Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro Retail

Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro delivers all the power, familiarity, and reliability of the Windows 8.1 operating system  for developers to create advanced commercial and consumer devices running thousands of existing Windows applications and drivers.

Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro Retail has the exact same installation media as the Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro version. The difference can be found only in the licenses terms of the products (Retail to use only in POS/Kiosk environment).

Unleash the power of Windows 8.1 technologies in Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro Retail using a solid platform that fits into existing customer infrastructure.

The Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro Retail is based on the exact same binaries as Windows 8.1 professional but includes in addition special Embedded features.

This are the key features from Microsoft Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro Retail:

  • Same codebase as Windows 8.1 professional
  • Full installation
  • Not componentized
  • Additional Embedded features like: Write Filters, Custom Shell, USB Filter, Keyboard Filter

 

New in Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro Retail

What’s New in Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro Retail

New Components and Tools

  • Windows Multi Touch
  • Windows RT Framework
  • Modern Style User Interface (optional)
  • EFI / UEFI support (Secure Boot, UEFI Write Filters)
  • AppLocker
  • VHD Boot
  • Sensor and Location Platform
  • Faster Boot Time
  • Improved Power Management (i.e. Core Parking)
  • VDI Remote Desktop
  • Bitlocker To Go

Development Process

Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro Retail allows for application compatibility by containing the following utilities that simplify and streamline the entire development process.

The whole process is installation .wim file based. The developer can run through the installation wizard or generate an unattend.xml file for a keyless installation. There is no Target Designer or First Boot Agent (FBA) like in Windows Embedded Standard 2009 / XP Embedded any more.

In fact, it's the standard Windows 8.1 Professional installation DVD and you can install after the installation the embedded features over the control panel.

Image Based Wizard (IBW)

A wizard based tool that allows for rapid prototyping of images and provides the quickest way to install a customized image on a device. this is the same wizard as known from Windows 8.1 Professional or Enterprise. The Embedded features can be installed afterwards over the system control panel -> Programs and Features -> Turn Windows features on or off.

Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro Retail Key Features

Key Facts

Description

Processor Architectures

Because Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro Retail is based on the same binary than Windows 8.1 Pro, the processor support is the same. All x86 32-bit and 64-bit processors starting with 1GHz are supported.

Modular

Not modular: Full installation

Footprint

A 32-bit image is around 6,5 GB and a 64-bit around 8 GB. The application is not included.

Reliability

Special functionalities for embedded devices are included. You can make your system read-only with the File Based Write Filter (FBWF). You can switch off the device safely without shutting down Windows.
Also booting from read-only medias is supported as well as from flash and from USB devices.

Time-To-Market

Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro Retail provides embedded developers with a unified set of tools to build and deploy customized Windows 8.1 devices.

Industrial Standard

Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro Retail interoperates with industry standards and existing Microsoft desktop and server technologies to help you create differentiated devices for a broad range of device categories, from commercial devices to consumer electronics products. Microsoft committed to a ten-year extended support for Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro Retail.

Latest Technology

Internet Explorer 11, Windows Media Player 12, Remote Desktop Protocol, .net Framework 4.5 are included.

Application Development

All applications and drivers from Windows 8.1 will work on Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro Retail. No rewriting or porting is necessary.