Windows Embedded Industry

Windows Embedded Industry, formerly Windows Embedded POSReady and Windows Embedded for Point of Service (WEPOS), is an operating system developed by Microsoft as part of its Windows Embedded family of products.^[13] Based on Windows NT, Windows Embedded Industry is designed for use in industrial devices such as cash registers, automated teller machines, and self service checkouts.^[14]

Windows Embedded Industry

Version of the Windows Embedded operating system
Screenshot of Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro
Developer	Microsoft Corporation
Working state	Publicly released / Trialware
Source model	Closed-source Source-available (through Shared Source Initiative)
Latest release	8.1 with Update (v6.3.9600) / April 16, 2014; 10 years ago (2014-04-16)[1]
Kernel type	Hybrid
Default user interface	Graphical
License	Proprietary commercial software
Succeeded by	Windows IoT Enterprise
Official website	Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry (archived at Wayback Machine)
Support status
Windows Embedded for Point of Service (WEPOS)	Mainstream support ended on April 12, 2011 (2011-04-12)[2] Extended support ended on April 12, 2016 (2016-04-12)[2]
Windows Embedded POSReady 2009	Mainstream support ended on April 8, 2014 (2014-04-08)[3] Extended support ended on April 9, 2019 (2019-04-09)[3]
Windows Embedded POSReady 7	Mainstream support ended on October 11, 2016 (2016-10-11)[4] Extended support ended on October 12, 2021[4] Windows Embedded POSReady 7 is eligible for the paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. This program allows users to purchase security updates for 3 years, in yearly installments. Security Updates are available until October 8, 2024[5][6][7][4]
Windows Embedded 8 Industry	Unsupported as of January 12, 2016 (2016-01-12); users must install Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry in order to continue receiving updates and support.[8][9][10]
Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry	Mainstream support ended on July 10, 2018 (2018-07-10)[11][12] Extended support ended on July 11, 2023[11][12]

Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry was the last release, with Windows IoT Enterprise superseding Windows Embedded Industry, Windows Embedded Standard, and Windows For Embedded Systems (FES).

Releases

Windows Embedded for Point of Service (WEPOS)

A screenshot of Windows Embedded for Point of Service. It is very similar to Windows XP apart from it using the Windows Classic theme.

Windows Embedded for Point of Service was released on May 24, 2005, nearly a year after its Windows XP SP2 counterpart was launched by Microsoft in August 2004.^[15][2] WEPOS expanded Microsoft's Windows Embedded family of products. It was the first edition of Windows Embedded that could use the Windows Update Agent to update an installed and deployed image.^[16] Service Pack 3 (SP3) for WEPOS was released on October 8, 2008.^[17] Mainstream support ended on April 12, 2011, and extended support ended on April 12, 2016. When the new Microsoft Lifecycle Support policy for Internet Explorer went into effect on January 12, 2016, IE6 support was dropped from not only WEPOS, but all other supported platforms.^[18]

Windows Embedded POSReady 2009

A screenshot of Windows Embedded POSReady 2009. It is very similar to Windows XP apart from its default visual style, called Embedded.

Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 offers more features over Windows Embedded for Point of Service such as Full Localization, Internet Explorer 7 and XPS support if .NET Framework 3.5 or higher is installed.^[19] This edition was released on December 9, 2008, exactly seven months after its Windows XP SP3 counterpart was launched on May 6, 2008.^[15] Prior to XP's end of support, some Windows XP users have reported that the Regedit tool on their operating system can be used to 'trick' Windows Update into accepting updates targeting POSReady 2009.^[20][21][22] POSReady 2009 is also notable as being the last XP derived operating system to receive official support from Microsoft. Starting in 2017, Microsoft announced end of support for POSReady 2009. Mainstream support for Windows Embedded POSReady 2009—the last supported edition of Windows based on Windows XP—ended on April 8, 2014, and extended support ended on April 9, 2019, marking the overall end of all security updates for the Windows XP codebase after almost 18 years.^[3]

Windows Embedded POSReady 7

A screenshot of Windows Embedded POSReady 7. It is almost identical to Windows 7 with no real changes (apart from the login screen and branding), and has the Windows Aero theme by default.

Windows Embedded POSReady 7, which is based on Windows 7 with SP1,^[23] was released on July 1, 2011, nearly two years after Windows 7 debuted. It is the last supported edition of Windows based on Windows 7 to receive official support from Microsoft. Mainstream support for Windows Embedded POSReady 7 ended on October 11, 2016 (2016-10-11)^[4] and extended support ended on October 12, 2021 (2021-10-12).^[24] That date marked the final end of extended support for the Windows 7 codebase after more than 12 years. Windows Embedded POSReady 7 is eligible for the paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. This service is available via OEMs, in yearly installments. Security updates are available for the operating system until at most October 8, 2024.^[5][6][7][4] This will mark the final end of IA-32 updates on the Windows NT 6.1 product line after more than 15 years, as well as marking the final end of all support for the Windows Embedded Industry subfamily after more than 19 years.^[7][4]

Windows Embedded 8 Industry

A screenshot of Windows Embedded 8 Industry. It is almost identical to Windows 8 with no real changes (apart from the branding), and uses the Metro version of the Windows Aero theme.

Based on Windows 8,^[25] Windows Embedded 8 Industry was released on April 2, 2013^[15][26] and is available in Pro, Pro Retail, and Enterprise editions.^[9][10][8] The Pro and Pro Retail editions are only available pre-installed on OEM devices, while the Enterprise edition is available through the volume licensing channel only. The Pro Retail edition adds a few extra features for use in retail environments, while the Enterprise edition provides embedded-specific features designed to integrate seamlessly with Windows 8 Enterprise. Alaska Airlines uses Windows Embedded 8 Industry in-flight entertainment devices.^[27] It is unsupported as of January 12, 2016; users must install Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry in order to continue receiving updates and support.

Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry

Based on Windows 8.1,^[25] Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry was released on October 17, 2013, by Microsoft as a component of the operating system itself.^[15] As with 8 Industry, it is available in Pro, Pro Retail, and Enterprise editions.^[11][12] Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Update was released on April 16, 2014.^[28] Mainstream support for Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry ended on July 10, 2018, and extended support ended on July 11, 2023.^[11][12] This marked the final end of "extended support" for the Windows Embedded Industry subfamily after almost 18 years. Unlike with Windows Embedded POSReady 7, however, Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry (along with all other editions of Windows 8.1) is not eligible for the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, despite its server counterpart being eligible for ESU.^[7]

Windows IoT Enterprise

Main article: Windows IoT § Enterprise

Microsoft rebranded "Windows Embedded" to "Windows IoT" starting with the release of embedded editions of Windows 10. Windows IoT Enterprise acts as the successor to Windows Embedded Industry.

System requirements

System requirements

OS	RAM	HDD
Windows Embedded for Point of Service[29]	64 MB	380 MB
Windows Embedded POSReady 2009[30]	64 MB	480 MB
Windows Embedded POSReady 7[31]	1 GB	16 GB
Windows Embedded 8 Industry[32]	1 GB	16 GB
Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry[33]	1 GB	16 GB

References

1. http://blogs.windows.com/itpro/2014/04/16/windows-8-1-update-wsus-availability-extended-deployment-timing/
2. "Microsoft Support Lifecycle for Windows Embedded for Point of Service". Microsoft. Retrieved January 30, 2015.^{[permanent dead link]}
3. "Microsoft Support Lifecycle for Windows Embedded POSReady 2009". Microsoft. Archived from the original on October 15, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
4. "Microsoft Support Lifecycle for Windows Embedded POSReady 7". learn.microsoft.com. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
5. "Windows Embedded POSReady 7 Reaches End of Support – Now What?". Arrow Electronics, Inc. September 23, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2023. The first year, which runs from Oct 2021 to Oct 2022, requires purchasing 100 hours of support priced over $22,000, and the POS7 ESU licenses are $50 per device. The pricing then doubles each year with a maximum of three years.
6. "Microsoft Extended Security Update (ESU) Program". Bsquare Corporation. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
7. "Lifecycle FAQ-Extended Security Updates". support.microsoft.com. Retrieved August 12, 2023. The Extended Security Update (ESU) program is a last resort option for customers who need to run certain legacy Microsoft products past the end of support.
8. "Windows Products Support Lifecycle FAQ". Microsoft. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
9. "Microsoft Support Lifecycle for Windows Embedded 8 Industry Enterprise". Microsoft. Retrieved January 30, 2015.^{[permanent dead link]}
10. "Microsoft Support Lifecycle for Windows Embedded 8 Industry Pro". Microsoft. Retrieved January 30, 2015.^{[permanent dead link]}
11. "Microsoft Support Lifecycle for Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Enterprise". Microsoft. Retrieved January 30, 2015.^{[permanent dead link]}
12. "Microsoft Support Lifecycle for Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro". Microsoft. Retrieved January 30, 2015.^{[permanent dead link]}
13. "Microsoft Maps Out Its Road Map for Windows Embedded Business". Wireless News. Close-Up Media, Inc. Archived from the original on June 29, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2012. (subscription required)
14. "Windows Embedded POSReady". Microsoft Website. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
15. "Windows Embedded Product Lifecycles & Support". Microsoft. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
16. "Developing POS Applications with POS for .NET". Microsoft. Retrieved January 31, 2015.^{[permanent dead link]}
17. "Service Pack 3 for Windows Embedded for Point of Service". Microsoft Download Center. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
18. "Internet Explorer Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ". Microsoft Lifecycle Support Website. Archived from the original on December 9, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
19. "POSReady 2009 vs WEPOS 1.1 SP3" (PDF). Microsoft Download Website. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
20. "Simple Hack Gives Windows XP Users 5 More Years Support". Forbes. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
21. "Windows XP rises from the grave: Simple hack gives you five more years of updates". extreme tech. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
22. "How to continue getting free security updates for Windows XP -- until 2019". betanews. May 26, 2014. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
23. "Windows Embedded POSReady 7". Microsoft. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
24. "Search Product and Services Lifecycle Information - Microsoft Lifecycle".
25. "Windows Embedded 8 Industry". Microsoft. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
26. Volpe, Joseph (March 20, 2013). "Windows Embedded 8 Industry scheduled for release first week of April". Engadget. AOL Inc. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
27. Al-Riyami, Fahad (March 26, 2015). "Microsoft details Alaska Airlines new Windows-powered in-flight entertainment tablets". WinBeta.
28. "Windows 8.1 Update: WSUS Availability, Extended Deployment Timing". Microsoft. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
29. "Hardware Requirements for Windows Embedded for Point of Service (WEPOS)". MSDN. October 7, 2008. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
30. "Before You Install POSReady". MSDN. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
31. "Requirements for a POSReady 7 Device (POSReady 7)". MSDN. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
32. "Requirements (Industry 8)". MSDN. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
33. "Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry (Industry 8.1)". MSDN. Retrieved January 31, 2015.

Further reading

• Mackie, Kurt (January 14, 2011). "Microsoft Rolls Out Windows Embedded Handheld and POSReady 7". Redmond magazine. 1105 Media Inc. Retrieved March 30, 2011.
• Oiaga, Marius (January 11, 2011). "Download New Windows 7-Based OS: Windows Embedded POSReady 7 CTP". Softpedia. SoftNews Net SRL. Retrieved March 30, 2011.
• "Installing Windows Embedded POSReady 7 CTP". Embedded Techblog. January 11, 2011. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved March 30, 2011.
• "Windows Embedded POSReady 7 CTP is available!". Embedded Techblog. January 11, 2011. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved March 30, 2011.
• Kanthak, Stefan (August 21, 2013). "Windows Embedded POSReady 2009: cruft, not craft". Full disclosure (mailing list). Retrieved September 19, 2013.

External links

• Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry (archived at Wayback Machine)
• Windows Embedded POSReady 7 (archived at Wayback Machine)