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Windows Driver Developer Conference 2008 Coming to Redmond
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We want to share news that we are planning a Windows Driver Developer Conference (DDC) 2008 in Redmond in September. The focus for 2008 will be providing driver developers and testers with deep technical content on driver development and testing on the Windows platform.  Who should attend: Advanced driver developers and testers only. The content will focus on 300- to 400-level driver development and testing. Beginning driver developers will find content that is more useful to them at WinHEC. What you will get: It's all about the content—deep technical content, hands-on technical labs spread across multiple tracks, close interaction with Microsoft driver developers and testers, and no keynote addresses. This event will focus on key operating system concepts and internals, device driver development, and technology-specific implementation. Technology Preview Agreement (TPA): Due to the confidential nature of this early preview content, the event will be held under TPA and all attendees will be required to sign the event-specific agreement pre-event even if their company already has an NDA in place with Microsoft. Conference DetailsVenue: Microsoft Conference Center, Redmond, WA Date: September 29—October 1, 2008 Cost: Early Bird $695 until 8/15; Standard $795 until 9/19 Note: No onsite registration will be available.
If you are interested in attending DDC this year, let us know by signing up here. This is a small, intimate event and, due to space limitations, we expect the event to sell out quickly. Email notification of registration status will be sent after July 23 with instructions and the registration link if you are approved to attend.
From the Editor
WHDC China Site Launches!
We are excited to have our Microsoft colleagues in China join the Windows Hardware Developer Central (WHDC) family, together with Japan and Taiwan. The recently launched WHDC China Web site provides our partners in China with 636 Web pages and downloadable content (277,000 words in total) that now are localized into Simplified Chinese. The WHDC China team looks forward to taking advantage of this site to better engage and partner with the thousands of IHVs in China to help extend and improve the Windows hardware ecosystem. Be sure to visit the site and check back often for news and updates.
— The WHDC Web team
WinHEC News
Join us in Los Angeles November 5—7, 2008, at the largest Microsoft conference focused on designing computers, devices, and drivers to work well with Windows operating systems. Learn about opportunities, innovations, and technology directions for the new generation of Windows operating systems. Windows 7 will be a key topic at WinHEC this year. Early Registration Discount: Register by September 19 and save $400 off standard registration.
Look for upcoming registration information on the WinHEC 2008 Web site. WinHEC 2008 Agenda and Session Preview
WinHEC gives you the opportunity to engage closely with Microsoft developers and industry experts to discuss critical technology issues, gain practical development experience, and participate in networking opportunities that address your technical challenges. You can expect the following topics to be covered in-depth at WinHEC: Audio/Video Infrastructure and Architecture Client and Enterprise Storage Technologies Connected Devices Driver Development and Verification Embedded Designs Firmware, Chipset, and System Buses Graphics and Display Architecture Mobile Platform Optimization Networking and Communications Performance and Reliability Power Management and Energy Efficiency Security and Privacy Server Platforms Designs and Core Architectures Wireless Technologies
For more information, see the WinHEC 2008 Agenda and Session Preview page. Industry Call for WinHEC White Papers
Microsoft is now accepting technical white papers for inclusion in the WinHEC proceedings. Join other industry leaders in sharing information that will help hardware developers take advantage of engineering and design innovations in the new generation of Windows. To ensure that your white papers align with the WinHEC content strategy, review the topic list in the "WinHEC 2008 Agenda and Session Preview" section of this newsletter. All white papers are due by September 9, 2008. Instructions on how to submit your white papers are posted on the WinHEC Web site.
News for Windows Hardware and Driver Developers
Windows Vista Feature Pack for Wireless Released
On July 7, 2008, Microsoft released the Windows Vista Feature Pack for Wireless to PC OEMs with support for all 36 languages that Windows Vista SP1 provides. This release expands upon the five-language version released on May 5 and enables PC OEMs to redistribute the software on their Web sites.
The feature pack contains support for Windows Connect Now Wi-Fi Configuration and Bluetooth v2.1, with new, easy-to-use pairing methods. For more information, refer to the Windows Vista Feature Pack for Wireless white paper. New Recommendations for Power Budgeting with Windows Server
Inefficient allocation of power and cooling resources in data centers can result in unused power capacity. This increases costs and artificially limits the number of servers that can be deployed. To address this, many server vendors have introduced power management solutions that try to enable the capping of power consumption on a per-machine basis to reduce the unused capacity. However, some of these solutions can have negative or unintended consequences when they overlap, conflict, or otherwise interfere with the power management capabilities that are supported in Windows Server operating systems. This paper summarizes common approaches to power budgeting in the server marketplace and recommends best practices to ensure that these solutions work as intended and interoperate with Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2003 power management capabilities. Windows Vista Processor State AnalysisThis paper provides an overview of Windows Vista processor power management (PPM) and describes how to measure and analyze the processor performance states (ACPI P-states) and processor idle sleep states (ACPI C-states). Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) can use this information to improve the overall power performance of their systems.
New Things Happening with the WDK and the WLK
Updated Steps to Download WDK and WLK
The steps for downloading the latest Windows Driver Kit (WDK) and Windows Logo Kit (WLK) have been updated due to changes made to the Microsoft Connect Web site UI and its associated processes. To view the updated steps, visit How to Get the WDK and the WLK.
Windows Logo Program Tools and News
New Beta Web Site: Windows Vista Compatibility Center
On July 8, 2008, Microsoft introduced the Windows Vista Compatibility Center beta Web site at the Worldwide Partner Conference in Houston, Texas. The Windows Vista Compatibility Center Web site helps consumers, small businesses, and sales-channel partners easily identify the software and devices that are compatible with Windows Vista.
Please review this new Web site beta, and send us your feedback. We want continuous feedback from our partners and customers to ensure that all your product listings are accurate and up to date.
If your products are widely available in the U.S. market, they might already be listed on the Windows Vista Compatibility Center site. Review your product listings, and use the site feedback forms to give us revisions or to suggest new product listings. To identify your company and in case we need to contact you, leave your e-mail address in the Service code field.
Use this exciting opportunity to showcase all your products that are compatible with Windows Vista. Do not miss this opportunity to get involved.
For more information, you can virtually join the Worldwide Partner Conference. There you can read the keynote speeches and view the demonstrations. Partners can also contact us directly about the Windows Vista Compatibility Center at wvccfeed@microsoft.com.
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