Lightweight XML User interface for Windows CE

ByteSnap Design have just launched their user interface SnapUI, this UI engine uses XML to separate the graphics engine from the user interface configuration.

The XML file describes the whole screen menu structure and icon layout, any text placement, language and interaction, whilst the engine is responsible for rendering this configuration to the user and interfacing with any propriety hardware on the embedded system

The tool is aimed at embedded devices using Windows CE but can be run using the same graphics files on a Desktop PC for quick development, testing, demos etc, read more from the article on WindowsForDevices SnapUI

Bytesnap Design Ltd are a UK based company near Birmingham, read more about the SnapUI and design services at www.bytesnap.co.uk

Attending ESS'08 and Hosting half-day Windows Embedded Workshops

Just a quick note to invite you to come visit me on the Direct Insight stand at next week's Embedded Systems Show at the NEC. Stand 449 October 1st and 2nd. You can get your free exhibition pass here.

Also in conjunction with Microsoft and Silica, Direct Insight will be hosting half-day Windows Embedded Workshops. These 100% technical workshops will take you through the process of building and deploying with both Windows Embedded CE and Windows XP Embedded.
This is a unique hands-on opportunity to check out how Windows Embedded stacks up against Linux, and the various RTOS solutions out there. Places are strictly limited, so please visit the link below to secure your place.
http://www.directinsight.co.uk/services/windows-embedded-workshop.html

Hope to see you there.

-Nigel

PS. At the show, we're also introducing a new, high performance, low-power Windows CE module, at a ground-breaking price. See this, and our other solutions for platform-based design on Stand 449 at ESS'08 (October 1st & 2nd at the NEC)

Windows CE Codenames

Found this nice bit of text describing the history of Windows CE codenames which for some Windows CE Engineers might be interesting:

Before the Windows CE product was released we had an internal set of tools known as the Oem Adaptation Kit also known as the OAK - an OAK of course is a type of tree.
The initial releases of Windows CE were therefore named after trees, as follows.

Windows CE 1.0 - Alder (Nov 1996)
Windows CE 2.0 - Birch (Nov 1997)
Windows CE 3.0 - Cedar (Apr 2000)

Interestingly, there was a second team within the Windows CE group that worked on the tools, I guess you could consider tools to be something that makes a job easier, or cuts the job down to size - therefore the tools releases were named after things that cut down trees - as follows...

Windows CE 1.0 - Alder - Tools: Axe
Windows CE 2.0 - Birch - Tools: Buzzsaw
Windows CE 3.0 - Cedar - Tools: Chainsaw

For Windows CE 4.0 the original plan was to call the O/S DougFir (DouglasFir), the thing that cuts down DougFir trees was going to be Dozer (BullDozer) - interestingly, at Windows CE 4.0 the o/s team and tools teams merged together to form a new, combined team - the codenames for the operating system and tools also changed at this time from trees/tools to Whiskeys - so the codenames for Windows CE 4.0 onwards are as follows.

Windows CE 4.0 - Talisker (Jan 2002)
Windows CE 4.1 - Jameson (Jun 2002)
Windows CE 4.2 - McKendric (Apr 2003)
Windows CE 5.0 - Macallan (Aug 2004)
Windows CE 5.0 Network Device Feature Pack - Tomatin (Apr 2006)
Windows CE 6.0 - Yamazaki (Sep 2006)

* I found it on Test Embedded but it was originally posted by Mike Hall;

- Nigel

New place of work

Thought I'd just let everybody know that keeps an eye on this Blog that over the last couple of months you might have noticed the new company web links appear.
This has been due to both my self and Graeme leaving Intrinsyc after they decided to close the EMEA office.

I'm sure Graeme will let you know more about his new plans creating ByteSnap but for this entry I'll focus on my self (but keep it brief).

I've joined another EMEA Embedded Gold Partner in the UK called Direct Insight Ltd.(www.directinsight.co.uk) as the "Embedded Platform Architect".
Direct Insight supplies embedded development platforms encompassing reference kits, production ready modules, embedded development tools, training and services. Thousands of developers across Europe rely on our expertise, support and product solutions to get to market. We are also experts in the field of JTAG test and programming.

Anyway enough advertising. But what I can say is this new role will let me continue to build on and keep my Windows Embedded knowledge up to date which I can share with you all and help enable more products to design in Windows CE, WinMo and XPe.

- Nigel