News for Hardware and Driver Developers New Videos Released for Windows Summit Five new video sessions are now released to the Windows Summit website. These sessions highlight the release of Windows Logo Kit 1.6 and Windows Internet Explorer 9. Windows Logo Kit 1.6 Windows Logo Kit 1.6 is released and will become a required kit for logo submissions effective June 1, 2011. Watch the Windows Logo Kit 1.6 Overview session, which describes the infrastructure updates for the controller; logo program changes, including new programs and requirements; and the transition roadmap for using the new kit. To see the new Windows Logo Kit 1.6 Overview session, visit: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-summit/tracks-and-sessions.aspx Windows Internet Explorer 9 Hear firsthand from Microsoft Corporate VP Dean Hachamovitch how Internet Explorer 9 beta feedback led to many improvements in the final release. Learn about new features in Internet Explorer 9 in the three videos that cover everything from performance improvements to the site-centric design that gives you maximum real estate for your websites. To see a full list of all sessions on Internet Explorer 9 and to learn more, visit: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-summit/internet-explorer-9.aspx
Recently Published on WHDC Devices and Printers Metadata Authoring Wizard This new tool helps device manufacturers to efficiently develop and build a metadata package for their device. The tool features a graphical user interface that guides you through the process of creating a custom device metadata package. The User's Guide defines each step of the Devices and Printers metadata development process. Although you are not required to know the development process to successfully navigate this tool, this information can help you improve your device experience. This information applies to the Windows 7 operating system. Read more: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/gg185694.aspx
Device Stage Visual Editor v1.5 Tool and User's Guide The Device Stage Visual Editor tool and accompanying User's Guide helps device manufacturers to efficiently develop and build a metadata package for a Device Stage experience. Version 1.5 of this tool and guide is released. This version includes several new functions, improved error messaging, and added guidance in the User's Guide. Read more: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/gg463181
Microsoft Device Experience Development Kit This is the 7R3 release of this kit. The Microsoft Device Experience Development Kit provides information and material you need to develop Device Stage experiences for eligible devices for Windows 7. This release adds the Windows 7 Device Stage Webcam Kit and other portable sample updates. Read more: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/gg463154
Windows 7 Engineering Guidance for Slate PCs This paper describes the touch investments in Windows 7 and provides guidance for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) that want to take full advantage of Windows on slate PCs. This revised version is updated for Internet Explorer 9. It also includes guidance to OEMs for hardware-accelerated browsing and for the add-on Performance Adviser. Read more: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/gg487456
What's New in Blogs for Hardware and Driver Developers "Analyzing a Stuxnet Infection with the Sysinternals Tools, Part 1" by Mark Russinovich in "Mark's Blog" Though I didn't realize what I was seeing, Stuxnet first came to my attention on July 5 last summer when I received an email from a programmer that included a driver file, Mrxnet.sys, that they had identified as a rootkit. A driver that implements rootkit functionality is nothing particularly noteworthy, but what made this one extraordinary is that its version information identified it as a Microsoft driver and it had a valid digital signature issued by Realtek Semiconductor Corporation, a legitimate PC component manufacturer (while I appreciate the programmer entrusting the rootkit driver to me, the official way to submit malware to Microsoft is via the Malware Protection Center portal). I forwarded the file to the Microsoft antimalware and security research teams and our internal review into what became the Stuxnet saga began to unfold, quickly making the driver I had received become one of the most infamous pieces of malware ever created. Read more: http://blogs.technet.com/b/markrussinovich/archive/2011/03/30/3416253.aspx
"How to Map Ports for Add-in Host Controllers" by Jane Lawrence (USB WLK Program Manager) and Philip Ries (USB Developer) in the "Microsoft Windows USB Core Team Blog" My name is Jane Lawrence, and in this blog post, Philip Ries and I will describe the details of the Busport-0048 Windows Logo Kit (WLK) requirement that has been in effect since Dec 1, 2010. The Busport-0048 requirement states "xHCI add-in cards must map USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports consistently". The requirement targets manufacturers of USB xHCI add-in host controllers. An add-in host controller is a card that is not integrated onto the motherboard. In this blog post, we will describe a case study that includes two theoretical examples of the add-in controller designs (one approved and the other with the disallowed configuration). Read more: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/usbcoreblog/archive/2011/03/30/how-to-map-ports-for-add-in-host-controllers.aspx
Windows Logo Program News Update: Windows Vista Software Logo Programs Is Now Closed The Certified for Windows Vista Software Logo Program and Works with Windows Vista Software Logo Program will no longer accept new submissions for certification beginning on April 1, 2011. Applications submitted before April 1 will continue to be processed throughout the month. Any Windows Vista submissions left pending in the Winqual system will be terminated on May 2, 2011. Any application that has achieved the Certified for Windows Vista Software Logo or the Works with Windows Vista Software Logo status prior to May 2, 2011 can continue to use the appropriate artwork in the product and its packaging for the life of the product according to the terms set forth in the licensing agreements. With the closing of the Windows Vista software logo programs, the Windows 7 Software Logo Program becomes the sole Windows client software logo certification program. For more information on the Windows 7 software logo program, visit our MSDN site at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dd203105.aspx.
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March's Security Newsletter is here and this month we are focusing on the tools that can help you better secure and manage your servers, desktops, users and more! 
