Microsoft readies "Quebec" embedded Vista OS

Although it hasn't said much about its plans for a Vista-based successor to its Windows XP-based embedded operating system, Microsoft is already working on one.

This week Microsoft released a new test build of its latest Windows XP-based embedded operating system, known as "Windows Embedded Standard 2009", the final version of which is slated to ship by the end of 2008.

However, Microsoft is also readying the 2010 successor to this product - another Windows Embedded release codenamed "Quebec". Unlike the 2009 release of Windows Embedded, the Quebec product will make use of a number of features that are part of Windows Vista.

Microsoft is on tap to share some information about the Vista-based embedded release at its TechEd Developers Conference this week in Orlando, US. A first wide-scale Community Technology Preview (CTP) test build of Quebec is due out next year.

Microsoft's Windows Embedded family of products, which Microsoft sells to device makers, is designed to power thin client terminals, point-of-service terminals, gaming devices, medical-imaging systems, DVRs and industrial-automation systems, among other products.

Windows Embedded is not at the core of mobile phones or ultra-low-cost PCs (ULPCs), however. Windows Mobile phones currently are built on top of a Windows CE-based core and ULPCs run fully fledged Windows.

The forthcoming Quebec embedded release will include BitLocker drive encryption, Windows Firewall, Windows Defender, Address-Space Load Randomisation - and on the memory-management front, support for SuperFetch, ReadyBoost and Dynamic System Address Space.

On certain devices, the Quebec release will also provide as optional components Aero user-interface, Windows Media Player 11 and various Internet Explorer 7 features. Unlike Microsoft's XP-based embedded releases, which are 32-bit only, Quebec will support both 32-bit x86 and 64-bit x64 processors.

Original article: Windows Embedded ‘Quebec’ due in 2010 from ZDNet UK