Windows CE

From Free net encyclopedia

Windows CE (sometimes abbreviated WinCE) is a variation of Microsoft's Windows operating system for minimalistic computers and embedded systems. Windows CE is a distinctly different kernel, rather than a "trimmed down" version of desktop Windows. It is supported on Intel x86 and lookalikes, MIPS, ARM, and Hitachi SuperH processors.

1 Features
2 Relation to Windows Mobile, Pocket PC, and SmartPhone
3 Competing products
4 Uses for older Windows CE devices
5 See also
6 External links

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Features

Windows CE is optimized for devices that have minimal storage — a Windows CE kernel may run in under a megabyte of memory. Devices are often configured without disk storage, and may be configured as a "closed" system that does not allow for end user extension (for instance, it can be burned into ROM). Windows CE conforms to the definition of a real-time operating system, with a deterministic interrupt latency. It supports 256 priority levels and provides for priority inversion. Unlike UNIX-like operating systems, the fundamental unit of execution is the thread, providing for simpler, faster concurrent programming (see Thread (computer programming)).

Microsoft has stated that the "CE" is not an intentional acronym, but many people believe CE stands for "Consumer Electronics" or "Compact Edition"; users often disparagingly called it "Wince." Microsoft says it implies a number of Windows CE design precepts, including "Compact, Connectable, Compatible, and Companion," but basically they pulled the name out of thin air. The first version, known during development under the codename "Pegasus", featured a Windows-like GUI and a number of Microsoft's popular applications, all trimmed down for smaller storage, memory, and speed of the palmtops of the day.

Since then, Windows CE has evolved into — according to Microsoft's documentation — a component-based, embedded, real-time operating system. It is no longer only targeted at hand-held computers. Many platforms have been based on the core Windows CE operating system, including Microsoft's AutoPC, Handheld PC, Pocket PC, Pocket PC 2002, Pocket PC 2003, Pocket PC 2003 SE, Smartphone 2002, Smartphone 2003, Windows Mobile 5.0, and many industrial devices and embedded systems. Versions of Windows CE even powered select games for the Sega Dreamcast.

A distinctive feature of Windows CE vis-a-vis other Microsoft operating systems is that large parts of it are offered in source code form. First, source code was offered to several vendors, so they could adjust it to their hardware. Then products like Platform Builder (an integrated environment for Windows CE OS image creation and integration) offered several components in source code form to the general public. The procedure used to build operating system images with Platform Builder is often critized as being overly complex and fragile, with poor or incorrect supporting documentation.

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Relation to Windows Mobile, Pocket PC, and SmartPhone

Image:Windows CE Timeline.png

Often Windows CE, Windows Mobile, and Pocket PC are used interchangeably. This practice is not entirely accurate. Windows CE 3.0 is a modular operating system that serves as the foundation of several classes of devices. Some of these modules provide subsets of other components' features (e.g. varying levels of windowing support; DCOM vs COM), others which are mutually exclusive (Bitmap or TrueType font support), and others which add additional features to another component. One can buy a kit (the Platform Builder) which contains all these components and the tools with which to develop a custom platform. Applications such as Word Mobile/Pocket Word are not part of this kit.

Windows Mobile is best described as a subset of platforms based on Windows CE underpinning. Currently, Pocket PC (now called Windows Mobile), SmartPhone, and Portable Media Center are the three main platforms under the Windows Mobile Umbrella. Each platform utilizes different components of Windows CE, as well as supplemental features and applications suited for their respective devices.

Pocket PC and Windows Mobile is a Microsoft-defined custom platform for general PDA use, and consists of a Microsoft-defined set of minimum profiles (Professional Edition, Premium Edition) of software and hardware that is supported. The rules for manufacturing a Pocket PC device are stricter than those for producing custom Windows CE-based platform. The defining characteristics of the pocket pc are the digitizer as the primary Human Interface Device and its extremely portable size.

The SmartPhone platform is a feature rich OS and interface for cellular phone handsets. SmartPhone offers productivity features to business users, such as email, as well as multimedia capabilities for consumers. The SmartPhone interface relies heavily on joystick navigation and PhonePad input. Devices running SmartPhone typically did not feature a digitizer. SmartPhone devices closely resemble other cellular handset form factors.

Many applications written for the SmartPhone and Pocket PC platforms either have versions for both platforms, or will run with limited functionality on either.

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Competing products

The majors competitors to Pocket PC are Palm OS and Symbian OS, featured on similar ARM-based hardware platforms. WinCE's major competition is VxWorks, iTRON, eCos, OSE, QNX, Symbian OS, Linux deriatives such as uClinux and, most notably, PalmOS. Some device manufacturers handcraft their own system.

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Uses for older Windows CE devices

Some people have used their older Windows CE devices, such as Ver.2.11 and 2.0 to make a web server. They have even installed NetBSD to their Windows CE devices. CEHTTP is one of the most popular web server programs for Windows CE devices, and is relatively stable.

Other people can use The Core Pocket Media Player (formerly known as BetaPlayer), which is available for free, to view MPEG, AVI, MPEG4 and MP3 on their old machines.

There is also a Python environment ported for Handheld PC devices, as well as a Scheme environment.

Also, for the Sega Dreamcast, a small sticker in the front says "Compatible with Windows CE."

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External links

Windows CE Home Page on MSDN
WindowsForDevices.com, an independent Windows Mobile and Embedded community
Benchmarking Real-time Determinism in Microsoft Windows CE
Excerpts from John Murray's "Inside Microsoft Windows CE", a (slightly technical) behind-the-scenes history of the people and projects that created Windows CE
A Brief History of Windows CE, by HPC:Factor with screenshots of the various versions
Site hosted by Windows CE, Website hosted by Handheld PC.
Windows XP Embedded on MSDN
Windows CE: C# Applications developer

**History of Microsoft Windows**
MS-DOS–based: 1.0 • 2.0 • 3.0 • 3.1x • 95 • 98 • Me
NT-based: NT 3.1 • NT 3.5 • NT 3.51 • NT 4.0 • 2000 • XP • Server 2003
CE-based: CE 3.0 • Mobile • CE 5.0
Forthcoming: Vista • FLP (thin-client) • Server "Longhorn" • "Fiji" • "Vienna"