Windows CE 5.0 Networked Media Device Feature Pack Released.

The Windows CE 5.0 Networked Media Device Feature Pack has been released to the web today. This is the first Feature Pack release for Windows CE 5.0 - A feature pack updates the Platform Builder catalog with new operating system features without making changes to the underlying BSP/Driver model - this makes it easy for you to integrate the new Feature Pack functionality into existing or new designs.

The NMD Feature Pack adds four new components to the catalog, NMD_UI (the NMD Shell), DVR Engine (for recording and playback of TV shows), SPDIF Packetizer (Optical Audio Out), and DRM (Digital Rights Management) - The HTTP component has been updated to version 1.1, and you get a new BSP, the Intel 854 reference design.

So what is NMD? - You probably have music, photo's, and video on your home PC's - The NMD components make it simple for you to build a Windows CE 5.0 based operating system image that streams your audio, video, and photos from your Home PC's to your TV set (think of it as a Set Top Box, the functionality can also be built directly into TV sets). Your home PC needs to run Windows Media Connect v2.0, this is the media 'server' software - you get to pick and choose which files/folders are exposed from the PC to the NMD device.

Here's the Network Media Device press release and more information on WindowsForDevices

Two new tutorials have been released today - these show how to configure, build, and deploy an operating system image based on the Windows CE 5.0 Networked Media Device Feature Pack - there are two options, the first is to select a baseline operating system configuration such as Internet Appliance, you then remove the existing shell and add the NMD Shell component - dependencies are automatically added - the second option is to use the Windows CE 5.0 NMD Wizard file (XML file downloadable here - the downloads page explains where the Wizards XML file needs to be placed on your development PC) this adds a new Platform Builder Wizard that makes the configuration of a NMD device simple.

Using the Windows CE 5.0 Networked Media Device Feature Pack using the Platform Builder Wizard (Level 200) NEW!
This eHow-to demonstrates how to create a Windows CE 5.0 Networked Media Device operating system image. The video walks through the steps needed to configure a baseline Windows CE 5.0 operating system image that contains the Networked Media Device functionality through the use of a Platform Builder Wizard. (14:47 minutes)
300K Version | 110K Version   

Using the Windows CE 5.0 Networked Media Device Feature Pack without Platform Builder Wizard (Level 200) NEW!
This eHow-to demonstrates how to create a Windows CE 5.0 Networked Media Device operating system image. The video walks through the steps needed to configure a baseline Windows CE 5.0 operating system image and then explains how to integrate the Networked Media Device functionality into the operating system design. (14:47 minutes)
300K Version | 110K Version   

Download Link for the Windows CE 5.0 Networked Media Device Feature Pack

- Mike