Microsoft releases Windows 10 IoT core for Raspberry Pi 2 and MinnowBoard Max

Microsoft has announced the availability of Windows 10 IoT (Internet of Things) core, which is a new edition for Windows designed for small embedded devices with or without screens including MinnowBoard Max and Raspberry Pi 2.

This release requires the development machine running the Windows 10 build number 10240 released on 29 July and Visual Studio.

The IoT core, as Microsoft notes, is designed to have a low barrier to entry, while making it easier to build professional grade devices. Additionally, it is expected to work with a wide range of open source languages and with Visual Studio, which is used to develop computer programmes for Windows, web services and web applications.

Apart from other improvements, the Windows 10 IoT core brings the highly anticipated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity support. The following is the rundown of new features:

• Improved support for Python and Node.js, including a new Express Node.js project template
• GPIO performance on the Raspberry Pi 2 has improved by 8X to 10X
• Analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and pulse-width modulation (PWM) are now supported via breakout boards and ICs
• New Universal Windows Platform (UWP) APIs give apps easy control over system management features like time zone and network connections

The IoT core and the developer tools are aimed to build projects easily, and that would have practical uses. Along with this, Microsoft says it has more projects in the pipeline.

Head over to Microsoft's Windows Dev Center to download Windows 10 IoT core for Raspberry Pi 2 and MinnowBoard Max for free.