Microsoft has unveiled a new design for its MSDN site devoted to Windows Embedded operating systems. “The entire site has been overhauled to improve content discoverability and functionality,” Lynda Allen wrote yesterday in a new posting on the Windows Embedded Standard blog.
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The MSDN site, known as the “Windows Embedded Developer Center,” is obviously designed to give developers quick access to information about Microsoft’s embedded operating systems, including Windows Embedded CE, Windows Embedded Standard, Windows Embedded POSReady, and Windows Embedded NavReady. The site also includes information about Microsoft’s less-well-known Windows Embedded Enterprise and Windows Embedded Server products — essentially fully functional desktop or server operating systems that are licensed and sold for embedded solutions.
Microsoft’s Windows Embedded Developer Center
(Click to enlarge)
As Allen notes, the Windows Embedded Developer Center has been revamped so it will be of use to a variety of visitors, with differing technical levels. A cleanly designed home page (above) positions Microsoft’s Windows Embedded operating systems at a high level, but clicking on the Library or Support tabs at the top of the page provides a quick dive down into more detailed information.
In her blog posting, Allen describes highlights of the site as follows:
* Robust “Learn” resources — Not only can you find learning materials by content type, version and learning level, but if visitors just want to see all the White Papers, Virtual Labs, or Sample Code, they are easy to find in the left hand navigation
* New “Tips” search tool — Searching through a dedicated database of 120 Windows Embedded CE tips or 250 Windows Embedded Standard tips, this application combs through both the titles and the body copy of each tip
* Easy access to “Older versions” — Within the site’s Library, Downloads, and Learn sections, there are direct links to previous product versions, plus comparison tables and feature details
At the bottom of the main page, pictured earlier in this story, the Windows Embedded Developer Center also gives pride of place to the Windows Embedded Community, highlighting the Windows Embedded Developers Interest Group (WE-DIG) and blogs by Mike Hall and Olivier Bloch. We would have been won over by the website’s clean design and depth of content anyway, but Microsoft has even provided a prominent link to WindowsForDevices.com (thanks, team!).