Windows CE Overview

Windows CE is an embedded operating system developed by Microsoft that can be used in a variety of embedded systems, or computer systems with lower hardware specifications (such as less memory, slower CPUs, etc.). Microsoft does not define the origin of CE abbreviations. The general explanations include Customer Embedded, Compact Edition, Consumer Electronics, and so on.

Overview

Windows CE 1.0 was first introduced in 1996 and is a simplified version of Windows 95 in monochrome. Windows CE 2.0, announced at the Fall Comdex conference in 1997, is still based on the Win95 operating system and is much more efficient than version 1.0. Windows CE 3.0 is Microsoft's Windows Compact Edition. It has got rid of the old Windows 95 simplified format. It is a brand new operating system that supports 5 CPUs: x86, PowerPC, ARM, MIPS, SH3/4. And renamed Windows for Pocket PC, referred to as Pocket PC. In January 2002, Microsoft introduced Windows CE.Net, which is Windows CE 4.0. Windows CE 5.0 was released in May 2004, and 2.5 million lines of source code were opened. In November 2006, Microsoft introduced Windows Embedded CE 6.0.

Windows CE can be used on a wide variety of systems, the most famous being the Pocket PC and Microsoft's SmartPhone. Other less well-known devices include Microsoft's car computers, TV sets, production of online control devices, information stations in public places, etc. Some devices do not even have any human-machine interface.

Windows CE does not shrink from the desktop Windows (NT, 98, XP...), but uses a completely redesigned kernel, so it can be used on very limited hardware. run. Although the kernel is different, it provides a high degree of compatibility with the Win32 API software development interface. The functions include memory management, file operations, multi-threading, and network functions. Therefore, people who develop desktop software can easily write or even directly port software to Windows CE.

One difference from other Microsoft operating systems is that Windows CE provides source code. First, source code is provided to some vendors, allowing vendors to modify source code according to their own hardware architecture, such as Windows CE development. The IDE software Platform Builder provides a number of common software components for open source code, but some software components with hardware architecture are still provided as binary files.

Version

Windows CE 1.0 is the earliest version, very unstable, and with the release of the version, WinCE is becoming more stable.

-Windows CE 1.0 (Pegasus) - Windows CE 2.0, 2.11, 2.12 (Mercury) - Windows CE 3.0 (Cedar) - Windows CE .NET (4.0, 4.1, 4.2) (Talisker) - Windows CE 5.0 (Macallan) -Windows Embedded CE 6.0 (Yamazaki)

latest features

the latest Windows CE is a Windows CE 6.0, this version is a great improvement in the core section: < Br>

-All system components are changed from EXE to DLL and moved to kernel space. - Newly designed virtual memory architecture - New device driver architecture, support both User Mode and Kernel Mode drivers. - Breakthrough can only run 32 work-time limits and can run 32,768 work units. - The virtual memory limit for each work element is increased from 32 M to total system total virtual memory. -Platform Builder IDE is integrated into Microsoft Visual Studio 2005. - A new security architecture that ensures that only trusted software can run on the system. -UDF 2.5 file system. - Supports wireless specifications such as 802.11i (WPA2) and 802.11e (QoS), and multiple radio support. - Supports x86, ARM, SH4, MIPS and other processors. - Providing new Cellcore components makes it easier for the system to establish data links and activate calls in the mobile phone network.

In the development environment, Microsoft also provides development components that are compatible with the .NET Framework: .NET Compact Framework, allowing developers who are learning .NET or have .NET application development technology to quickly and smoothly Develop applications on devices equipped with Windows CE .NET systems.

Windows CE for Pocket PC and Smartphone Smart Phone is called Windows Mobile. The latest version is Windows Mobile 6.1.

Development Tools

Windows CE supports MFC, ATL, STL, COM, ActiveX, and .NET Compact Framework. Development work can be divided into: