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WDF Developers: New Versions of KMDF and UMDF to Ship with Windows 7
This release of KMDF 1.9 and UMDF 1.9 includes down-level redistributable packages that are shipped with the Windows Driver Kit (WDK). Remember that the framework is updated when a new driver is installed on the system and your driver will link to the new version. Even though we do a lot of testing to ensure compatibility from version to version, we can't test your bits in your scenarios, so it is important that you do testing on your own drivers. You can begin testing today with the frameworks on Windows 7 and with the down-level frameworks in the WDK we shipped to DDC, PDC, and WinHEC attendees. You will be able to continue testing with the beta versions, which will be released shortly. Please let us know if you find any compatibility issues in the new version 1.9. As always, we can be reached at WDFINFO@MICROSOFT.COM. Following are some hints for testing: 1. Install your existing driver package on the pre-release of Windows 7 and test the common scenarios. Windows 7 has both KMDF 1.9 and UMDF 1.9 as the native framework versions. 2. Update your INF file to use the new 1.9 redistributables from the WDK and install those redistributables on the down-level platforms you support. Make sure the installation of your driver works and the new framework is present and active. 3. For testing purposes, rebuild your driver with the Windows 7 WDK and test it with the driver verifier turned on. The driver verifier now makes additional checks for framework drivers, which will help ensure compatibility and stability. 4. Install your drivers with the previous frameworks and then test an upgrade to Windows 7. Note to UMDF Developers: Please check the WDK release notes for information about a new co-installer for WinUSB. This new installer will not be available with the Windows 7 WDK Beta but will be posted shortly afterwards. The new installer will be needed to fully test UMDF drivers against UMDF 1.9 on previous Windows releases.
WinHEC News
WinHEC 2008 Asia Events a Series of Successes
Thanks to all of you who attended the WinHEC conferences in Beijing, Taipei, and Tokyo. Strong attendance numbers and sponsorships in each location combined with a quality set of technical presentations focused on Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 to drive successes in each locale. We appreciate your attendance and engagement. We look forward to continued engagement as we move toward release of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.
Get WinHEC 2008 US Presentations and Post-Event Information
News for Windows Hardware and Driver Developers
This month we highlight a sampling of papers covering Windows Touch (touch and multi-touch) technologies in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2:
Windows 7: Reach Out and Touch It!
With Windows 7, Microsoft releases a Windows-based environment that is more touch friendly and easier to use than ever before. The new platform creates challenges and opportunities for hardware and device manufacturers. This paper describes areas that enable you to build hardware that affords rich, immersive, and captivating experiences that make the next wave of Windows 7 applications not only unique, but fun!
Developer Enhancements to Windows for Touch and Tablet
Tablet and touch enhancements in Windows 7 offer exciting new opportunities to create hardware and devices that stand above the competition. This paper describes the new tablet and touch features in the Windows 7 operating system and the Windows Server 2008 R2 operating system.
Multi-Touch Tablet Brief
Will the natural input method of multi-touch effect the way you design hardware or drivers? This documentation set gives an overview of multi-touch development in Windows 7 and describes the multi-touch interfaces.
How to Design and Test Multi-Touch Hardware Solutions for Windows 7
This paper provides information about the design and test of multi-touch hardware solutions for the Windows family of operating systems. It provides guidelines for independent hardware vendors (IHVs) and original equipment manufacturers (OEMS) to address quality standards that multi-touch hardware solutions must meet so that users will have a successful experience with multi-touch. The paper also includes associated logo requirements and tests. This paper also provides guidelines for developers, integrators, and testers of multi-touch digitizers and systems to build and test solutions that provide a high quality user experience and meet the requirements of the Windows Logo program for multi-touch.
Digitizer Drivers for Touch, Multi-Touch, and Pen Devices
This paper provides information about digitizer drivers for touch, multi-touch, and pen devices for the Windows family of operating systems. It provides information about how Window 7 interfaces with digitizer drivers for human interface devices (HID) and provides guidelines for driver writers.
What's New in Blogs for Hardware and Driver Developers
The SideShow team is excited to announce the Windows SideShow Bitmap Driver! This is an open source project that we are hosting on CodePlex.. More...
Energy efficient hardware and software reduces operational costs and directly impacts an organization's bottom line. We're in the midst of developing Windows Server 2008 R2, and one of our goals for the product is to build a server operating system that is more power efficient than all of our previous releases. Furthermore, to help IT administrators better understand server power management and optimize their current Windows Server 2008 installations, we're releasing a comprehensive white paper called "Power In, Dollars Out: Reducing the Flows in the Data Center" today. The white paper gives detailed explanations of many factors affecting server power efficiency, and contains a list of best practices for optimization. More...
Hello everyone! Back in October I made a post about SP2. At that point, we allowed a small group of TAP customers access to the SP2 beta. Today, I am happy to announce our schedule for making SP2 available to everyone for download! More...
Windows Logo Program Tools and News
New Windows Logo Program Testing Agreement Now Available The new Windows Logo Program Testing Agreement, Version 2.2.1, is now available for signing. In this version, clarifications have been added to section 3ii. Immediate signature of Version 2.2.1 is not required. However, please note that this version will be required for those new to the logo program or when a previously completed version expires. This and all versions of the Windows Logo Program testing agreement are available on the WinQual Web site ( http://winqual.microsoft.com). See the "Helpful Links" area and click on "Legal Agreements". For more information on the Windows Logo Program, visit the Windows Logo Program home page.
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