developed in collaboration with Arrow Electronics Europe.

- Nicolas

There's a new Blog in town...


Hi all,
and welcome to our new Blog!

We are a team of embedded software engineers – most of us Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs). We have lots of experience in Windows Embedded, Windows Phone as well as Windows 8 technologies.

Up until now we all had our individual Blogs but now we teamed up to provide you with useful information as well as news from the world of Windows Embedded / Phone / 8!

Please buckle up, relax and enjoy the ride!

Have fun!



Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Company Info Adeneo Embedded




Adeneo Embedded is a specialist system integrator focused on complete 32-bit embedded systems development from OS bring-up, board support package and driver adaptation to application development.

Since 2002, their engineering offices in Europe (France) and North America (USA) have supported with customers worldwide from small embedded device makers to Fortune 500 companies.

Adeneo Embedded enables OEMs and ODMs to create dedicated device projects and major programs for large-scale systems, including automotive, consumer, medical and industrial equipment. Our design experience spans the full range of leading embedded operating systems including Microsoft Windows EmbeddedWindows Phoneembedded Linux and Android.

Adeneo Embedded has delivered hundreds of successful customer projects and our experience brings us the means to deliver engineering and packaged services that will significantly save you time, limit costly mistakes and reduce risk through all stages of the development lifecycle.

http://www.adeneo-embedded.com/