| Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Ecosystem Readiness Program
On February 2, Microsoft announced the availability of the Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Ecosystem Readiness Program. This program is designed to help you ensure that new and existing devices, systems, and applications will be compatible with Windows 7. Participation in this program allows partners to access development, training, and testing resources via Microsoft Connect, including:  Access to Windows 7 builds and toolkits. In the Windows Ecosystem area of Microsoft Connect (register below), you can download the most recent Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 builds; updates to the Windows Logo Kit (WLK), Windows Driver Kit (WDK), and Software Development Kit (SDK); and checked builds and symbols for debugging. Both the 64-bit and 32-bit versions of Windows 7 are included in several different languages. Community offerings and partner support. You can take advantage of benefits such as links to Windows 7- and Windows Server 2008 R2-based technical documents, white papers, support forums, and newsgroups. You will also be able to participate in our periodic surveys. Windows 7-based application testing labs. We have established testing labs in Redmond so we can help you ensure that your device or application works well with Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. Over the coming months, we will offer labs in locations all over the world. If you are a partner and are not yet signed up, click here to register. For more information, you can visit the Windows7 Ecosystem Readiness Program page on WHDC.
News for Windows Hardware and Driver Developers
This month we are highlighting some new and updated white papers on power management in Windows. Power Policy Configuration and Deployment in Windows Windows Vista and later versions of Windows feature a new power policy storage mechanism and infrastructure called the power policy store that enables third-party extensibility and configuration using Windows Group Policy... This paper describes the Windows power policy store, demonstrates common power policy configuration tasks, and provides reference information about native power settings in Windows. Windows 7 Brightness Control for Integrated DisplaysThis paper provides information about integrated display brightness control for the Windows family of operating systems. It provides guidelines for system manufacturers and firmware developers to expose brightness control infrastructure to Windows. The new brightness control user experiences for Windows 7 are discussed. Additionally, this paper provides power policy configuration information, including new policies for the adaptive display brightness feature and information on how to observe brightness control changes by using the PwrTest utility. Windows Timer CoalescingThis paper provides information about timer coalescing for the Windows family of operating systems. Timer coalescing helps improve the energy efficiency of periodic software activity by expiring multiple distinct software timers at the same time to increase the average processor idle period. This paper provides guidelines for driver and application developers to take advantage of the new Windows functions for timer coalescing.
64-Bit Compatibility Increasingly Important As computer manufacturers continue to increase production of 64-bit computers that run the 64-bit edition of Windows Vista, consumers are continuing to buy them. In the last six months, consumer adoption of new computers that run 64-bit editions of Windows Vista has again doubled in the United States after doubling over the summer. This growth is expected to continue as computer manufacturers supply an increasing assortment of 64-bit desktops and laptops. To help you ensure your products are 64-bit compatible for Windows Vista and to help you prepare for 64-bit compatibility for Windows 7, refer to these key resources: 64-Bit System Design64-Bit Driver GuidelinesWindows Vista 64-Bit Partner Readiness
What's New in Blogs for Hardware and Driver Developers
| | This post is about the path from where we are today, Beta, to our RTM (Release To Manufacturing), building on the discussion of this topic that started at the PDC.. The motivation for this, in addition to the high level of interest in Windows 7, is that we're now seeing how releasing Windows is not something that Microsoft does "solo", but rather is something that we do as one part of the overall PC ecosystem. Obviously we have a big responsibility to do our part, one we take very seriously of course. The last stages of a Windows release are a partnership across the entire ecosystem. More... | | | If you view WDK docs on MSDN, you probably know that a Wiki feature is available at the bottom of each WDK doc page. This MSDN-provided feature, under the green "Community Content" heading, is meant to encourage MSDN readership to post added value to any MSDN topic. We enabled this Wiki feature in the WDK docs on MSDN about a year and a half ago. Frankly, at this point we're questioning the value of this feature to our driver developer audience. So, we'd like your feedback. More... | | | Yes, I know that's a rip off of a ThinkGeek shirt (which I own). Well, this is going to be my second post on this topic (okay, third), but as it managed to rear its head again recently, what better time to blog. And I'm going to also blog it simply to prove to Doron that I can provide something other than comic relief. More... |
New Things Happening with the WDK
In addition to our standard HXS release format, you can now download the Windows 7 Beta WDK documentation in CHM format from the Windows Driver Kit (WDK) Documentation page on WHDC. Among other advantages, the CHM format provides wildcard search. Both downloads contain the same documentation bits that shipped in the Windows 7 Beta WDK. Because releasing in CHM format is an experiment, we are interested to hear your feedback. If we receive feedback that folks like the CHM format, we will consider refreshing the CHM at major Windows milestones. Send your feedback to ddksurv1@microsoft.com. Note: Even if you already use CHM files on Vista, you will need to unblock the downloaded WDK CHM before you can use it. (Instructions for unblocking are on the download page.)
Windows Logo Program Tools and News
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