| Early Bird Special for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Hardware Logo Submissions
The Windows Logo Program ensures that every logo-certified product has been tested to install readily and run reliably on Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. To help our hardware partners achieve logo certification, the Windows Hardware Logo team is pleased to announce that for a limited time we are reducing the submission fee. Effective with the release of Windows 7 RC, the fee for every new submission for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 logos will be only $100, a $150 discount. Please note that this offer will be for a limited time. We will announce the end date for this offer when Windows 7 RC is released. Stay tuned! This is a great opportunity to lower your development costs by downloading the latest Windows Logo Kit (WLK) and testing your system or device for submission during this limited timeframe. This offer is available to both device and system partners. For more information about the Windows Logo Program, visit the Windows Logo Program Overview page on the Windows Hardware Developer Central (WHDC) Web site.
News for Windows Hardware and Driver Developers
Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Ecosystem Readiness Program On February 2, 2009, 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 and Windows Server 2008 R2. 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. Windows Portable Device Enabling Kit, Beta Release Windows Portable Device (WPD) is a technology that enables a computer to communicate with attached media and storage devices. The beta release of the WPD Enabling Kit includes support for the Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) Specification, version 1.0, and MTP Device Services for Windows. The WPD Enabling Kit is designed to help portable device manufacturers develop device firmware that is compatible with the protocols that Windows supports and the device services that are being introduced in Windows 7. The kit includes design documentation, sample source code, and a PC-based MTP device simulator. Windows Portable Devices: Driver Development Guide This WPD driver development Help file contains the design guide, programming guide, and reference information needed to create WPD device drivers. The documentation found in this Help file applies to the Windows 7 and Windows Vista operating systems. Windows Portable Devices: Application Development Guide This WPD application development Help file contains the conceptual overview, programming guide, and reference needed for you to create applications for WPD. The documentation found in this Help file applies to the Windows 7 and Windows Vista operating systems. MTP Device Services Extension Specification The MTP Device Services Extension to the Media Transport Protocol (MTP) is designed to help an MTP initiator find and access certain types of content stored on a responder (device). Although MTP already supports enumeration by format, the extension mechanisms provide greater flexibility for applications that deal with device content that is not based on file system data, settings, and restricted capabilities. The MTP Device Services Extension Specification explains operation codes that the initiator and responder must implement to effectively support this MTP extension. It also explains how MTP communication is mapped onto a Globally Unique Identifier (GUID)-based system that provides greater extensibility than the existing datacode mechanisms. This extensibility helps to eliminate the possibility of "opcode collision" and to ensure that third-party extensions to MTP do not conflict with other extensions. This information applies to the Windows 7 operating system. Windows Portable Devices Automation API WPD Automation is built on WPD. WPD Automation uses COM Automation to provide programmatic access to WPD devices through scripting languages like JScript and VBScript, providing a simpler and easier-to-use API for accessing WPD devices. This WPD Automation Help file provides information about the WDP Automation object model, the WPD Automation programming guide, and the WPD Automation Reference. This information applies to the Windows 7 operating system.
What's New in Blogs for Hardware and Driver Developers
"A Few More Changes from Beta to RC." by Steven Sinofsky in the "E7" Blog Hey Folks, Just wanted to provide another update (building on the recent post on some changes since Beta) on some of the changes you will see in the Release Candidate. Again, there are many and this is not an exhaustive list. Of course we continue to gather telemetry from the large number of people running the Beta full time. Just a reminder, the Beta is the only official build from Microsoft. Chaitanya compiled this list from a broad set of feature teams focused on visible changes based on feedback that go beyond "bug fixes", though we included some of the more widely reported bugs on this list as well. -Steven. More.
New Things Happening with the WDK
WDK Documentation Survey If you have used the Windows Driver Kit (WDK) and its documentation, there is a good chance that you have opinions about it. By sharing your opinions with the WDK documentation team, you could influence how the team addresses such issues as: --Form and content of WDK documentation. --Access and viewing options for WDK documentation. --Priorities of the WDK documentation team. Please invest 10 minutes to complete the WDK Documentation Survey. Your honest feedback makes a difference, is anonymous, and is appreciated by the WDK documentation team. For more information about the WDK, see the WDK and Developer Tools page on WHDC.
Windows Logo Program Tools and News
Stay Current with the Windows Logo Program Recent activity in the Windows Logo Program has focused on hardware ecosystem readiness as Microsoft continues to work with partners toward successful release and general availability of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. These activities include logo submission fee adjustments, release of the latest Windows Logo Kit QFEs, new and updated logo tests, and LogoFest events planned around the world. To catch up on back issues of the Logo Program Newsletter or to subscribe, visit the Windows Logo Program Newsletter page on WHDC. Windows Hardware Logo Driver Update Acceptable Fee Reduced to $100 We are pleased to announce a reduction in the Driver Update Acceptable (DUA) fee. Beginning April 1, 2009, the standard DUA fee will be reduced to $100 from the previous $250. This $150 reduction will help you ensure that the most current drivers are always available for your hardware.
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