HOUSTON, Nov 19, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --
Helping PC programmers and embedded
developers move their embedded devices into the familiar Windows(R) operating
environment without losing critical design time or added costs, BSQUARE
Corporation (Nasdaq: BSQR) announced the availability of a Windows Embedded CE
6.0 board support package (BSP) for the Cortex(TM)-A8 processor-based OMAP35x
evaluation module (EVM) from Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN).
Developers of industrial, automotive and consumer applications now have access
to a free source code offering for Windows Embedded CE operating system-based
designs to get their OMAP35x based products to market faster than those
created on embedded open source.
With a production tested BSP that integrates a Windows Embedded CE 6.0 Pro
kernel, DirectShow Filters, Visual Tools plug-in, EVM Flash tool and full
support for DVI and S-Video, customers can safely develop with familiar and
standard Windows Embedded CE application programming interfaces (APIs) and
concentrate on achieving video and audio performance beyond general purpose
processor capabilities. In addition to working with familiar APIs, the use of
an emulator rather than specialized hardware reduces prototyping time and
enables parallel development. Design time is also cut since the Windows
Embedded CE image is built through component addition rather than footprint
reduction, an approach which is typically faster. For more information, please
visit http://www.ti.com/omapwince and http://www.bsquare.com/omap3.
"Customers building multimedia intensive, low power devices with TI's
OMAP35x applications processor gain a significant time-to-market advantage
with the Windows Embedded CE operating system and BSQUARE's BSP," said Larry
Stapleton, vice president of sales and marketing, BSQUARE. "Using familiar
development tools and leveraging the high-quality software that BSQUARE has
developed, development teams can quickly prototype embedded devices with
superior video and graphic features and get into production faster."
Enhanced multimedia capabilities and performance
For enhanced digital signal processor (DSP)-based video and audio
capabilities, BSQUARE's BSP includes DirectShow Filters that leverages the
TMS320C64x+(TM) DSP and hardware accelerator performance of the OMAP35x
processor via the codec engine inter-processor communication support. This
allows developers to support multi-format video since the DirectShow Filters
can decode MPEG-2 and also decode and encode D1 video at 30 frames per second
at 8 Mbps for MPEG-4 and H.264, which is especially important for multimedia
driven applications such as portable navigation, point of services and
portable media devices. For a boost in audio performance, the BSP supports
WMA9, MP3, AAC and G.711 decode for an enhanced and crisper acoustic
performance.
Complementary BSP enhancements for differentiation and faster time to
market
It can take up to 1200 days for a developer with no previous Windows
Embedded CE experience to define and develop a quality assurance test
solution. With BSQUARE's complementary Device Validation TestSuite (DVT),
customers can complete the same tasks in just over 100 days, slashing test
development time by up to 90 percent. The DVT is a comprehensive set of
quality assurance tests for OMAP35x processor-based designs and centralizes
defects faster and cost effectively. Customers also have the flexibility to
test hardware features throughout their design cycle since they can modify DVT
tests by directly editing the source code. With over 300 test case references,
80 percent more than standard CETK testing, this solution offers comprehensive
test coverage of the Windows CE OAL, bootloader, drivers as well as
performance and stress testing, all within the Microsoft(R) automated test

tool framework.
Developers can deliver more personalized user interfaces and richer
applications on their consumer electronics with an additional Adobe(R)
Flash(R) Lite(TM) 3 port for the BSP as a standalone player from BSQUARE. The
player may also be used to view Flash-enabled video. Adobe Flash content uses
vector and raster graphics, native scripting language called ActionScript and
bidirectional streaming of video and audio. The Flash authoring tools use
vector graphics to minimize file size and create files that save on both
bandwidth and loading time.
For added flexibility and performance, an ultra-high performance secure
digital input output (SDIO) HX stack from BSQUARE allows customers to
incorporate SDIO peripheral, SD memory card and MultiMedia Card memory card
support into their consumer designs. This provides developers with
approximately 11.5 Mbps peak throughput performance, a significant advantage
compared to the 3.1 Mbps for those using a standard Windows CE stack. For
multiplexing capability, the SDIO HX also enables multiple card slots with a
single host controller.
Pricing, availability and support
The OMAP35x EVM is available from TI for USD $1495, and for more
information about the free BSQUARE Windows CE BSP, visit
http://www.ti.com/omapwince. Engineering support and training as well as the
DVT, Adobe Flash Lite 3 and SDIO HX pricing are available from BSQUARE at
http://www.bsquare.com/omap3.
About BSQUARE
BSQUARE (Nasdaq: BSQR) is an industry leader with a proven track record in
providing engineering services and production-ready software products for the
smart device market. Since 1994, BSQUARE has provided device manufacturers
with software solutions for personal navigation devices, point-of-sale
terminals, handheld data terminals, smart phones and many other device
categories allowing them to get to market more quickly and cost effectively.
For more information, go to http://www.bsquare.com.
About Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) helps customers solve problems and develop
new electronics that make the world smarter, healthier, safer, greener and
more fun. A global semiconductor company, TI innovates through manufacturing,
design and sales operations in more than 25 countries. For more information,
go to http://www.ti.com.
Trademarks
TMS320C64x+ is a trademark of Texas Instruments. Cortex is a trademark of
ARM Limited. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are property of
their respective owners.
SOURCE Texas Instruments Incorporated
http://www.ti.com

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